Seeing Others as Image Bearers of God

 

Summary

In today's reflection, we explored the profound concept of recognizing every individual as an "image bearer" of God. This idea challenges us to see beyond societal labels and prejudices, acknowledging the inherent dignity and worth in every person. Historically, many groups have been marginalized and denied personhood, as seen in the Dred Scott decision and the three-fifths compromise in the United States. However, Jesus' perspective was radically different; He saw each person as a bearer of God's image, deserving of love and respect.

We were inspired by Andy Crouch's practice of walking through an airport and silently acknowledging each person he passed as an "image bearer." This simple yet profound exercise invites us to engage in a form of prayerful contemplation, transforming how we perceive and interact with others. By consciously recognizing the divine image in everyone, we cultivate empathy and compassion, breaking down barriers of judgment, stereotyping, and objectification.

This practice is not just an exercise in mindfulness but a spiritual discipline that aligns us with Jesus' vision of humanity. It reminds us of the dignity and potential in every life, urging us to see people as Jesus sees them. Whether in an airport, on a city street, or in our daily interactions, this perspective can profoundly impact our relationships and our spiritual journey.

As we go about our day, let us commit to this ambulatory prayer of contemplation, asking God to help us see each person as an image bearer. This is the first step towards living as Jesus did, adding value to our lives and the lives of others. By doing so, we make our lives count in meaningful ways.

Key Takeaways:

1. Recognizing the Image of God in Others: Every person we encounter is an image bearer of God, deserving of dignity and respect. This perspective challenges us to look beyond societal labels and prejudices, seeing each individual as Jesus does. [06:56]

2. Transformative Power of Contemplation: Engaging in the practice of silently acknowledging others as image bearers can transform our interactions. It fosters empathy and compassion, breaking down barriers of judgment and objectification. [07:46]

3. Spiritual Discipline in Daily Life: This exercise is not just about mindfulness but is a spiritual discipline that aligns us with Jesus' vision of humanity. It encourages us to see the divine image in everyone, impacting our relationships and spiritual journey. [09:00]

4. Empathy for the Overlooked: Recognizing the image of God in others helps us empathize with those who are often overlooked or marginalized. It reminds us of the dignity and potential in every life, urging us to see people as Jesus sees them. [10:36]

5. Living as Jesus Did: By committing to this practice, we take the first step towards living as Jesus did, adding value to our lives and the lives of others. This perspective can profoundly impact our spiritual journey and relationships. [11:21]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [05:50] - Historical Context of Personhood
- [06:43] - Jesus' Perspective on Humanity
- [07:09] - The Challenge of Seeing Image Bearers
- [07:32] - Andy Crouch's Airport Exercise
- [08:09] - Recognizing Dignity in Everyday Life
- [09:00] - Emotional and Spiritual Impact
- [09:41] - Practicing Contemplation in Daily Life
- [10:07] - Overcoming Judgment and Stereotypes
- [10:36] - Empathy for the Overlooked
- [11:07] - Prayerful Contemplation
- [11:21] - Living a Life that Counts
- [11:35] - Closing and Contact Information

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Recognizing the Image of God in Others

Bible Reading:
- Genesis 1:26-27 (NIV): "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.' So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them."

Observation Questions:
1. What does it mean for humans to be created in the image of God according to Genesis 1:26-27?
2. How did the sermon describe Jesus' perspective on humanity, and how does it contrast with historical views like the Dred Scott decision? [06:43]
3. What was Andy Crouch's practice at the airport, and how did it relate to the concept of seeing others as image bearers? [07:32]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does recognizing others as image bearers of God challenge societal labels and prejudices? [06:56]
2. In what ways can the practice of acknowledging others as image bearers transform our daily interactions and relationships? [07:46]
3. How does the concept of being an image bearer align with Jesus' vision of humanity, and what implications does this have for our spiritual journey? [09:00]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you may have judged someone based on societal labels. How might recognizing them as an image bearer have changed your perspective? [06:56]
2. Consider a place you frequent, like work or a coffee shop. How can you incorporate the practice of silently acknowledging others as image bearers in that setting? [09:41]
3. Identify a group or individual in your community who is often overlooked or marginalized. What steps can you take to empathize with and support them, recognizing their inherent dignity? [10:36]
4. Think about a personal relationship that could benefit from seeing the other person as an image bearer. What specific actions can you take to improve that relationship this week? [11:21]
5. How can you make the practice of recognizing others as image bearers a regular part of your spiritual discipline? What reminders or habits can you establish to help with this? [11:07]
6. Reflect on a time when you felt unseen or undervalued. How did that experience affect you, and how can it inform your efforts to see others as Jesus does? [10:51]
7. What is one tangible way you can add value to someone else's life this week by acknowledging their worth as an image bearer of God? [11:21]

Devotional

Day 1: Seeing the Divine in Every Person
Recognizing every individual as an image bearer of God challenges us to look beyond societal labels and prejudices. This perspective invites us to see each person as Jesus does, acknowledging their inherent dignity and worth. Historically, many groups have been marginalized and denied personhood, as seen in the Dred Scott decision and the three-fifths compromise in the United States. However, Jesus' perspective was radically different; He saw each person as a bearer of God's image, deserving of love and respect. By adopting this view, we are called to treat others with the same love and respect, regardless of their background or status. [06:56]

Genesis 1:27 (ESV): "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Reflection: Think of someone you encounter regularly but often overlook. How can you intentionally acknowledge their worth as an image bearer of God today?


Day 2: The Transformative Power of Silent Acknowledgment
Engaging in the practice of silently acknowledging others as image bearers can transform our interactions. This exercise fosters empathy and compassion, breaking down barriers of judgment and objectification. By consciously recognizing the divine image in everyone, we cultivate a deeper sense of connection and understanding. This practice is not just an exercise in mindfulness but a spiritual discipline that aligns us with Jesus' vision of humanity. It encourages us to see the divine image in everyone, impacting our relationships and spiritual journey. [07:46]

1 John 4:12 (ESV): "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."

Reflection: As you go about your day, choose one public place to practice silently acknowledging each person as an image bearer. How does this change your perception of those around you?


Day 3: Aligning with Jesus' Vision of Humanity
This exercise of recognizing the image of God in others is a spiritual discipline that aligns us with Jesus' vision of humanity. It reminds us of the dignity and potential in every life, urging us to see people as Jesus sees them. Whether in an airport, on a city street, or in our daily interactions, this perspective can profoundly impact our relationships and our spiritual journey. By committing to this practice, we take the first step towards living as Jesus did, adding value to our lives and the lives of others. [09:00]

Colossians 3:10 (ESV): "And have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent interaction where you struggled to see the other person as an image bearer. What steps can you take to align your perspective with Jesus' vision in future interactions?


Day 4: Empathy for the Overlooked and Marginalized
Recognizing the image of God in others helps us empathize with those who are often overlooked or marginalized. It reminds us of the dignity and potential in every life, urging us to see people as Jesus sees them. This practice encourages us to break down barriers of judgment, stereotyping, and objectification, fostering a more inclusive and compassionate community. By doing so, we make our lives count in meaningful ways, impacting our spiritual journey and relationships. [10:36]

James 2:1-4 (ESV): "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, 'You sit here in a good place,' while you say to the poor man, 'You stand over there,' or, 'Sit down at my feet,' have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?"

Reflection: Identify a group or individual in your community who is often overlooked. How can you extend empathy and recognition to them this week?


Day 5: Living a Life that Reflects Jesus' Love
By committing to the practice of recognizing the image of God in others, we take the first step towards living as Jesus did. This perspective can profoundly impact our spiritual journey and relationships, adding value to our lives and the lives of others. It encourages us to see the divine image in everyone, impacting our relationships and spiritual journey. As we go about our day, let us commit to this ambulatory prayer of contemplation, asking God to help us see each person as an image bearer. [11:21]

Ephesians 4:24 (ESV): "And to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."

Reflection: Consider one relationship in your life that could benefit from a renewed perspective of seeing the other as an image bearer. What practical steps can you take to nurture this relationship in a way that reflects Jesus' love?

Quotes

"when jesus came and he looked at human beings he saw persons and the bible's way of referring to this in particular is not so much a philosophical definition it is that people bear the image of god and so here's the exercise for today here's the challenge for today i want to return but read a little more fully" [00:06:43]

"andy crouch talks about in the life we're looking for he was at o'hare airport one time and it struck him he could actually get several miles of exercise while he's waiting for his next flight just by walking the concourses but then he needed something to think about and he had been reading in genesis reflecting on how god creates human beings in his image" [00:07:09]

"it occurred to me and he said that i could attempt a kind of ambulatory act of contemplation as i walked i decided i would try to take note of each person i passed i would pay as much attention to each of them as i could as much that is without seeming like some kind of creepy airport stalker and say to myself as i saw each one image bearer" [00:07:32]

"i started out on my journey at a brisk pace backpack cinched tight on my shoulders i passed a weary looking man in a suit image bearer right behind him was a woman and a sorry image bearer a mother pushed a stroller with a young baby a young man presumably the baby's father walked next to her half-holding half-dragging a toddler by the hand image bearer image bearer image bearer" [00:08:09]

"by the time i reached the corridor where terminal 1 connects to terminal 2 i had passed perhaps 200 people glancing at their faces just long enough to say to myself image bearer i had six more concourses to go walk the length of concourse in back image bearer image bearer image bearer few of the people i passed look genuinely happy or sad" [00:08:49]

"by the end of my walk i was overwhelmed in a way i had not expected i had passed people in every stage of life and health an uncountable number of national and ethnic backgrounds some traveling together most seemingly alone the stories i would never learn behind each of those faces the years of life that had shaped their posture and gait the possibility and futility each one had known and would known" [00:09:41]

"all set to the relentless soundtrack of those two words image bearer carried an emotional and spiritual weight that i can still feel years later from time to time i repeat this exercise on a city street in a coffee shop even driving on a highway image bearer image bearer image barrier" [00:10:36]

"so that's it today everybody that you see look at them in the face when i try to do this it is a form of prayer i find it's difficult to be judgmental about people it's difficult to stereotype them it's difficult to lust after them you'll have a hard time watching porn if the uh phrase that comes to your mind is image bearer image bearer" [00:11:07]

"there's often something tragic about it andy writes as we see in the life of peter because there is a dignity to every human being i think about those who are overlooked we got a request for prayer from a woman whose life is severely strict restricted by multiple sclerosis often unable to attend even milestone events with her children" [00:11:35]

"how often somebody in that condition is shut up isolated unnoticed unlooked on but jesus looks i think when i look at people that i deeply love and think of how they are suffering and bring to mind that word image bearer image bearer there is something deep beyond words" [00:12:07]

"so that's the prayer for today an ambulatory prayer of contemplation as you walk through the day ask god to be with you in this each person that you see image bearer image bearer image bearer see what jesus would see that's the first step towards doing what jesus would do" [00:12:39]

"and that's how we add value that's how we make our lives count make that account thanks for joining us here at become new dot me if you'd like to receive the daily emails that go along with each video let us know at becomenew.me gmail.com or if you want prayer you can text us at 855-888-0444" [00:13:21]

Chatbot

  • I'm an AI bot trained specifically on the sermon from Sep 01, 2022. Do you have any questions about it?

Transcript
What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?
Were there any personal stories shared?