In Genesis 1:26-27, God said, “‘Let us make man in our image according to our likeness. Let them rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, over the cattle in all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” What does it mean for God to make man in his image? This question has been asked by many throughout the age of the Church. Many and varying positions have been proposed. This post serves simply to survey these positions.

Structural Perspective

Three major positions have been typically held by the major figures throughout the history of the Church: the structural, relational, and functional perspectives. The structural position has been the most widely accepted position. This view suggests that there is something about our structure–that is, our physical makeup or formation–that constitutes man’s being made in the image of God. In line with Aristotle, the early church focused its teaching concerning the image of God on human reason and free will. Augustine emphasized the structural elements of human memory, intellect, and volition and spoke of them as a reflection of the Triune God. During the Middle Ages, Thomas Aquinas made a distinction between the image and the likeness of God; he associated the immaterial aspects of the human with the divine image and the material aspects to the likeness of God. Thus, he positioned the image of God in man’s reason. These structural capacities were thought to be what separated man from animals and what enabled them to have a relationship with God.

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“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever shall say to his brother, ‘Raca,” shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever shall say ‘You fool,’ shall be enough to go into the fiery hell.” –Matthew 5:21-22

I have found road rage pretty annoying. I have seen and experienced the virulent, obscene anger expressed by drivers for seemingly trivial offenses (if any). From the diminutive 5’0, 110 lb mom honking her horn and flashing double-fisted curses to the middle-aged man pulling a gun and opening fire on another driver. The violence, threats, and rage know no bounds on the road these days.

Being cut off on the road or slamming on your brakes because of another’s blunder warrants an angry reaction — that’s a given. But it is outright shocking to see people become as irate as to nonchalantly flip you the bird and attempt to drive you off the road.

Undoubtedly, people are much bigger and bolder behind the anonymity of the highway and protective panes of glass. You will rarely see epithets and dirty looks turn violent. A guy or girl can shout or wave whatever insult they wish and speed off to safety, likely never to see the person again. Seems harmless, right?

When we examine road rage in light of scripture however, it exposes something deeper, darker and more sinful about our nature.

Most Americans consider themselves “good people”. When asked why, the answer usually is something like, “well, I haven’t killed anybody”. Evangelist Ray Comfort addresses the issue by conveying the reality that what often keeps people from killing someone has nothing to do with their “goodness”, but simply the greater fear of punishment. It’s not that they don’t desire to kill another but that they just haven’t had the chance. The repercussions for murder are greater than the overall benefits. It’s simply a decision based on prudence. To those who call themselves good based on what they haven’t done he alerts them to the fact that conspiracy to do a crime is as bad, and carries just as great a punishment as actually carrying it out. [...]

Human rights. The general consensus among people in the world today is in support of the protection, advocacy and defense of human dignity. Principles nearly universally favored – aid to the poor, help for the sick and marginalized, and the just treatment for people of all races – prompt people to assist in a number of possible ways. Individuals, governments and organizations have programs for the amelioration of weaker, downtrodden groups. It’s rare to find anyone who would dare question or criticize another helping the disenfranchised. Such a person would invariably be considered calloused and selfish: a base character worthy of neither respect nor admiration. [...]

“But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope? Consider now: who being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish.” Job 4:5-8

The book of Job is one of the most vexing and profound works in scripture. One cannot help being troubled and yet amazed when reading the story. Job was a blameless, upright man. His righteousness was such that he actually offered sacrifices for sins his children had possibly committed. But logical deduction fails to vindicate Job. God took up Satan’s challenge that Job only loved God because of the good life he had been given. God tested Job through a series of unparalleled adverse situations. Among them: friends who, far from being sympathetic and consoling, continually condemned Job as a man who must have sinned to have received the terrible tribulation given him. [...]

Have you ever wondered why God gives us wisdom to guide our living?  In this article, Whitney Clayton implores young people to walk with wisdom concerning sexual issues and to seek the well spring of all true wisdom, Jesus Christ himself. [...]

I don’t want you to think that I am about to tell you what I think Jesus would think. That would be rather pointless. And stupid. If someone tries to base their opinion on their opinion of someone else’s opinion, leave them to it. What I want to do is examine a situation in which Jesus talks about marriage. From there we can dialogue about how his view of marriage relates to the homosexual community.

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Moving from a discussion of God’s love within His intratrinitarian Persons (see here) and God’s provisional love for all of His creation (see here), we move now to discuss yet another aspect of God’s other-orientation and self-giving love in this third installment within this series on God’s love—God’s general love for all mankind. There is a sense in which God’s love for all of mankind could have been included in the preceding discussion of God’s provisional love for all of His creation.

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According to a poll taken by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2007, “Over 12 million unmarried partners live together in 6,008,007 households.” The same poll indicated that the number of cohabiting unmarried partners increased by 88% between 1990 and 2007.[1] Other sources show that the majority of couples marrying today lived together before tying the knot.[2] Unless one has lived in a hole for the past hundred years, it is not difficult to observe the moral decline that seems to permeate the cultural horizon of America and the world. One thing is for sure: Cohabitating has become the norm for unmarried couples.

If we as Christians are to be responsible creatures, then we need to give thoughtful and intelligent responses to such a reality. How are Christians to react to those individuals who, with glee, announce for all the world to hear, “We’re moving in together!”? Should we smack them over their heads with a Bible and pronounce judgment? This doesn’t quite seem to be the most appropriate and tactful way to approach the situation. For many, this is a very important step in life. A new chapter of their lives is being unfolded before them. It is an exciting time for them and a huge leap forward in their relationship. Should we as Christians join them in their jubilance?

Surprisingly enough, this trend seems to be catching on not only among the non-Christian population but also among those who profess Christ (maybe these are the ones who need to be smacked over their heads with a Bible). Churches and Christian families must regularly deal with this dilemma. Christians—that is genuine Christians—stand beneath the authority of Scripture. We as Christians, therefore, are to consult Scripture for answers concerning life’s questions and all of life’s moral issues. The Bible does not explicitly say, “Thou shall not live together before marriage.” However, it does speak to this issue.

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Question:  Will the person who has never heard the gospel go to hell?

I am not under the false allusion here that this is a tough question to tackle within our post-modern generation where people slap ‘co-exist’ bumper stickers on the back of their cars and rail anybody who preaches an exclusive message.  What is more, lots of  western ‘Christians’ have been influenced by their cultural framework into believing that all religions lead to the same place, and that the person who has never heard the gospel is in no danger at all from separation from their Maker for eternity.  There is in fact an awareness that needs to be raised for Christians to begin to think through tough questions and be ready to always give a sound and logical answer.  In this article I will attempt to explain this question from a biblical perspective the best that I can.

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