imago dei (post 3 of 5)
Not long ago the Pope’s Astronomer said he would baptize an alien if it asked him to “no matter how many tentacles it has.” Admittedly “not a practical question,” his response does have implications for how understand the image of God.
Today I want to look at another common way this doctrine is
interpreted that might not be the best place to hang our hat; the
interpretation that the “image of God” as best defined by the depth of our
relationship with God. Our ability to have a deep intimate relationship with
God distinguishes from the rest of creation.
Scripture suggests that this is true when Jesus says, “Look
at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and
yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Jesus is clear that human life has greater value, but should we define that
value by our ability to relate to Jesus.
On Sunday I wrote:
Our relationship with God is unique, but how we interpret
this relationship determines the validity of our interpretation of the image of
God. For example, if we are defined by our ability for introspection (our
relationship with ourselves) or our ability to worship (the capability of a
relationship with God) we may still be missing the point. What happens if
science develops the ability to interpret the language of dolphins, and we
discover they too commit acts of worship to their Creator? Even further, what
if we learn to communicate with dolphins, and they have evolved the ability to
form a reciprocal relationship with God?
Much like the alien, the reality of an introspective dolphin
is hypothetical at best. But the proposed scenario does shed light on the
motivations behind that interpretation of the image of God. Would we be willing
to accept that God may also be willing to have an intimate relationship with
the rest of creation? It doesn't seem He is that far from it. Psalms 148 already suggests that creation worships its
creator. In the New Testament we see the coming of the Kingdom of God as
something that will bring healing to the natural world.
Suppose one day science does prove we are not unique in our
ability to relate to God. The philosophical implication that would follow is
that those creatures may too be created in the same image. However, scripture seems clear that this is not the case, so we should rethink our current
interpretation. Again hypothetical, but
we should also celebrate the chance worship alongside aliens or dolphins if comes
to us.
So how should we interpret what it means to bear God’s
image? In my original post for this topic I suggested we should understand it
our God given function to reflect the creator to the rest of creation. I will
elaborate more on this in my next post.
For today I simply want to consider the possibility that we
often interpret scripture and doctrines so they lift us up instead of lead us
to humbly serve. My future hope is that through
reevaluating our role as image bearers we will consider the importance of our
every action and begin to see greater value in every person and created thing.
And the bonus question everyone is asking: how would you
baptize a dolphin?
Check out my upcoming book at www.adhogan.com
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