Imago Dei - Part 2 - 'What Belongs to God?'

Imago Dei

Part 2

‘What belongs to God?’

Now because we are “stamped" (created) in God’s image that means something; especially as indicated in Part 1, it gives us great value first of all.  Next it means we owe something to our Creator.  And we owe something to the rest of creation. That is why God can command “Love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and your neighbor as yourself.”  How we respond to or love God and how we love or treat our neighbor is an indicator of how much we recognize that we are made in God’s image. Generally we have an idea in our heart that we 'love' God, but He puts us to the test by asking us if we love our brother or neighbor too.   I John 4:20 puts forth this idea that we 'cannot say we love God whom we haven't seen when we do not love our brother whom we have seen'.  So this idea of loving God and neighbor is a key foundation to understanding that being made in His image means something; i.e., it means that we must 'give to God what belongs to Him'.  So what kinds of things must we give God?   I am not going to say this list is all inclusive, as that would be impossible, but it's a place to start.   I am also not going to reference everything, as a general scriptural search will turn up dozens of references and for the truly curious will turn up even more. 

We learn that worship belongs to God and to God only.   When Satan tempts Jesus in the wilderness after His 40 day fast; Jesus retorts in Luke 4:8 "worship the Lord.....only".   We are only permitted to worship God.  Any worship toward another person, creature, etc is idolatry and takes us away from the fact that we are made in God's image.  We essentially are declaring through worship that we want to be like the object of our worship.  Anything less then God in worship is a fatal mistake.  God loves us too much too not make that clear and it is pointed out continually in scripture.  From Genesis through Revelation.

And if we are to love Him with our 'heart, soul, mind, strength' then those things too, belong to Him.  So in the end, really everything that we may think belongs to us, belongs to Him.  Our 'heart, soul, mind, strength', our worship; these things do not belong to Caesar; they belong to God.  The mistake often made in ancient times with Caesar, and in recent times with the state, is thinking that somehow these things can belong to government, or worse yet a 'co-mingling' of Caesar and God.   God says He is a jealous God.  He does not share His glory with anyone or anything.  Communism was an attempt for government to assume the role of God.   The state gives 'meaning' and decides how you will perceive yourself (your image).  But we cannot lay all of the blame at 'communism' either.   Many Christians (although well-meaning) in the United States have decided that aligning themselves with one political party or the other is what will establish God's Kingdom.  They would deny it, but when questioned they act as though Christianity and the Church must be part of one party or the other, lest God fail and we plummet into a 1000 years of darkness. 

Whatever the outcome of this election, Christian's are called to be a people of hope, a people of 2nd and 3rd and 4th chances (and so on), a people of God that do not quit or give up, but work to see God's Kingdom established; not their own, not a political party's, not anything less then righteousness and peace.  Not anything less then the care of widows, foreigners, orphans, the hopeless, the needy, the homeless, the sick, and so on.  So we come full circle.  It is an old story, but must be retold again and again.  It must be lived over and over.  Government (Caesar) likes to talk about 'people' as some great collective that they will manipulate and control.  The Kingdom of God is about not only the group, but the individual as well.  Personal salvation matters.  We baptize individuals or perhaps groups, but still groups of individuals.   The personal confession of Christ matters.  Because you are made in the image of God, you matter, you are his creation and He 'knew you in your mother's womb'.   Only when we are in agreement with Christ can we speak of the 'community' of Christ, i.e., the Church.  That is where communion comes in.   It is the fellowship meal of believers.  You can think of  these things this way:  Baptism is the individual public confession of Christ and Communion is the group public confession of Christ. But I digress a bit.

In conclusion, your vote does matter because you matter.  Hear from God and do your best.  But more importantly, know that the sun will come up tomorrow no matter who wins this election, because the love of God holds the moon, the sun, the stars, the planets in place.  He holds your life in His hands, your families, your community, your church, too.  Do not grow weary of doing good.  Fight the good fight.  Confront Caesar when necessary, with love, charity, and humility.  Take care of the needy.  Love and comfort your family and friends.  Hasten God's Kingdom.  The Lord's prayer teaches us that it is His will for His Kingdom and Will to be done on earth just like in Heaven, and His Kingdom is eternal.  Caesar?  Not so much!

Imago Dei - Part 1 - 'What belongs to Caesar?'

Imago Dei

Part 1

 'What belongs to Caesar?'

The 'Imago Dei', 'image of God', it resonates throughout the scripture, summed up in Genesis 1:27 "So God created human beings in his own image.  In the image of God he created them, male and female he created them."
This is a foundational statement for Christian faith, ethics, and so forth.  You are made in the image of God and the fact that He made you (in His image) gives you great value and worth. As the psalmist wrote 'I am fearfully and wonderfully made.'  Some think this is obvious and does not need to be stated, but I find the opposite is true, people don't believe it.   They sense that their lives do not matter to God or to man.  It is the lie we hear played over and over in our heads, that we do not matter, that no one cares, that God is too busy to notice us, and that our life doesn't matter.  And because we believe that lie, we can easily fall prey to those who would try and give us value in God's place.
It's an important idea.   More than an idea really.  One of the essentials that holds humanity together.  And an essential that if misunderstood can destroy us.  There are several directions we could take this thought, but since we are still in the election season, I am still focusing on politics.  You see, because we are made in the image of God, He has a claim to us.  A right and authority over our lives and because of that 'right' it brings up that question about Caesar.  What belongs to Caesar, and what belongs to God?  I first want to discuss what belongs to Caesar.  You see the statement from the previous blog is still in my thinking.   What does belong to Caesar?
To understand what belongs to Caesar I think one has to grasp what is upholding Caesar.  Is he an opposing power, meaning equal to God?  Or is he part of God's plan and subject to Him as well?  If you study the scripture in the Old Testament, it would seem that God had a system of judges in mind at first to rule His people (this is of course not taking into account that ultimately God's desire was to simply have fellowship with mankind in the garden), but they wanted something more, a king like all the other kids on the block had.  And so God granted them their wish, letting them know that they would also get taxes, wars, and the king's will along with it.  But God also said 'that the heart of the king is in his hands...like a river he turns it as He wills.'  Proverbs 21:1.   And from my last post, I suggested reading Daniel chapter 4 for a deeper understanding of God's role in government.  If you do read it, then call to mind the very last verse (37), "Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." This was said after the king regained his reason and if you go back to verse 30 you find out that Nebuchadnezzar said: "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?" and then a voice from heaven said (v 31, 32) "This is what is decreed for you, King Nebuchadnezzar: Your royal authority has been taken from you. You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes."  NASB.  So God actually demonstrated grace upon King Neb; as he showed him that He is even in control of the King’s life, and King Neb in the end recognized that. 
So the lesson for us is to know that no matter who is ruler, what they are like, it is God that determines their limits.  We may suffer or enjoy their reign but it is God that is in control. And he reminds us in His word that He will have the final say and in the end close out all that rule and reign; (see Revelation 19:11-16) but see v. 15, 16:  ‘From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS."’
And in light of these boundaries what does belong to Caesar?  From the story (Mark 12:13-17) where Jesus says to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s” we at least learn that we owe Caesar taxes, as it’s his money stamped with his image, so give it back to him.   (We’ll come back to this idea of ‘image’, so don’t forget that you are ‘stamped’ with God’s image!) Other things we owe Caesar include (see Romans 13:1-7):  “to do good” v3, “be in subjection” v5, and finally whatever “is due” including “tax…custom…fear…honor” v7; (see also I Peter 2:13-20).   I am not saying this is fun, the way to get ahead, or even from the current state of society and government, seemingly worth it; but it is to obey Christ, one who did submit to the Roman authorities, even to the point of death.
So we can conclude that there are things that God has given the government reign over.  As indicated in my previous post, I will vote, whether I like the candidates or not.  My ‘liking’ or ‘disliking’ is immaterial.  I will vote out of obedience to the governmental system under who’s authority I am under, by the grace and will of God.  And I will vote to honor those who have defended that right.  No matter the outcome, or whether my vote seemingly mattered, I will rest in knowing that I obeyed God, giving honor and fear to the democratic republic I am a part of.
Now, this is not the final word on this matter, as there is an entirely new set of questions to be answered.   You see, when Jesus said to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s”, ‘Caesar’ is only part of the issue.   We must also give to ‘God’ what belongs to Him.  This is where it really starts to get interesting, as these two ‘renderings’ sometimes come into conflict.  They are not really in conflict if we ‘render’ rightly, but sparks may fly nonetheless! At least from our perspective on earth.  From God’s perspective in heaven there is not really a conflict as He knows His perfect will is to be accomplished no matter what; and He asks us to trust Him in this matter. 
Be comforted in the knowledge of being made in His image!  He will never leave or forsake us, no matter what the outcome is.  God asks us to trust Him with our future.   Do not lose hope!

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IMAGO DEI – PART 2 – ‘WHAT BELONGS TO GOD?’