The document discusses how the author's view of humanity changed after learning about the Imago Dei, or the idea that humans are made in God's image. Initially, the author believed that humanity was completely ruined by sin and had no worth. However, the author learned that being made in God's image means humans have inherent value and dignity. Additionally, while sin affects humanity, Jesus came to help people reclaim the image of God and will fully restore it one day. This shifted the author from a cynical view of humanity to one of hope and seeing people as God sees them.

1. The ImagoDei and Me

2. The ImagoDei and Me I graduated CWU in 2005 I went to seminary that next year. When I left here I had very little hope for humanity.

3. The ImagoDei and Me I had been taught my whole Christian life that I understood that the Fall ruined humanity so completely that we no longer had any worth. The LORD observed the extent of human wickedness on the earth, and he saw that everything they thought or imagined was consistently and totally evil. - Gen 6:5

4. The ImagoDei and Me I believed that humanity would flounder for a few millennia and then at our worst moment Jesus would come back to rescue us. I often wondered what the point of this mess called life was and why God would drag it out.

5. The ImagoDei and Me Then I learned about the Image of God. Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like ourselves. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. - Gen. 1:26-27

6. The ImagoDei and Me Humanity is made in God’s Image! But what does that mean?

7. The ImagoDei and Me I found out that being made in God’s Image means we are distinct from other life in a special way.

8. The ImagoDei and Me The Imago Dei means we reign over creation in a similar way that God reigns over us.

9. The ImagoDei and Me The Image of God is the reason we shouldn’t kill each other. If anyone takes a human life, that person’s life will also be taken by human hands. For God made human beings in his own image. - Gen 9:6

10. The ImagoDei and Me The verse about murder means we have inherent worth. God has given us value that is part of our being. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. – James 3:7-9

11. The ImagoDei and Me I was glad to find out that God gave us worth since the beginning of creation. But I wondered about the Fall. Are we still ruined anyway?

12. The ImagoDei and Me I already knew that sin has tainted everything about humanity. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. - Rom. 7:18

13. The ImagoDei and Me But what I didn’t know is that God sent Jesus to help us reclaim that Image. Jesus didn’t simply die so that sin could be dealt with. He lived so that we could live in accordance with God’s Image. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. – Col 1:15 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. – Col 3:8-10

14. The ImagoDei and Me One day we will totally conform to the Image of God again. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven. -1 Cor. 15:49

15. The ImagoDei and Me The Imago Dei taught me that while we are still sinful, everyone has inherent value in God’s eyes.

16. The ImagoDei and Me This value can’t be taken away. We can’t choose who deserves the Image of God, because everyone simply has it.

17. The ImagoDei and Me Jesus will come and rescue us. But we still have work to do in the mean time. Some of what humanity does will be good and some bad, but God will redeem all of it.

18. The ImagoDei and Me My cynicism when I left here was unbiblical and unjustified. I had to learn to hope and trust in God and other people. I had to learn to see people through God’s eyes.

19. The ImagoDei and Me You Have you ever heard of the Image of God before? How are you going to see people differently now? How are you going to be “renewed in knowledge?” Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. – Col 3:8-10

20. The ImagoDei and Me Illustrated by Mike Beck :P