By Matt Singleton
The Kentucky Family Association believes God created mankind as both male and female in His image and likeness. Every human being bears the imago Deo.
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them."
– Genesis 1:27
Therefore, we must protect the sanctity of human life from conception through natural expiration.
Theologians have shared differences of opinion over the meaning of the image of God. Some argued for man's sense of reason. Others remarked about man's ability to develop relationships or emphasized man’s many powers. It is likely that God’s image has these and many other qualities. The psalmist once remarked,
3. “When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained;
4. What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?
5. For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
6. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet:
7. All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
8. The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
9. O Lord our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!”
– Psalm 8:3-9
Some have wondered if man has not lost the image of God due to his moral depravity and the Fall. It does appear to have been a downgrade in the Scripture.
“And Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth”
– Genesis 5:3
“And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”
– Colossians 3:10
We still do seem to bear the image of God to a degree, though.
“In him was life; and that life was the light of men.”– John 1:4
But the attribute that we should focus on is the dignity of mankind, both in what we say to people and in what we do to people.
As Scripture states,
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.”
– James 3:9
“Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man.”
– Genesis 9:6
If there is anything physical with dignity, it is humanity. Now, our evil deeds do ruin the image, but I believe this is why you see so much of an amazing spirit within children.
Yet as people drift away from God, they also drift away from humanity.
“Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.”
– Matthew 5:21
So, we take a stand against not only murder in the sense of homicide but also against the killing of children in and out of the womb (and even in old age). We do this because we revere the image of God.
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