In The Image of God

Apologetic Swag with a Gospel Significance

The shirts, sweatshirts, stickers, mugs and more… feature the two Hebrew words from Genesis 1:27 בְּצֶלֶם אֱלֹהִים which remind the world that all humans are created by God “In The Image of God.”

Apologetic Purpose

Proclaim the biblical truth that all men and women are created in the image of God. All human life is sacred and all of us must work together to both share the salvation of Christ and to stop injustice regardless or race, creed, or culture.

I’ve intentionally left off any reference to Genesis. I find that once people see a Bible verse, they realize it’s a Christian message and they just don’t engage. Without the verse, people get curious and ask, “what language is that?” or “what does that mean?” Once they ask the question, you’re ready to start a conversation.

Inspiration

Sadly, far too many people are willing to diminish the value of others based on issues of race, sex, age, religion, ethnicity, or disability. Hitler deemed Jews, gays, gypsies, and the disabled as “life unworthy of life.” Sadly, this extreme philosophy of dehumanization is evident all around us.

There are many signs and slogans that people employ to counter the dehumanization of others, but no message is more powerful than the declaration from the Scripture that each of us is made in the image of God. This design repeats the declaration of Genesis 1:27. Every man, every woman, every human being bears the image of God and bears an intrinsic sacred worth that cannot be lost. John Lennox puts it this way:

So, both Genesis and science say that the universe is geared to supporting human life. But Genesis says more. It says that you, as a human being, bear the image of God. The starry heavens show the glory of God, yes; but they are not made in God’s image. You are. That makes you unique. It gives you incalculable value. The galaxies are unimaginably large compared with you. However, you know that they exist, but they don’t know that you exist. You are more significant, therefore, than a galaxy. Size is not necessarily a reliable measure of value, as any woman can tell you as she looks at the diamonds on her finger, and compares them with lumps of coal.

John C. Lennox, Seven Days That Divide the World, 99.