Divisiveness

I am deeply committed to the theological statement that humanity is created in the image of God. We read it in the first chapter of Genesis, 

Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the wild animals of the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps upon the earth.”

So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

We, humans, were created to bear God’s image in the world and God gave us, humanity, the responsibility to be stewards of creation. To be God’s representatives on this planet. Only something went terribly wrong. Rather than partner with God and one another to fulfill this amazing calling humanity decided to go their own way. That story is recorded for us in the third chapter of Genesis. 

I am not interested here in whether people want to read it as actual history or as allegory, I don’t think it matters to the point the story is seeking to make. The serpent approaches the human, Eve, and poses a question designed to create division and sow doubt in the mind of humanity, “Did God say, ‘You shall not eat from any tree in the garden’?” Think about it, the tempter is asking something akin to, “Did God say you are supposed to starve?” Of course the answer was no, God only said not to eat the fruit of one tree, the rest of the fruit was there to be eaten. 

When Eve responds she correctly states that there is only one tree that they are not to eat from, but then adds, “nor shall you touch it, or you shall die.” This exaggeration shows that Eve is now beginning to doubt the truth of what God has said, maybe God isn’t so good after all, Eve is falling into the serpents trap. Now the serpent grabs hold of this idea and declares, “You will not die; for God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God.” In other words the serpent is saying, the only thing that God doesn’t want is for you to be like God. Of course this is a lie, we were created to bear the image of God, to represent God in the world. Humanity already had a position of honor and privilege within creation. However, that wasn’t enough for us.

Eve took the fruit and ate it. She gave some to Adam who was standing there and he ate it too. The divisions ran deep. The division between God and humanity was cemented, Adam blamed Eve and a rift was opened between the humans and would reach a tipping point when one of their sons kills the other.

This narrative beautifully illustrates the desire within us to set aside our humanity and be God. Who wants to be a creature dependent on the creator when we can be our own God? 

So many of the problems we face could be resolved easily if we accepted and recognized that all people are created in God’s image, no exceptions. But sin, both individual and systemic, get in the way and we continue to want have power and control over other image bearers. We create systems of haves and have nots; we paint our “enemy” as being less than human; we belittle and demonize our political opponents; we promote nationalism as a righteous virtue; we put our own interests above the interests of others; we work to protect ourselves from those not like us. I could go on and on. The serpent successfully sowed the seeds of division and our humanity has been ripped apart by it. 

The gospel points to a time when God’s kingdom will be established and the divisions will be done away with. Paul tells us to be reconciled to God and to one another. This can only take place through Christ, who gave himself over to death on the cross for the sake of humanity. 

Christians are to challenge the divisions created by a fallen world. Paul tells us that we are to consider, “no one from a worldly point of view.” That’s a challenge but if we believe that “In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.” And recognizing, as Paul continues, that, “We are ambassadors for Christ.” Then we will live differently in the world as we pray and urge people to be reconciled to God and each other.

There are some things that are core to the gospel. Standing in opposition to those who seek to sow division, exercise power over others, spread fear and hate of others, and standing alongside the oppressed, the poor, the orphan, the widow, the immigrant, the publican, and sinners lie at the heart of the good news of Jesus. 

This is not to create another level division, but rather to offer the healing and hope of Jesus, restoring humanity to its proper dependency on God rather than allowing a certain segment of humanity to act as if it were God.