The Image of God - A Far Reaching Idea

Each person around you carries within them the image of God, because they are created "in the image of God."  We are to honor the image of God within each other, and treat each other with an awareness of that image.  What does that mean?

James 3:8-10 says, "But no human being can tame the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.  With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the likeness of God.  . . . My brothers, these things ought not to be so."

I teach my children that when they call each other names, then they are calling names of someone who is in the image of God.  So even if they are unaware of it they are calling God those names.

When we treat each other poorly we are doing these things to the image of God within each other.  (Jesus said whatever we do to the least of His brothers we do to Him.  Matthew 25:40, 45)

This is also part of the reason the prophets in the Old Testament were offended by social injustice in their days.  Because how we treat those who have been made in the image of God is part of our respect or lack of respect for God.  It cannot be separated from our worship life.

With that awareness, how should a young man treat a young lady when they are out on a date?  Should he try to take advantage of her or pressure her into immorality?

How should husbands and wives treat each other?
How should we treat our enemies?  criminals?  terrorists?  Very often the punishment for evil remains the same.  But it is carried out with an understanding of a deep tragedy.  Someone created in the image of God has done evil and so have defiled the image of God within themselves.  They have made themselves what God does not want them to be and are in danger of being separated from Him forever.
They need the Savior, Jesus Christ!