Image Of God

Certainly Jews everywhere would agree that the Psalmist Asaph, appointed by King David, a man after God’s own heart, understood all people to be made in the image of God.

And all Catholics would certainly agree that St Peter understood all people to be made in the image of God.

And all Evangelicals would agree that both the apostle Paul and the apostle Peter understood that all people are made in the image of God.

Each of these men, speaking as he was led by the Holy Spirit, understood that all people—male and female—are made in the image of God.

Image Of God vs. Spark Of The Divine

Some people may erroneously refer to the theological concept of “image of God” as people having a “spark of the divine” as did the liberal representative from California, Nancy Pelosi.

First of all, if someone refers to “a spark of the divine” with no real religious context, then the phrase likewise, has no direct religious meaning. Without a context, the meaning of “divine” is based solely on whatever it means to any particular person who hears it. In other words, there is no objective substance or depth in the phrase spoken, only what is subjectively heard.

In the recent case of Nancy Pelosi’s questionable use of the phrase “a spark of the divine” in reference to MS-13 gang members, the ambiguity played to her followers who are not religious, i.e. taken with a new age or humanist meaning. The ambiguity also served as an attempt to virtue signal religious people, specifically Christians whom Nancy and other ultra-liberals detest.

From a Christian viewpoint, if we think of “spark” as light, then it is appropriate to say that those who have faith in Jesus Christ have a “spark of the divine.” Therefore, “spark” more accurately describes the presence of the Holy Spirit in a believer. The Holy Spirit—the third person of the Trinity—convicts a person of sin and enables belief in the salvation of Jesus Christ to forgive sin. The Holy Spirit also provides multitudinous other graces.

Therefore, all people are made in the image of God.

But not all people have the Holy Spirit, that is, the “spark of the divine.”

Paul Explains “Spark Of The Divine”

Paul explains the presence of the Holy Spirit within a believer in his second letter to the church at Corinth:

Therefore, having this ministry by the mercy of God, we do not lose heart. ² But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. ³ And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled only to those who are perishing. ⁴ In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. ⁵ For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. ⁶ For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.  2 Corinthians 4:1-6 (emphasis mine)

The Nature Of Humanity

Asaph the Temple Musician, St. Peter, and the Apostle Paul understood all of these things pertaining to God because they all believed in God and were godly men.

And all of these great men of the faith understood something else as well—the nature of human beings. In particular the great extreme of human nature—from the saintliest saint to the most evil reprobate, and all places in-between.

And that is why each of these men, entrusted by God to pen portions of His revelation to mankind, referred to some people as animals.

The Psalmist Asaph

Asaph is a descendant of Levi, whose family, appointed by King David, served the temple in music. Asaph also wrote many of the prayers of Israel found in the Psalms.

In the context of Psalm 73, Asaph experiences an inner struggle as to the appropriate response to evil and injustice in the world. To be more precise, Asaph laments the suffering of the righteous and the prosperity of the evil. In vv. 21-22, Asaph reflects on his response to the situation, and describes his own reaction to that of a “senseless animal”:

Then I realized that my heart was bitter, and I was all torn up inside. I was so foolish and ignorant– I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you. Psalm 73:21-22

Filled with grief and bitterness, Asaph was in a state of anguish and despair. In this state, he acted irrationally, like a fool or brute beast. In the Bible, the opposite of being a fool is being wise. So Asaph, when he considers the goodness of God, realizes that he acted like an animal—without sense, irrational, without wisdom.

God Gave Nebuchadnezzar The Mind Of An Animal

When the great Babylonian king, Nebuchadnezzar, failed to acknowledge that his kingdom had come from God, he was given the mind of an animal (see Daniel 5:21).

King Solomon–The Wisest Man Ever–Also Understood The Animal Nature Of People

And the great king of Israel’s golden era, King Solomon, in context with saying that God has put eternity in the hearts of all men (Eccl. 3:11) writes:

I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. Ecclesiastes 3:18

We have eternity in our hearts (the image of God, i.e. the capacity to know Him), but we are like animals too, that is we live and then die. But because of God’s amazing grace, a person can, through faith, know God personally and be set free from sin, satan, and death.

The Apostle Peter

The apostle Peter is one of Christ’s original twelve disciples, a member of the church’s Jerusalem Council, a biblical author, and a missionary who proclaimed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For Catholics, the papal succession stems from the Apostle Peter to whom Christ Jesus Himself said, “You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church.”

And Peter called people “animals.”

Speaking of false teachers who deny Christ, who secretly infiltrate the churches and teach heresy, Peter says:

But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction. 2 Peter 2:12

Peter inserts the adjective “irrational” (ESV), “unthinking” (NLT) to make clear what he means by the word “animals.”

In reference to the Greek word translated “irrational“ and “unthinking,” the Louw-Nida Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament has this entry:

Louw-Nida 30.12 άλογος; pertaining to a lack of capacity to reason or think properly – ‘without reason, not able to reason.’

Certainly that does not describe anyone who has a “spark of the divine.”

Even simple reasoning explains this. A quick glance at the word άλογος reveals the familiar Greek word λογος which means “word”; more specifically “a communication whereby the mind finds expression.” The prefix “ά” renders a word’s translation as “without” whatever it precedes. For example:

• amoral – without a sense of morality
• amorphous – without a definite form or shape
• anarchy – without rule or government
• anonymous – without a name
• atheist – without God
• alogos – without a mind that finds expression

The false teachers are like animals not only in their irrationality, that is without a mind that finds expression, but also in being destined to be destroyed. In God’s retaliatory judgment, i.e. eye for eye, these “animals” will be destroyed in their destruction of others. As Peter says succinctly in the latter half of 2:12 “…born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction.”

The Greek word for “destroy” means “to inflict punishment, destroy in the sense ‘punish by destroying,’ or “punish with eternal destruction.” “Destruction” is used figuratively in a moral sense, as in depravity or corruption, and literally as a final recompense destruction, death, and ruin. This is a perfect example of the meaning and extended meaning of a word rolled up into one to bring greater clarity to exactly what is being said.

This sense of “destroy” can be seen clearly in 1 Corinthians 3:17 in reference to divisions in the church caused by false teachers:

Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?  ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple. 1 Corinthians 3:16:17 (NLT)

Peter’s use of the word “ignorance” in 2 Peter 2:12, another term used to describe these animals, is instructive:

“…blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant…”

Ironically, the use of “ignorance” is not polemical to the opponents’ claim of vast knowledge, even as communist-liberals claim to have superior knowledge today.

In rewording the similarly phrased Jude 10, Peter has reduced the stress on the theme of knowledge. Instead he has put the emphasis on the coming judgment of the false teachers, in line with his general apologetic concern to counter their denial of divine retribution. Instead he goes on to stress the “animals” marks of degeneracy. And with this exclamation point ringing in his readers’ ear, Peter ends his description of “animals” on this determinative note.

Jude

Even the brother of Jesus, Jude, writing about another group of false teachers, calls these people “animals.” In context he is referring to those who reject all moral authority and basic moral order of the world. They are without law and without moral constraints.

Yet in like manner these people also, relying on their dreams, defile the flesh, reject authority, and blaspheme the glorious ones. ⁹ But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, “The Lord rebuke you.”  ¹⁰ But these people blaspheme all that they do not understand, and they are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Jude 1:8-10

These “animals” slander whatever they do not understand. They have no real understanding of the ministers of the divine lawgiver and judge. Though they claim special insights (think contemporary communists and socialists even though these systems have failed repeatedly in the past), i.e. “things they do understand” they are blasphemous to the real ways of the universe. As for “that which they understand instinctively” no doubt refers to the base indulgence of  “animals.” They claim special spiritual insight when convenient, but are in fact following the base and predatory instincts which they share with the animals.

The Apostle Paul

In Paul’s letter to Titus, he quotes a Cretan prophet who called his own people liars and animals, and Paul declares “this testimony is true!”

One of the Cretans, a prophet of their own, said, “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.”  ¹³ This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,  ¹⁴ not devoting themselves to Jewish myths and the commands of people who turn away from the truth.  ¹⁵ To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.  ¹⁶ They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work. Titus 1:12-16

The word used here for “beasts,” sometimes translated “animals” (cf. NLT), is from the Greek word φηρίον which means “(1) iterally wild animals, beast (Mark 1:13); and figuratively wicked person (Titus 1:12); (2) supernatural animal-like beings, especially with demonic and satanic powers (Rev. 11:7).”

Paul doesn’t mix words. In reference to these rebellious people that Titus is dealing with, Paul says their own poets call them liars, evil animals, and lazy gluttons.

And in verse 13, Paul agrees, “This testimony is true.” And in verses 15-16 “…both their mind and their consciences are defiled.” He continues hammering home this point and doesn’t let up.

In fact, the words that follow actually sounds as if he is describing Nancy Pelosi, her mainstream media sycophants, and other such animals:

• They profess to know God – by stating with moral authority that rapists, murderers, truly evil people, have “a spark of the divine”
• But they deny Him by their works – they are greedy, do not truly care about all people, only feign compassion when it is politically convenient
• They are detestable – they do not believe in God or treat Him as holy
• Disobedient – they do not do what Jesus commands
• Unfit for any good work – these morally bankrupt persons, in order to  give themselves “moral authority,” virtue signal people who actually have to inhabit the same streets as “animals” while they themselves stay behind their walled homes and gated communities; and though they do not obey the Word of God or the testimony of Jesus, they try to conveniently quote Scripture or assign a “benign divine” attribute to some truly evil people to gain political points, lockstep with equally unfit mainstream media.

Asaph, Peter, And Paul’s “Animals” Summary

So we see that, standing on the sure footing of Scripture, people can be animals. Animal behavior consists of

• Being unwise
• Lacking the capacity to reason or think properly; ignorant
• Being a liar, deceptive
• Leading others astray
• Rejection of moral authority
• Rejection of moral law; following the individual’s own baseness, degenerate
• Rejection of the moral order of the universe

MS-13, Nancy Pelosi, Fake News Media Do NOT Have A Spark Of The Divine

But… They Are All Created In God’s Image

Yes, MS-13 gang members have been created in the image of God.

And even Nancy Pelosi has been created in the image of God.

And make no mistake, even the persons in fake news media have been created in the image of God.

But these people do NOT have a “spark of the divine” as the biblically illiterate Nancy Pelosi, in her ambiguous statement, attempts to assign.

Can MS-13 And Others Like Them, i.e. Nancy Pelosi, Fake News Media, etc., Obtain A Spark Of The True Divine?

Do MS-13 gang members have a chance to get a “spark of the divine.” Does Nancy? Do the fake news media?

Absolutely! By placing they faith in Jesus Christ and repenting of their evil deeds. Men and women are known by their works, and their works as of today, has them square in the pit of hell. Just like the “animals” described by Asaph, Daniel, Solomon, Peter, Jude and Paul.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Nancy Pelosi and her MSM sycophants who jumped on the “MS-13-have-a-spark-of-the-divine” bandwagon, Ana Navarro, and Chris Matthews–would sincerely apply their “hope for humanity” to all people? (Though of course, theirs is politically convenient fake hope.)

Jesus sincerely applies hope to all of humanity.

If Nancy and company are holding up as pure and saintly Hamas, ISIS, and MS-13, why not hold up President Trump as having a “spark of the divine”? Is he not also made in the image of God? Does he not have potential, if not already, to have a spark of the divine?

Yet these people insist on speaking about him in the very worst of terms. A lot worse than calling MS-13 gang members “animals.” Nancy, Ana, and Chris go to the dregs of hell to find terms with which to slander President Trump. Animals!

When any of these people speak fairly about all people, then, maybe then, people will actually listen to them.

But until then—Nancy, Ana, Chris—you all claim to have a Bible?  Read it! And do what it says.

God, Please Give Them A Spark Of The Divine!

And may the God of all mercy forgive Nancy, Ana, Chris, and all their cohorts, all for the lies and slander they have perpetuated upon the American people.  All the bad policies that have left people in poverty and that have stolen others’ property.

And may the God of all light speak into your heart and say “Let there be light” that the light of Jesus Christ may shine in you. May He light the spark of divine in you until it blazes for God’s glory—not yours.

Nancy, Ana, and Chris—start your Christian journey with these words from 2 Peter. Based on your words (from out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks) and deeds (men and women are known by their deeds) I have taken the bold action to highlight what is so blatant and obviously absent in your words and deeds:

14 …be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

15 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in [Scripture] that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.

17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people [and by all means don’t be those lawless people yourselves!] and lose your own stability.

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. – 2 Peter 3:14-18

Prayer: God help us and protect us from the liberal and communist politicians and mainstream media, in a word, those who blaspheme all that they do not understand, and that are destroyed by all that they, like unreasoning animals, understand instinctively. Strike them down when they attempt to speak of You or use Your word for their own convenience in order to denounce other humans made in Your image.  God, I pray that you would speak into their hearts. Make them stop their ridiculous policies and propaganda. And if they remain rebellious, God, I pray, have mercy on the souls they have led astray.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.