“CREATED IN THE IMAGE OF GOD”
PERSPECTIVE
AND STANCE ON HUMAN RIGHTS
Rev. Jeric C. Cortado, SPMCI
Faculty, December 9, 2015
The
Comprehensive Human Rights Situation presented, the input on The Role of the
Civilians Authorities in Upholding Human Rights being shared, and the Statement
of Unity of the IP Leaders in this Human Rights Day Forum gives us the
perspective of what it means to be a human being with dignity and worth. Thus
remind me to the political responsibility of Christians and of the Church which
depicts our basic attributes to be in the image of God.
Human
rights advocacy is integral to the Creation Story. Genesis 1 (vv. 26-28) which
is believed to have been written by Priestly source[1]
(P) between 550-450 B. C.E. defines human as created in the image of God.
26. Then
God said, "Let us make man in our image, after 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 earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps
upon the earth."
27. So God
created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and
female he created them.
28. And God blessed them, and God said to them,
"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have
dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every
living thing that moves upon the earth."
(RSV)
The
accounts points out the equality and equal dignity of the two sexes (Male and
Female) and God blessed this by saying to both, "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and
have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over
every living thing that moves upon the earth." God blessed their
relationship to be the image of God. Paul J. Jewett, commented that to be a man means to be a male and female,
and to be a male and female means to be in the image of God. Following this
perspective, Aviva Zornberg, a Jewish writer, commented that God does not create a man but the basic
qualities of humankind which is to be in fellowship with one another as
male and female – and this is what it means to be in the image of God. God created the basic qualities of humankind understood
in the capacity of building relationship with one another. In this sense, to be in the image of God possesses
the capacity to image God’s love, mercy, and justice. For the Hebrew people
(the indigenous people of the Old Testament), human being project the image of
God here on earth, actively engage for the liberation of the people, and
entering into a collective life with the rest of the people of society.
This
capacity as well as responsibility is very clear to Jesus Christ, as human
rights worker and community organizer of his time. In the Gospel of Luke
(4:18-19), Jesus clarified that he was sent to “preach good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners,
recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, and to proclaim the
year of the Lord’s favor or the day of the Lord”. The Day of the Lord
means, bringing back the law to its divine purpose (Dt. 5:12-15; Gen. 2:2-3;
Ex. 20:8-11) concerned with the welfare of the people. Thus, human beings need
laws and structures not because they are important but because human persons
are important. The day of the Lord means, redeeming the original existence of
the temple (Mk 11:15-16, 18a, 28-33) as a sign of God’s salvific presence to
the people of God. The pro-Roman priests and aristocracy of Jerusalem then have
transformed it into a business center to consolidate their economic power in
society. The day of the Lord means responding the concrete needs of the people.
Jesus actions shifted from the law to human beings. He began a process of
liberation by liberating the consciousness of people. And the day of the Lord
means, restoring the people to their own value and being free from the hunger
of possessions and riches. Break away from the economy of private property and
embrace the economy of sharing. And the day of the Lord means, making the
temple or the Church as the rallying point of the people in their aspirations
for genuine freedom and unity. The Day of the Lord is like the Human Rights Day
that we are celebrating today depicting a community living in the image of God.
Jesus
set an example of what it means to be in
the image of God which is to “Love our neighbor as ourselves” (Matthew
22:39, Lev. 19:18) who are poor, oppressed, marginalized, exploited, deprived
but struggling people (POMEDS). Being created in the image of God is to be in solidarity with POMEDS not only as
a responsibility but also an opportunity to enter into a deeper relationship
with our God. This should be the praxis of the Church and the totality of its
existence.
In
situations where human rights of the people are systematically and constantly
violated, Churches should go beyond assistance and efforts to rescue the
victims. The Churches should work together and in dialogue with the POMEDS to
address the root causes and structural origins of oppressions and violations of
human rights. Our Book of Discipline (paragraph 124), pointed out our mission
in the world as a United Methodists and created in the image of God “to engage in the struggle for justice and
reconciliation…to reveal the love of God for men, women, and children of all
ethnic, racial, cultural, and national backgrounds and to demonstrate the
healing power of the gospel with those who suffer.” To be in the image of God, the Church supports
the basic rights of all persons to equal access to housing, education,
communication, employment, medical care, legal redress for grievances, and
physical protection. Our respect for the
inherent dignity of all persons leads us to call for the recognition,
protection, and implementation of the principles of The Universal Declaration
of Human Rights so that communities and individual may claim and enjoy their
universal, indivisible, and inalienable rights. (BOD par 162)
In
the image of God, we are created as community of faith to exert a strong ethical influence upon the state, supporting policies
and programs deemed to be just and opposing policies and programs that are
unjust. Created in the
image of God means an individual or a community of people who love and building
more communities who love. The measurement of existence of the church is not
the building, but the open heart to the people. Every act that upholds the value
and dignity of a human being, and every initiative that cares for the
protection and preservation of human rights to the full truly manifest that we
are created in the image of God. Amen.
Reference:
1.
(2011)
Human Rights: A Resource Material for Church Workers. Philippines: RECCORD.
2.
(2012)
In the Image of God….We are Created: Reflections and Perspectives on Human
Rights. Philippines: NCCP.
[1] A historical narrative concerned with the origin
and regulations of institution of Israel. It focuses on genealogies, cultic
laws, covenants, high days like the Sabbath, blueprints of cultic buildings,
and procedures for sacrifices and ceremonies(Leviticus 1-7, 17-26). It
emphasizes God’s holiness, sovereignty, and transcendence along with the
establishment of the true worship of Yahweh led by the priest. It places
Israel’s worship within the context of creation (Genesis 1).
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