Image Bearer: A Better Way
Rethinking Life with Shane Claiborne
What if we stopped seeing people primarily through the labels we stick on them—illegal, Republican, Democrat, liberal, conservative—and started seeing them first as image-bearers of God?
Not just those who look like us, think like us, and worship like us. But everyone. You, me, “them”. All fellow image-bearers.
Imagine how that might reshape our conversations, our politics, our compassion. What if our first instinct wasn’t to sort someone into a preconceived mental bucket, but to recognize a shared sacredness? The image of God, stamped into each soul, regardless of ideology or background.
We Christians talk a lot about being “made in God’s image,” but we rarely let that truth confront our assumptions of other people.
If we really believed every person bears the imago Dei, we’d speak differently, listen more carefully, and judge more slowly. We’d resist reducing people to positions or parties. We’d offer dignity where it’s been denied, and patience where outrage comes easy.
No other part of creation shares this designation. Not the angels. Not the blazing stars in space. Just people.
Not everyone has surrendered to Jesus. Not everyone bears the title of “child of God”. But everyone bears the title of “image-bearer”. That fact alone demands a baseline of mercy, honor, and grace.
This was just one of the thoughts that came to mind during our incredible conversation with Shane Claiborne in our most recent BICLife Podcast episode. Check out the full episode here:
Or anywhere you get your podcasts. Enjoy!
