Humans as Images, Yes! But of What or Whom?

If evolution is true, then human beings are not made in God’s image.

Evolutionists allege that evolution by natural selection explains the origin and existence of human beings as the result of purely natural processes that never had them—or anything else—in mind. We exist, they say, only as anything else in nature exists, as a particular form of matter not inherently more interesting or important than any other form of matter.

Any ideas harbored by humans that we have more importance, dignity, or distinction among the meanderings of blind nature can be reduced to mere sophistry. Blind nature does not produce importance, dignity, or distinction. It explains only varied forms of meaningless matter in motion, everything existing for no reason or purpose.

Why, then, do we has humans have an innate sense that we are somehow different? Our every sense and our irrepressible inuitions relentlessly inform us that human beings hold a place in nature different from every other form of life and non-life.

Is there really a difference in kind between say, a human being and a dog? A human being and a cucumber? Or are we really made merely in the image of whatever non-human being came before us—plant or animal—with with all life being of one meaningless kind? Are we really no more than the latest emanation of purposeless masses of moving matter that arose from a long line of purposeless emanations that extends back to a sea sponge (if you believe current evolutionists) and beyond?

Maybe, if evolutionary theory explains human existence.

But scripture teaches something radically different. Scripture teaches that human beings are different in kind from all other creations, living and non-living. Human beings, scripture teaches, are made in the image of God. If we believe scripture we can debate the meaning of what being made in God’s image entails, but we cannot debate with integrity the fact of such creation. If true, human beings are immeasurably different in kind from all other living creatures.

Creation by God in his image is central to the entire narrative arc of the Bible, and is, in fact, the central truth that colors the entire tapestry of creation, the fall, and redemption. Yes, the fall affected God’s created image bearers; this image is but a faint glimmer in most people. But God’s plan of redemption is directed at reviving his image bearers in newness of life in the knowledge of him, their Creator. The apostle Paul speaks of redeemed people putting off the old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires and putting on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Further, this new self, according to the apostle Paul, is to be renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.

It seems that the old self, created in the image of God but living in a fallen state, is to be made into a new self, which is to be renewed in the image of its creator: God. This is a mystery, for sure, but is it also a fact?

Maybe, if the Bible is true.

It seems that determining the correct and true creation story for human beings is more than a mere scientific inquiry. The question goes to the heart of human existence on earth. Do we exist merely as images of what evolved before in a hopelessly constant state of death and dying without recourse? Or are we to live with hope of reviving the very image in which we were made?

The question goes to the heart of the gospel message: If human beings are not created by God in his image, the gospel is more mere sophistry. Beyond its outlandish claims of a virgin birth and God coming as a human to earth, there is simply no coherent need for redemption among rocks, eggplants, human beings, and any other random construct of blind nature.

And yet, interestingly, in both creation stories we find images.

In the Bible’s creation story we learn that human beings are created in the image of God.

But what of evolution? What images are we faced with in a naturalistic creation story? What we find in evolutionary circles are people who fail to glorify God in creation. In fact, although they claim to be wise they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for other images.

What are these other images? A quick search of how humans are said to have evolved will reveal neat diagrams and tidy charts that illustrate the images that evolutionists believe humans are created in. Images of ape-like animals are the most charitable of images; but many other images lie in the supposed evolutionary line of human evolution. Such evolutionary narratives show that evolutionists have exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man, and birds, and animals, and reptiles.

Images that look like mortal man and birds, and animals, and reptiles. Or man made in the image of God. One view is held by those who have exchanged the truth of God for a lie. And, scripture makes clear, such people have chosen to worship and serve created things rather than the Creator.

Any why do some choose to worship and serve created things rather than the Creator? Because they have bought into the lie of evolution by natural selection as their Creator.

Does it matter?

Think about it.

(C) 2023 Creation Reformation