How could humans have evolved and still be made in the “Image of God”? (Part 1)
This blog-cast appeared in the June 2018 issue of Biologos, a Christ-based society of scientists. What a profound question! Science typically sides with humans evolving from a population of 10,000 people in central Africa 150,000 years ago, while the Bible declares special creation, starting with Adam and Eve, somewhere around 7,000 years ago (based on genealogies). This begs the question: “how can one be a bible-believing Christian and an evolution-believing scientist at the same time”? Can both be right, or must we choose sides?
I’m sure some of you could care less; you’ve already settled the issue. You have no desire to dredge up any controversy, and if cornered, you tend to retreat into the realm of “God meant it to be a mystery; he’ll let us know the details when we get to Heaven” – the “need-to-know” posture. For the rest of us “inquiring mind” types, we’ll just have to duke it out with the theologians and scientists.
I will assume that most of us know enough about evolution, to understand that it eventually leads to the “man evolved from monkeys” cliché. Yet, we have no scientific or biblical evidence that monkeys are made in God’s image. Imago Dei appears to be reserved specially for mankind (Homo sapiens). But, have theologians even settled on an understanding of the “Image of God”? I think not! Seems like we’re at an impasse.
At the core of this discussion is the definition of Image of God. Over the centuries, scholars most often propose three explanations: 1) unique cognitive abilities of humans, i.e. reason, rationality, mathematics, language, empathy, emotions, music and art; 2) our spiritual capacity for a relationship with God, man’s ability to know and love his creator; and 3) our commission to represent God’s kingdom on earth, our priestly, covenantal function as God’s stewards and protectors of such as: social justice, the earth, the animal kingdom, etc.
Countdown to Adam contains numerous mentions of the “Image Bearers”. Appendix 2 is dedicated to Image of God. More to come on this subject….
