The Bible For Normal People Episode 193: Lisa Sharon Harper - The Meaning of the Image of God
Feb 14, 2022
Lisa Sharon Harper, founder of Freedom Road and an advocate for racial reconciliation, shares her insights on the impact of colonization and enslavement on Scripture. She emphasizes the urgent need to decolonize faith, reinterpreting the Imago Dei concept as a call to stewardship rather than domination. Harper also discusses the importance of financial literacy in families, critiques narrow interpretations of the gospel, and emphasizes healing through humility and truth-telling in the evangelical community. Her perspective intertwines faith, justice, and community engagement.
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Harper's Conversion Experience
- Lisa Sharon Harper found Jesus in her teens through white evangelical faith despite limited early church exposure.
- A revival experience profoundly transformed her life, marking a clear before and after in her faith journey.
Revolutionary Meaning of Image of God
- Imago Dei is a Latin term imposed by colonizers, not from the Hebrew scriptures.
- The Hebrew "Salem" means "representative figure" and revolutionary as it places God's image in everyone, not just royalty.
Goodness as Relational Connectivity
- The Hebrew word "tob" means goodness exists relationally between things, not as perfection.
- God's declaration "very good" focuses on the healthy relationships between humanity, creation, and God.
