Park Hill Church Podcast
Carmen Joy Imes (Part One): Being God's Image
Mar 31, 2025
Carmen Joy Imes, an associate professor of Old Testament at Biola University and author, delves into the profound meaning of being made in God's image. She explores how this belief affects our treatment of individuals with disabilities and emphasizes the dignity and worth of every person. Carmen challenges societal norms that rank individuals by abilities, advocating for a compassionate perspective that values everyone equally. Her insights encourage listeners to rethink how they see themselves and others in light of their divine identity.
55:04
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Being made in the image of God affirms every person's inherent dignity and value, regardless of societal standards or abilities.
- Our responsibility as God's image-bearers includes ethical stewardship of creation and advocating for marginalized individuals, fostering a compassionate community.
Deep dives
Understanding the Image of God
The concept of being made in the image of God is central to human identity, indicating that God defines who we are and our purpose in the universe. This understanding contrasts sharply with contemporary beliefs that identity is self-constructed and subjective. Various historical interpretations have inaccurately associated the image of God with human intellect, relationality, or morality, creating a sliding scale of worth among individuals. Instead, the biblical perspective emphasizes that every human being, regardless of capacity or ability, embodies the image of God, which affirms their inherent dignity and value.
