The Biblical Mandate for Human Dignity
Genesis is the first book of the Bible. It summarises the purpose and order of Creation including our very existence and highlights the blueprints for how human relationships (man to man and man to God) are designed to work.
26 Then God said “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
Genesis 1: 26-27
The above two verses set out three critical points for the understanding of our existence:
We are made in the image of God
That we are made in the image of God means that the Creator God has designed us to be replicas of himself. We can feel, reason, relate, create, and rule. There can be no greater honour. This in turn means that every replica of God on Earth is to be valued with dignity. James, the first century leader of the early Church in Jerusalem writes against unrestrained speech:
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
James 3:9-10
His point is that there really is a failing when our words are used to put others down. How can this be right when people have been made in the similitude of God? Similitude means in the likeness of, a resemblance of or similar in nature. By attacking another created human, we are in effect attacking or discrediting the image of God in the Earth. Our purpose and standing in all Creation is way too valued for us to be spoken against. Moving outside the specific realm of speech now, it is clear that any attempt to de-value humankind is not appropriate.
Consider Michelangelo’s statue of the Psalmist David. This is arguably one of the greatest works of art on Earth. Commissioned for the Cathedral of Florence, it took two years to create. Michelangelo is said to have fully given himself to the work; sometimes forsaking sleep and even then, sleeping with his shoes and clothes on. His eating was sporadic. When unveiled in January 1504, it was considered by the authorities to be too perfect to be mounted high in the Cathedral and so was sited in the political heart of Florence, in the Piazza della Signoria. Consider if this work of art was somehow left discarded, out of site, in a backyard exposed to the elements, neglected? Suppose someone took it upon themselves to add a little graffiti or to take a chisel to try to modify it here and there as they saw fit? Many of us would agree that this would be a disgrace. If Michelangelo’s David is merely an outward aesthetic of David, a non-living, non-breathing creation, consider how much more the living human replica of God, mirroring His very nature, His very being, should be honoured with utmost dignity at all times?
Male and female are both made in the image of God and are therefore equal
Nowhere in the Bible is either male or female elevated over one or the other. When Moses first penned the above verses in Genesis around 1450-1290 BC this concept would have been revolutionary. In fact, sadly, it still is today as many cultures and adherents of world religions view woman as non-equals. As cases in point, in some cultures female babies are more likely to be aborted than male. Or provision for male education trumps provision for female education.
Continuing the theme of equality, the Bible extends the principal of human dignity for all by asserting there are no grounds for inequality for any, irrespective of background, race, culture, age, financial status etc. In the first century the Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Galatia (North Central Turkey):
There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:28
Here, Paul states that there are no outward distinctions that could potentially separate or deem certain individuals as inferior for those who have chosen to become followers of Jesus. Also, to paraphrase from the leader of the early Church in Jerusalem (James) – “don’t show any level of favouritism to those who are financially well-off”. Again, this would have been counter-cultural to the norms of society at the time. This wasn’t a new teaching but just a recollection of thousands of years of well-established Bible teaching. In the Jewish Torah, we read about how the nation of Israel was to treat any outsiders:
33 ‘And if a stranger dwells with you in your land, you shall not mistreat him. 34The stranger who dwells among you shall be to you as one born among you, and you shall love him as yourself”.
Leviticus 19:33-34
It is possible that there exists another statement voiced in human history that conveys a deeper sense of endorsing human dignity than this – “you shall love him as yourself”?
Mankind is the crowning glory of creation
Adam and Eve were formed in the image of God in perfection, created out of love for relationship with Him. God rejoiced when we were created and took delight in us (Proverbs 8:30-31). Today, we remain the pinnacle of His creation. Anything that has value has dignity. Given we are God’s most treasured possession in all of creation, our dignity is magnificent and must rightly be respected in all our dealings with one another.
Contrast this belief with the materialistic beliefs of secular atheism that state (without comprehensive scientific reason) that we are a product of chance, a collection of atoms, without divinely ordained purpose. Add to this the rationale that humans are one of any number of occupants on the earth, not the crowning glory of creation. This rationale can give rise to proponents in the green activism movement who actively call for a culling of humans to, “remove the cancer of humans from the Planet”. The question needs to be asked, does this thinking endow humanity with dignity? Is not the very nature of such ideology to de-value human worth?
Contrast this Biblical belief with Marxism that seeks to be the sole authority and guardian in the life of the individual. By not allowing themselves to be subject to God, socialist parties set themselves up to have unrestrained power. Dignity of the individual only exists in so far as it complies with party ideology. In reality, dignity of the human life becomes a rare commodity. The twentieth century witnessed such governments kill tens of millions of its own citizens. No further experimental evidence is needed to rightly conclude that de-throning God in government leads to tyranny and murder.
The Christian however knows at a deep level of the value and dignity bestowed upon us. Hence, the Christian message and the works of Christians have laboured persistently to make this dignity a reality in the workplace, in society at large, in government, in families and in education.
Human Dignity Fleshed out in Law – the Abolition of Slavery
We have laid out the Biblical thinking resulting in the establishment of human worth and dignity. In the remainder of this section, we will consider one historical example as a practical outworking of this thinking.
For millennia, many cultures have permitted the enforced labour of their fellow citizens. It may surprise you to learn that the respected great thinkers of Aristotle (384-322 BC) and Plato (c428-384 BC) both supported the use of slaves. Aristotle believed slaves were a necessity to free up time for leisure and intellectual pursuits. Plato considered that slaves had no souls and hence they had no human rights. Moving on to later history, it has been said that in the Roman Empire around 10 million of a total of 70 million people were slaves. The rights of such slaves were virtually non-existent. Stripped of their human dignity, sexual violence against male, female or child slaves at the whim of their masters was socially acceptable.
Historians have commented that the growth of the Church in the first few centuries was partly because of the value given to woman and slaves. It was a place where they could be part of a family that treated them fairly, as equals. This was revolutionary, no other institution, pagan or secular, reached out such a hand of human dignity.
As the early Church grew, church leaders spoke out against slavery despite the opposition and instituted a practical response. One such leader was the Archbishop of Constantinople, Chrysostom (c347-407), who proclaimed, “when Christ came, He annulled slavery”. He advised those under his influence to use their financial means to redeem slaves from their masters so they can be set free. Chrysostom also encouraged that they should be taught a trade so they could support themselves.
The abolition of slavery in the United Kingdom
Many church leaders spoke out against the indignity of slavery and how the very concept conflicted with the fact that as we are made in the image of God. The thinking is that we are to have equal dignity and freedom to pursue our God-given purposes.
In England, when Queen Elizabeth I (r. 1558-1603) was informed of the attempts to import slaves into the Americas she was outraged and warned that the slave trade would, “call down the vengeance of heaven”. Despite this, the commercial arguments of the day allowed people to look the other way and the struggle for the abolition of slavery took another c250 years to be legislated into the statute books. Resonant with today, there was a belief that if government legally permitted a particular practice, then it was acceptable to indulge. In response, the evangelist John Wesley (1703-1791) hit the nail on the head by stating,
Can human law turn light into darkness or evil into good? Notwithstanding 10,000 laws, right is right and wrong is wrong still
John Wesley
It was the same John Wesley that encouraged the famous Christian anti-slavery pioneer William Wilberforce (1759-1833) to dedicate his entire life to the abolition of slavery. Wilberforce exhibited tremendous dedication to this task especially as year after year the UK Parliament voted against the abolition. Although history has recorded Wilberforce as chief architect of the Abolition Act, he was not alone. Many other of his Christian compatriots of the time sought to embody Biblical concepts of human dignity and work towards getting these into the statute books. One in particular was a researcher and statistician, Zachary Macaulay (1768-1838), who is said to have worked 18 hours days to provide the facts about the slave trade. He did this despite being routinely attacked and vilified.
Not only at home in England did the Christian abolitionists strive to end the cruelty of slavery. Many Christian missionaries based in the colonies spoke out against slavery. As a result, some were expelled yet they continued speaking out when back in the UK. Others were sentenced to death.
Modern-Day Slavery
Sadly, despite legislation, there are more slaves in the world today than ever before. The International Labour Organisation claims there are nearly 21 million victims of human trafficking worldwide. Christians continue to give themselves to combatting slavery and restoring human dignity. The International Justice Mission is just one example of a Christian international network doing such work. Aside from global charities, individual Christians are aiming to restore human dignity in their localities. Christians in China are putting their lives on the line to secretly help those fleeing North Korea. Other Christians are involved against sex trafficking or providing support to the Dalit community – the lowest of the low in the Hindu caste society.
Modern-Day Slavery and the Sexual Revolution
It needs to be pointed out that the breaking away of Biblical norms and boundaries for sexual relations, manifested in what is known as the Sexual Revolution, has poured petrol on the sex trafficking industry. In a materialistic world whereby sex is reduced to a mere physical act without consciousness of spiritual implications, the World is revisiting the predatory horrors of ancient slavery that we had formerly disposed of. The answer is to return to the truth given by Creator God, given for our benefit, that sex is designed for a man and woman within the confines of marriage.
Final Thoughts on the role of Christians in restoring Human Dignity – Wretched, Lost and Blind Changed by Amazing Grace
John Newton was an 18th century composer, famous for composing Amazing Grace. Newton had a rebellious youth that saw him often caught up in trouble. At age 11 he followed his father into a life at sea but was sacked after just 6 voyages. At age 19 he was press-ganged into the Royal Navy but deserted shortly after and consequently received a public flogging. It was at this point that he found work in the slave trade, shipping slaves from Africa to North America. Newton’s rebellious nature continued to earn him many enemies, even from his slave trade partners who once left him behind in West Africa for several months. He was recused in 1748 and boarded a ship back to Britain. Whilst on the journey, a severe storm buffered the ship such that the ship took on water and started to sink. It was at this point that he humbled himself and called out to God. Surprisingly, the ship made it back to Britian. From that time on Newton continued to pray and read the Bible. At some point later, he then dedicated his life to be a follower of Jesus and became a minister within a local Christian church in Olney, North Buckinghamshire. He spent 16 years there and wrote many Hymns, including, “Amazing Grace”.
After this period, he moved to London and encountered the young up and coming politician William Wilberforce who, at the time, was considering leaving politics to enter church ministry. Thankfully, Newton persuaded Wilberforce to remain in politics on the premise he could also serve God there.
John was still grieved about his involvement in the slave trade but decided to put his experience to practical use to support the wider Christian effort to get slavery abolished. He wrote a pamphlet, “Thoughts Upon the African Slave Trade”. This pamphlet became widely circulated and is said to have played a substantial role in helping Wilberforce with his campaigns.
Newton’s life is testament to the transforming power of an individual who aligned their thinking with God’s truth and dared to challenge the status quo. Having personally experienced God’s freedom at his conversion, he was then able to help set others free.
Newton died in 1807 aged eighty-two a few months after slavery was abolished in the British Empire.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
John Newton, 1725-1807
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares
We have already come
‘Twas grace has brought us safe thus far
And grace will lead us home
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright, shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’ve first begun
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I am found
Was blind, but now I see