Put on the New Self: Redeeming the Imago Dei
Ephesians 4:22-24 states, "To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness."
A worldview in its most basic sense can be described as the glasses which govern our overarching sense of reality. The apostle discusses the implications of a renewed worlview in this text. He makes a few interesting statements:
1. Put off the old self
2. Be renewed in the spirit of your minds
3. Put on the new self, created after the likness of God
The overarching narrative of Scripture further affirms (1) the original, good creation, (2) the falleness of the cosmos, including the entire human race, (3) renewal or maybe another way to put it, God in Christ is redeeming that which is broken through the divine payment of his Son, and (4) the goal, being conformed to the image of Christ.
With the scriptural narrative as a guide, it's easier to find our place as redeemed sinners in the world today. Let me explain. If our goal is to see invidividuals conformed to the image of the Son, we need to know the fight we are in along with having a few weapons needed for a successful battle...
(1) Putting off the old self is much more than a self help book telling us to stop being bad. It's painting a picture of the death and darkness that dwells inside of sinners, and those who profess Christ still understand the fight for our loyalty...it's a never-ending battle. I can attest to the power of the battle, having been through a deep, dark, drug addiction. I know what it's like to wake up and feel death chasing me at every turn... However, looking retrospectively, now I can at least place the concept of evil within the overarching scope of redemption. The battle is real and evil is right at our doorstep, seeking to devour every one of us. We are called to put this off because it's no longer the commanding force which controls our every thought and desire. We (those of us who have placed our trust in Christ alone) are redeemed!
(2) Being renewed in our minds is much more than thinking positive thoughts and trying to be good boys and girls. Renewal is the way in which the silent shapers of our thoughts are changed. We are being renewed in our minds as our sense of reality is being shaped through the redemptive work of God in the Gospel. As Christians, we are to be focused on renewing or redeeming every sphere of life. In other words, Christianity is not simply a club we hangout in on Sundays. There are major controlling worldview implications in this life. First and foremost, we are redeemed. Second, we are redeemers of family life, church life, work life, and the community. We promote the things God promotes in the home. We promote the importance of the church family. We promote excellence in the market place and seek to see our communities renewed through caring and action.
(3) As our silent shapers are conformed to the image of Christ and his redemptive plan for the world, we actively participate in seeing the image of God restored in humanity. Even though we are sinful from conception, we are nevertheless created in the image of God. Therefore, all of humanity is due dignity and respect. It's this mindset that allows us to see the sinful and weak as precious in God's sight. This is one of, if not the most important driving forces in my ministry context. The men I deal with day to day are the same as me. No matter what I think about them or the progress (or lack of...) they make, they too are within God's scope of redemption and that drives me down the road of humility.
The road of humility is the road that God is pleased to see us travel. As we consider the way in which we think about things and then operate out of our thoughts, we will start to see how we need to be re-programmed. This is the work that God does for us and it's nothing short of a miracle that he blesses us when we have run away from him. He loves each of us in our knuckleheadedness and goes so far as to providentially work in our lives to drive us to himself and change us into his image. He is merciful, gracious, and good. Put off the old self, put on the new self and engage in God's redemptive work in the world.
