When Civility Fails: A Pastor’s Response to Violence, Rage, and the Hard Work of Truth

-
Image
  by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D. Introduction — Why I must speak I have been reflecting on recent events in our nation and wrestling with how best to speak into them. As a follower of Jesus Christ and as a pastor, I believe my calling is to shed more light than heat in times of turmoil, and to offer the seasoning of grace in a culture that often tastes bitter. This will not be an exercise in soft-peddling. It will be frank, pastoral, and, where necessary, unflinching. Somewhere, this post will fail to address a consideration that it might have spoken to. I own it, saying in my defense only that space prevents my discussing everything that might be said on a subject and my views on it. Yet undoubtedly, this will cover more ground than most newspaper op-ed articles. Some readers may focus on one thing I say in the post without taking the entirety of what I said here in context. I pray you won't. But I resign myself to the likelihood some will. What I saw this past week I saw a young...
Post a Comment

Created to Reflect: How the Image of God Transforms Christian Leadership

-

By Bart L. Denny

Have you ever wondered what it really means to be created in the “image of God”? It’s a truth we affirm often, but what if it’s not just a theological concept—what if it’s the foundation of every Christian leader’s calling?

Whether you lead in a church, a classroom, a boardroom, or your own home, the truth of the imago Dei—Latin for “image of God”—has the power to radically reshape how you view yourself and those you lead.

Let’s explore how understanding the image of God can lead to more Christlike, transformative leadership.

What Is the Image of God?

The Bible doesn’t give us a textbook definition of the imago Dei, but it introduces the idea right at the beginning:

“Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness…’ So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:26–27).

That’s the spark. But what does it mean?

For centuries, theologians have wrestled with this question. Some say it’s about our God-given abilities—like reason, morality, or creativity. Others emphasize our capacity for relationship—with God and with others. Still others focus on our role to steward creation, to represent God on earth.

The truth is, all three views hold valuable insights. We bear God’s image in our character, our relationships, and our calling. And—this is key—we never lost that image, even when sin entered the world. It was marred, but not destroyed. That’s why, in Genesis 9:6, God still says humanity bears His image—and why He commands we treat one another with dignity.

The Clearest Picture of the Image of God? Jesus.

The New Testament puts flesh and blood on this mystery. Colossians 1:15 tells us that Christ is “the image of the invisible God.” If you want to see the imago Dei fully alive, look to Jesus.

He didn’t just tell us what it means to be fully human—He showed us. He embodied the image of God with perfect love, humility, justice, mercy, and truth. And through Christ, we are being made new. We’re not just forgiven—we’re being transformed “into His likeness” (2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29).

This isn’t just theology. It’s a calling.

What This Means for Christian Leaders

When you understand the imago Dei, it changes everything about how you lead:

1. You Lead as One Who Reflects God

You’re not the ultimate authority—God is. But you are His representative in your sphere of influence. That’s not something to take lightly. You’ve been entrusted with people, responsibilities, and influence for a reason.

God has called you to lead like Him: with wisdom, justice, compassion, and humility. Leadership is not about climbing ladders or controlling people—it’s about reflecting the heart of Christ.

2. You See Others as Image Bearers

That difficult team member? Image bearer. That person who disagrees with your vision? Image bearer. That hurting person in the pew or the cubicle or the checkout line? Image bearer.

When we truly believe that every human being reflects something of God, we’ll treat them with dignity and grace—not just as resources, but as relationships.

3. You Embrace Both Stewardship and Service

God gave Adam and Eve “dominion”—but not domination. Leadership means stewarding people and resources with care. And Jesus, the perfect image bearer, didn’t come to be served, but to serve (Mark 10:45).

That’s the model: shepherd leadership. Servant leadership. Leading with both strength and tenderness.

Following Jesus Means Following as a Follower

Jesus didn’t just lead. He followed. He submitted to the will of the Father—again and again, even when it led to the cross (see John 6:38; Matthew 26:39). And that’s part of bearing God’s image, too.

Leadership isn’t just about being in charge. Sometimes it means humbly following someone else’s vision for the sake of the team, the mission, or the Church. That kind of submission isn’t weakness—it’s Christlikeness.

One Powerful Example: Leading in Church Revitalization

I’ve seen this play out firsthand in struggling churches. Pastors walk into weary congregations longing for new life—but change is hard. Resistance is real. Discouragement comes easy.

In those moments, the leader has to remember: “I am created in God’s image. So is every person here—even the ones resisting me.” That realization changes the tone of your leadership. It replaces frustration with compassion. It helps you persist with love, not resentment.

It also reminds you to lean into your relationship with God. After all, bearing His image doesn’t mean leading in your own strength—it means walking closely with the One whose image you bear.

Why It Matters

You were made to reflect God. So was everyone you lead.

Leadership is not just a skill. It’s a sacred calling to live out the image of God in your everyday interactions. And because of Jesus—the perfect image—you’re being restored day by day to reflect that image more clearly.

So whether you’re pastoring a church, raising a child, mentoring a young leader, or guiding a team at work, remember:

  • You are an image bearer.
  • They are image bearers.
  • And Jesus is the Image that transforms us all.

Let’s lead like Jesus. Let’s reflect the One who made us.

Comments

Post a Comment

All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

Popular posts from this blog

Leadership Development in Local Church Revitalization: A Review of the Literature and Suggestions for Further Research

-
by Bart L. Denny This article identifies a gap in the existing literature concerning leadership development in the context of local church revitalization. The article further suggests how existing leadership and leadership development theories could be applied to church revitalization and proposes further investigation and research areas. Observers and practitioners in the field of church revitalization unequivocally make the case that for a local church to reverse its decline, the pastor must develop a new generation of leaders (Clifton, 2016; Davis, 2017; Henard, 2021; Rainer, 2020; Stetzer & Dodson, 2021). The extant literature links the decline of churches to a lack of leadership and identifies renewed leadership as a vital component of church revitalization. However, little has been written, theoretically or practically, about the process of leadership development as it applies to local church revitalization. Moreover, little empirical verification supports church revitalizat...
Read more

But some doubted...

-
Image
by Bart Denny “The eleven disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted.” —Matthew 28:16–17 (CSB) I try to be faithful to Scripture when I write or preach. I want to draw out lessons and apply them to daily life without saying more than the text itself says. My goal is to dig deep into God’s Word and share what I find—without putting words in God’s mouth. But I can’t help wondering—have you ever heard someone really focus on that last phrase in Matthew 28:17? “But some doubted.” In the very presence of the risen Christ—after seeing Him crucified, buried, and now alive—the disciples worshiped. And yet… some doubted. That moment has always fascinated me. We often say, “seeing is believing.” But here were disciples looking at Jesus with their own eyes, and still, something inside them wavered. Was it too good to be true? Could it really be Him? After everything they’d seen—the horror of the cross, the...
Read more

Faithfulness Over Fruitfulness: Rethinking Ministry Success

-
Image
by Bart L. Denny, Ph.D., Th.M. I’ve often heard it said—sometimes harped on—that Christian ministry is about more than faithfulness; it’s about fruitfulness. But I’m not so sure. At least, not in the way it’s often meant. Yes, there are times when ministries remain barren despite having every resource to yield a bountiful harvest. But that kind of fruitlessness is often the result of unfaithfulness—not a lack of results, but a failure to labor faithfully, wisely, and prayerfully. What Is Faithfulness, Really? Every Christian is called to ministry. But I write here especially to those in ministry leadership. For us, faithfulness includes the courage to honestly assess our work, let go of ineffective strategies, and adopt biblically informed, context-appropriate approaches. It means seeking mentorship, inviting accountability, and doing the hard work of loving people, preaching truth, and building community. That’s faithfulness. We shouldn’t expect kingdom growth if we hav...
Read more