Bart's Blog

  by Bart Denny I believe every human being is created in the image of God—the imago Dei . Genesis tells us, “God created mankind in his own image” (Genesis 1:27). That declaration comes before differences in nationality, politics, occupation, social standing, education, religious affiliation, or usefulness to society. People have worth because God made them. Their value isn’t something the government grants, the culture recognizes, or actions and opinions I personally approve of. I believe all of that. The harder question is whether anyone could tell I believe it by the way I treat people who frustrate me. James confronts this inconsistency with uncomfortable directness: “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness” (James 3:9). That verse doesn’t allow me to separate my theology from my tone. I can’t praise the God whose image a person bears while casually belittling, mocking, or dehumanizing that person...

by Bart Denny Picture this: a friend hands you the keys to their vehicle and says, “I’m trusting you with this.” Not just any vehicle. Their vehicle. Maybe it’s newer than yours. Maybe it’s nicer than yours. Maybe it’s the one they wash by hand, park in the shade, and somehow notice if one speck of dust lands on the hood. Maybe it’s a Bentley. You drive differently, don’t you? You don’t pull out of the driveway like you’re late for a NASCAR qualifying lap. You check your mirrors like you’re taking your driver’s test all over again. You park at the far end of the lot where there are no shopping carts, no minivans full of energetic children, and ideally, no other human beings. And if you’re brave enough to have coffee in the car, you hold that cup like it contains nuclear waste. Why? Because it isn’t yours. You have real responsibility for it. You can drive it. You can choose the route. You can turn the wheel. But having the keys doesn’t make you the owner. That’s ste...