“Imago Dei,” the important role of Biblical faith in poverty alleviation.

Imago Dei is Latin for “image of God.” As such, the Bible teaches that each human being is made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

Human beings are distinctive, with unique abilities, talents, and interests. For example, we have emotions, a moral duty, and a God given impulse to thrive. Each of us bears God’s image as a mark of our Creator.

Just how unique are we? At conception, God gives each person an unrepeatable genetic code called DNA. This means in all human history there has never been or will ever be anyone quite like you.

Furthermore, did you know that each person’s DNA code is so unique and complex that there is enough information in it to go to the moon and back? That is a long way! A one-way trip to the moon is 238,900 miles.

Additionally, our DNA contains at least 3.5 BILLION “letters.” What a miracle! Even greater still, in Jeremiah 1:5, the One True God says this: “Even before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, before you were born, I set you apart.”

That said, since every human being is a living, breathing masterpiece of infinite worth, how does this all relate to how we practice charity?

As Christ-followers our understanding of human dignity fuels our compassion to act charitably towards others, recognizing their inherent worth and value (“Imago Dei”). However, our compassion must go beyond just meeting one’s physical needs.

We cannot truly meet the needs of others without first understanding the root causes of poverty. Poverty is complex and its causes range from a myriad of factors, but poverty essentially comes down to broken relationships. As a result, our charity must flow from compassion that is fueled by empowering others to realize their God given potential.

While Biblical faith is not a “silver bullet” by any means out of poverty, studies show that an active faith closely correlates with emotional and physical health, increased self-worth, stable marriages, and justice; to name a few (ISRN Psychiatry Journal Review).

Also, there is a positive correlation between frequency of Bible reading and feelings of hope (Barna group study 2020).

Holistic approaches such as spirituality are a significant factor when it comes to addressing root causes of poverty. At CVCCS, we believe that people are much more than just mouths to feed and bodies to clothe. They are human beings made in the image of God with inherent dignity, worth, and capacity.

Therefore, personalized, and relational solutions to poverty are essential. These types of one-on-one solutions are an ideal intervention for many experiencing chronic poverty today.

To learn more, visit cvccs.org today!