“So God created man in his own image; he created him in the image of God; he created them male and female” (Genesis 1:27, Christian Standard Bible [CSB]).
Dr. Kevin Smith, Executive Director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
From their mother’s womb to their natural death, human beings are to be afforded the dignity, value, and worth due to ones created in God’s image. In our naturalistic society where God is rejected as creator (Romans 1:25), in a hedonistic society where selfishness and narcissism reign, and in a mechanical/utilitarian society that empties sexuality of its God-ordained purposes, there is, predictably, a slippery-slope from the acknowledgement of human dignity to the degradation of those bearing the Imago Dei (image of God). Sadly, our world is characterized by assaults on human dignity – abortion, parental neglect, racism, classism, sexism, misogyny, slavery, sexual sin in various forms, violence, and a push to make assisted-suicide acceptable. In this setting, Christ’s church has the opportunity to be a counter-cultural witness, as those that value the dignity of all human life. May Maryland/Delaware Baptists be clear witnesses of this truth in our homes, congregations, and two states!
Recently, in anticipation of the Maryland March for Life, we came together and prayed for human dignity to be recognized and honored in our state and country. Although the march was postponed (due to weather) and our prayer gathering was smaller because of it, we, nonetheless, called out to God in prayer. At one point, we were singing “Holy, Holy, Holy,” and I was struck by the lyric, “All thy works shall praise Thy name in earth, and sky, and sea.” Truly, assaults on human dignity are assaults on the majesty of God, as creator of all things (John 1:3). May Christ-followers, particularly Maryland/Delaware Baptists, ascribe glory to God Almighty as we ascribe dignity to those created in His image!
One way Maryland/Delaware Baptists honor human dignity is by volunteering in Christ-honoring crisis-pregnancy centers around the region. In this BaptistLIFE, you will read of three such volunteers. In our prayer time, we had the opportunity to learn about them and praise God for their efforts.
Another way Maryland/Delaware Baptists honor human dignity is through the efforts of convention’s Christian Life & Public Affairs Committee. It is the committee’s aim, particularly during this early part of the year, to make Christians aware of physician-assisted suicide laws that are being proposed in Maryland. In our selfish society, aging relatives are often viewed as a nuisance, rather than a God-ordained stewardship (1 Timothy 5:8). May Maryland/Delaware Baptists be a testimony of our God-given grace as we interact with anyone – since they’re created in God’s image!
Grace to you,
Brother Kevin