A consequence of losing imago dei

Wendy Alsup wrote two posts (part 1 & part 2) in response to the Nashville Statement. I agree with her concerns that the issue is bigger than just taking a stand against sexual immorality. The doctrine of Imago Dei is at stake:

We are fighting now for an orthodox understanding not just of homosexuality, but of Imago Dei. What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be made in the image of God?...Who bears human dignity? How should they be treated? (part 1)

In the 2nd part, Wendy examines Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology and a recent statement from John MacArthur. She comes away with the concern that - 

it seems that image bearers need to respect role and authority to actually show God’s image. Practically speaking, if you are perceived as not respecting either role or authority in life, you go down the priority list for protection as an image-bearer. Folks who see image-bearing dignity mitigated by how well you respect role and authority tend to work in and promote authoritarian systems where people know their role. They dismiss the value and dignity of those who have conflicts with authority structures...

In this American evangelical culture, the cries of particular groups of image-bearers are discounted and authority over them protected because they are seen as violating their God-given design concerning role and authority and are judged therefore unworthy of dignity. This, I believe, is the place doctrinally to push fellow evangelicals to examine themselves.

After reading these two posts, I believe that Wendy's analysis can explain why abuse victims are often marginalized within Christian circles. If the abuser is a person with given or perceived authority and the victim is not, exposing current abuse or even revealing past experiences can be taken as a violation of "God-given design concerning role and authority." If the worth of a person is dependent upon how well they conform to that authority system, then why would they be taken seriously if their testimony reveals how the system has failed? But sadly it appears that there is more concern for maintaining the status quo than confronting the evil within and protecting those who are harmed.

What is it about the system itself that creates such loyalty? Could it be that we have put our hope in structures and roles above our hope in Christ? All we need to do is get our family values right, then we will be safe? The Mormons are outwardly as family friendly as you can get, but moralism cannot save. And to be more direct, headship and submission do not save, even though I believe there is an appropriate expression of this within marriage. But just because we think we have this figured is no guarantee that abuse will never occur in a professing-Christian marriage. It does not magically insulate us from or automatically correct the ravages of the fall. Then what do we do when there is abuse of authority within this cherished institution? What do we do with the person who will not (and should not) submit to that abuse?

Dr. Valerie Hobbs has written a 3-part series at the Aquila Report regarding Jessica Fore -  a domestic abuse victim who, in addition to the abuse, was mistreated by her own church and is still awaiting justice in the church courts. I encourage you to read the articles because this is a real life example of the fallout when authority systems are threatened:  Beyond Symbolic Gestures, Portrait of a Deviant Woman, and Serving the Status Quo. I applaud Jessica for her courage and tenacity, but I wonder how many women have tried to stand up only to be told to shut up and not rock the boat? How many women have given up trying to be heard with their stories left untold? Are these women less deserving of justice and mercy? If not, then why is it so hard for abuse victims to get a fair hearing from Christians?

To borrow Wendy's words, it is time "to push fellow evangelicals to examine themselves. " I do not think we would want the following said of ourselves or our churches.

"Woe to you scribes, Pharisees, and hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others." (Matt:23:23)