Written by: Brian Crawford
Andy Crouch, in his book The Life We’re All Looking For, recounts a powerful exercise he conducted while walking through a busy airport. He resolved amidst the hustle and bustle to take note of every person he passed, silently reminding himself of this simple truth: They were image bearers.
“I passed a weary-looking man in a suit. Image bearer. Right behind him was a woman in a sari. Image bearer. A mother pushed a stroller with a young baby; a young man, presumably the baby’s father, walked next to her, half holding, half dragging a toddler by the hand. Image bearer, image bearer, image bearer, image bearer. A ramp worker walked by in a bulky coat and safety vest. Image bearer…”
Crouch reflects on the weight of this exercise—the untold stories, the unique struggles and triumphs carried by each individual he observed. Even years later, Crouch says the exercise moves him deeply and he feels the significance of acknowledging the divine imprint on every person he encounters.
What would it do to our hearts if we lived this way, constantly reminding ourselves of the sacred truth that every person we meet—every stranger, coworker, or family member—is an image bearer of God?
Rediscovering Who We Are
Before we were anything else, we were image bearers.
When God created humanity, He didn’t say, “Let us make man a professional plumber, a practicing pediatrician, or a partisan politician.” Instead, He declared, “Let us make man in our image and likeness” (Genesis 1:26). That proclamation defined who we are at our core. We carry the image of God, a truth that shapes not only our identity but also how we should view one another.
This is why, before we belong to any political party, profession, or personal affiliation, we belong to God and to one another. Our shared identity as image bearers is the foundation for our relationships and our call to love, respect, and serve each other.
The Peace We’ve Forgotten
Mother Teresa once said, “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.”
This is the great tragedy of our age. We live in a world dominated by “angertainment” and divisive and mean sarcastic social media streams, where it’s easy to see people as enemies rather than as bearers of God’s image. When we forget who we are and whose we are, peace becomes impossible.
But when we remember that every person we encounter carries the divine imprint—when we practice seeing them as Crouch did, or even more significant as JESUS does, as image bearers—something begins to shift. Our hearts soften, and the divisions that seemed insurmountable start to fade.
A Challenge for Image Bearers
This truth comes with a challenge. Being an image bearer isn’t just a label—it’s a responsibility. It requires us to ask:
- What is my role as an image bearer of God?
- How can I serve the other image bearers God has placed in my life?
- How can I create opportunities for the flourishing of all image bearers, regardless of their background or affiliations?
This challenge transcends political parties, professions, and preferences. It calls us to live as Christ lived—with love, humility, and grace toward everyone.
Living the Challenge
Let this challenge wake you up in the morning, guide your actions throughout the day, and remain with you as you close your eyes at night. Imagine what could happen if more of us embraced this truth—not just in theory, but in practice. What if we stopped asking how to further our agendas and started asking how to serve the image bearers around us?
This is the kind of life that transforms relationships, communities, and even nations.
A Prayer for the Journey
My prayer is that by the power of the Holy Spirit and the grace of Jesus Christ, we would all embrace this challenge. May we see each other as God sees us. May we live in a way that honors the image of God in every person. And may we become people marked by love, marked by grace, marked by reconciliation, and marked by a pursuit of oneness.
Let it be so, in Jesus’ name.
Amen.
