“Imago Dei: The Foundation of Our Dignity, Our Mission, and Our Hope”

When I reflect on why the Selah Grey Foundation exists, one truth anchors me more deeply than any other: the conviction that every human being is made in the image of God (Latin: Imago Dei). That conviction is not mere theology—it is the starting point for how we see people, how we heal, how we serve, and how we dream.

What Is Imago Dei?

Imago Dei is a powerful, ancient Christian concept grounded in Genesis 1:26–27, where God says, “Let us make humankind in our image, after our likeness.” In those verses, humanity is set apart: we are not mere animals or objects; we bear something of God’s likeness.

But what does it mean to “bear God’s image”? Over centuries, theologians have offered thoughtful models:

• Substantive view: the image resides in capacities like reason, moral awareness, conscience, will — those aspects in which we reflect God’s mind or character.

• Relational view: what makes us image-bearers is our capacity for relationship — with God and with one another. In reflecting God’s communal, relational nature, our “image” is seen in how we connect, empathize, and love.

• Functional view: to be made in God’s image is to be God’s representatives — entrusted as stewards, caretakers, agents of God’s work in the world.

No single model captures everything. The beauty and mystery of Imago Dei lie in its richness, multidimensionality, and constant invitation to look beyond ourselves.

One more important observation: even though our relationship with God was damaged by sin (the Fall), Scripture affirms that the imago Dei is not lost — it is marred, distorted, wounded — but still present, awaiting restoration. Christ is the fullest revelation of what the image of God looks like; through him, the renewal of our image is made possible.

Thus, Imago Dei is not just about identity — it is also about restoration, healing, and calling.

How Imago Dei Shapes the Vision of Selah Grey

At Selah Grey, our work is with survivors of trauma, children who have experienced neglect or abuse, families burdened by grief, and those whose voices feel diminished. Yet, in the face of brokenness, Imago Dei is the lens that refuses to reduce any person to their wounds. It insists that every person carries sacred worth — even in the darkest moments.

Here’s how Imago Dei shows up in our vision and work:

Area	Imago Dei Implication	How We Seek to Live It
Dignity & Worth	Every child, every parent, every single story matters — not because of performance or productivity, but because of inherent value.	We meet people with respect, listening ear, advocacy, protections. We resist paths that demean, shame, or exclude.
Wholeness & Healing	Because the image is wounded but not destroyed, our work is not to discard people but to heal and restore image-bearers.	In counseling, trauma support, education, community, we aim for holistic healing — mind, body, relationships, spirit.
Advocacy & Voice	An image-bearer has voice. When systems silence, exploit, or marginalize, we seek justice, support, and representation.	We lobby, we educate, we partner, we raise awareness for those whose voices are weak or ignored.
Stewardship & Purpose	Creation reflects God’s artistry; humanity is entrusted with care. Our calling is to steward, to serve others, to extend God’s flourishing.	We don’t just repair damage; we build, plant, nurture—programs, supports, communities, hope.
Community & Belonging	Bearing God’s image is not solitary — reflecting the relational nature of God means we were made for connection.	We cultivate safe spaces, belonging, support networks, collective healing.

So when we say “life is not black and white; we must examine the shades of gray,” what we mean is that real, deep change often comes in the margins, in complexity, in nuance — where dignity is sometimes hard to see. But the Imago Dei conviction gives us courage to walk into those gray spaces and believe in worth even when it’s hidden.

A Call to Imago-Bearing

If Imago Dei is true, it changes everything: how we treat others, how we see healing, how we do justice, how we hope, and how we invest. As the CEO of Selah Grey, I invite you — our community, partners, and readers — to hold fast to the image-bearing identity of every person we serve.

• Whenever you meet someone broken, battered, wounded — remember: they carry God’s image, even if it’s cracked.

• Whenever you resist serving because the cost is high, remember: image-bearing compels us.

• Whenever systems fail people, remember: restoring dignity is more than relief — it’s participation in God’s renewal.

In the days ahead, I hope to share more stories: of image restored, of voices raised, of hope renewed. May this conviction of Imago Dei be our compass as we step forward together into the mission of Selah Grey: advocating, educating, supporting, and counseling so that wounded lives become stories of renewed worth, belonging, and purpose.