God image Quote by Henry R Van Til
““Sin has not destroyed the creaturely relationship of man to his maker, who made him a cultural creature with the mandate to replenish and subdue the earth. Sin has not destroyed the cultural urge in man to rule, since man is an image-bearer of the Ruler of heaven and earth. Neither has sin destroyed the cosmos, which is man's workshop. Culture then, is a must for God's image bearers, but it will be either a demonstration of faith or apostasy, either a God-glorifying or a God-defying culture.””
About This Quote
Sin does not erase humanity's divine purpose to cultivate and steward the earth; culture reflects either devotion to God or rebellion, making cultural choices a moral test.
In simple terms: Sin doesn’t stop humanity’s duty to steward creation; culture shows faith or rebellion.
Key Takeaway
Choose cultural actions that honor divine purpose.
Themes
faith
stewardship
culture
morality
divine purpose
Mood
thoughtful
determined
Type
theological
philosophical
When to use this quote
- environmental stewardship
- community building
- religious education
- policy making
Key Concepts
theology
anthropology
ethical responsibility
Questions to Reflect On
- How can individuals influence culture toward God‑glorifying values?
- What responsibilities arise from being stewards of creation?
A Different Perspective
Cultural change is slow and faces resistance from entrenched interests.
![“[Christian rebellion] arises from the doctrine of mankind made in the image of God, and therefore protests against all forms of dehumanization. It sets itself against the social injustices which insult God the Creator, seeks to protect human beings from oppression and longs to liberate them… it…” quote by John Stott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/328/john-stott-1926_arise_christian-rebellion-arises-from-the-doct_31161.jpg)
