Michael Vick, Dogs, and the Imago Dei

This is ridiculous on a few levels:

First, it’s ridiculous because it is a huge misunderstanding of grace.  Carlson says I believe fervently in second chances…BUT…Vick killed a dog.  There are no second chances for that.  But grace isn’t about the magnitude of the sin—as if God can forgive murder so long as it’s not that of a child.

The truth of the matter is that being a Christian isn’t about second chances.  Being a Christian is about being a new creation.  It’s not a second, third, or 7.4 millioneth chance. 

Secondly, it’s ridiculous because it totally misunderstands the imago Dei.  This goes against the grain of our society, but humans are actually more important than animals.  That’s not to say that we have a free pass to abuse animals—it’s actually quite the opposite.  Our unique status as co-regents with the King of the universe means that we should actively care for creation—not kill it. 

But let’s say that somebody blows his stewardship of creation.  Like Michael Vick.  Rather than caring for creation (cute little puppies) he decides to make a quick buck, have a little “fun”, and engage in dog fighting.  Yep, that’s wrong.  But you don’t shed the blood of a MAN because he shed the blood of a DOG. 

One is created in the image of God, the other is not. 

The last ridiculous thing about this is that I’m prone to having a Tucker Carlson response to sin.  The sin of others and the sin in my own heart.  I can be tempted to treat certain sins as less forgivable.  My unpardonable sin isn’t dog murder—but there are some things that I have a hard time forgiving.  Even things in my own life that I have a hard time receiving grace for. 

I can also forget that our identity, no matter how much we mar it, is still wrapped up in the imago Dei.  No matter how far of a downward spiral, no matter how pale it becomes, people are still people that are unique and made in the image of God.  The fundamental thing about my identity is not a particular sin—it’s that I’m made in the image of God.  And for those of us that are believers we are being renewed (restored) day by day into the image of God. 

That’s why what Tucker Carlson says here is ridiculous.