Author, Bible teacher, speaker and Saddleback Church co-founder Kay Warren is among the Christians who have responded to President Trump’s recent comments, in which he referred to suspected members of the gang MS-13 as “animals” in a discussion about illegal immigration.
Now, the White House has doubled down on the disturbing statement in a press release that repeatedly refers to immigrants suspected of being involved in the gang as “animals.”
Since then, several high-profile Christian leaders are speaking out, pointing out that the comments are in direct opposition to the Bible, which clearly states that all people are made in the image of God—a concept known as Imago Dei. The idea—that every single person is an image-bearer of their creator and has deep value to God—is central to the message of the gospel.
Here’s what some are saying:
The president’s point of view stands in opposition to the reality the Bible proclaims: every human being bears imago dei. https://t.co/SSvwGCaBvU
— Kay Warren (@KayWarren1) May 17, 2018
Christians: please put politics aside for a moment and think about what the Word says about people, made in God's image. Surely we can agree that this is not only harmful but deeply grievous. People are people…not animals. https://t.co/O6gq8UaHCd
— Trillia Newbell (@trillianewbell) May 16, 2018
When you call any group of human beings "animals," you strip away their dignity and deny the Imago Dei…that all were made in the image and likeness of the Divine.
— Yolanda Pierce (@YNPierce) May 17, 2018
*denying the Imago Dei in anyone, even those who work hard to deny it themselves, is a mockery of God's creation and no slight evil.
— 𝐎. 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 (@TheAlanNoble) May 16, 2018
https://twitter.com/drewmoser/status/997086697769852928
…At what point does a person just cease to bear the imago dei?
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) May 17, 2018