God created us in His own image; therefore, we must not murder another person (Genesis 9:5-6). We can kill animals for food, but we must not kill a human being, because each one is made in God’s image.

John equates murder and hate – to hate your brother is to murder him in your heart (I John 3:15). Jesus connects murder to anger – anger towards another that lashes out or simmers into bitterness. Jesus also ties insults to murder. And Jesus ties ridicule – you fool! – to murder (Matthew 5:21-22). By John’s and Jesus’ definition most of our politicians are murderers. And so are we – murderers in our hearts and with our words.

And this is not how we are to treat each other made in God’s image. Rather:

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)

Instead of insults and ridicule, we are to speak with kindness. Instead of anger and hate, we are to show tenderheartedness and forgiveness. Instead of hate, anger, insults, and ridicule, we are to treat image-bearers of God with dignity and kindness. Imagine how living like this could heal our families, heal our nation, and heal our world – if we just treat each other with the dignity and kindness that each person deserves as an image-bearer of God.

Regardless. No exceptions. There is no situation that justifies not treating each other with kindness and dignity. There is no situation that justifies treating someone like an animal, like garbage – with hate, anger, insults, or ridicule. No matter how others treat us, God calls us to treat them with dignity and kindness. Regardless.