27 So God created humans in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Genesis 1:1 – 2:4 (NRSV)
STORY
Fred Rogers, who was born in 1928, was a sickly child. This required him to spend most of his days in bed. Confined to his bed he alleviated his boredom by writing stories with accompanying music for his puppets, which he then performed on a make-believe stage.
After Rogers graduated from Rollins College, he continued his education and later received his divinity degree from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. He was ordained as a Presbyterian minister. After a few uneventful career starts, he took the role of Mister Rogers on the television program Mister Roger’s Neighborhood. The program combined his love for children and his desire to educate youngsters in a meaningful and fun way. The first telecast was on February 19, 1968, with 856 episodes following.
Though the show had a calm atmosphere, Fred Rogers did discuss current controversial issues. For example, when race relations were being strained he promoted interracial acceptance. It was known that in urban areas, such as Pittsburgh, where the show was produced, acid was being poured into public swimming pools so Black children could not swim in them.
Demonstrating against this Rogers invited Francois Clemmons, a Black man, onto his show. Clemmons was presented to the children as his next-door neighbor who was a police officer. Acceptance was demonstrated as they sat together on beach chairs next to a toddler’s swimming pool. With their feet in the water, barefooted, black skin touching white skin, they demonstrated acceptance among the races. They even dried each other’s feet. Clemmons recounts the episode saying, “The idea of our two skin colors being there together in that little pool of water represented that issue in Fred’s mind.”
DEVOTION
In the creation story, as recorded in the first chapter of Genesis, verse 27 is significant as it describes our relationship to one another. The verse reads:
So God created humankind in his image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.
Our relationship to one another is a shared relationship that is made evident with these words: “God created them; male and female God created them.” Man and woman were created simultaneously. This means that both man and woman are equal to one another as both man and woman were created concurrently in the image of God.
Equality.
Equality declares that society is void of any hierarchical structure. Individuals are not separated by socio-economic position, we accept an individual of any race, an individual’s nationality does not disturb us, absent are any barriers hindering fellowship related to gender or gender identity, further, the marginalized, the disabled, the mentally ill are all incorporated into our community. Humanity is seamless in the recognition and acceptance of the dignity of every individual.
Unfortunately, we learn in the second chapter of Genesis that this equality was disrupted when sin eroded our relationships. There was estrangement in the first couple’s marital relationship as wife blamed husband for eating the forbidden fruit, and in return husband blamed wife for their debauchery. Adam and Eve now felt naked in the presence of each other. This disharmony continued to the next generation when we read, in the fourth chapter of Genesis, of the jealousy that Cain had towards his brother Abel, resulting in Cain’s murder of Abel.
Estrangement and disharmony in relationships have continued through all generations and are still manifested today. This disharmony is seen in all of the “isms” of society: racism, sexism, ageism, and ostracism.
As a church, as Christians, we have been trying to restore equality as it first appeared in the Garden of Eden on the sixth day. As Christians, we continually try to once again to restore the equality of all of humanity. In doing so we must teach the message of equality as well as demonstrate the message.
Fred Rogers and Francois Clemmons, white skin touching black skin sitting beside a child’s wading pool, made visible “so God created humankind in his image.” Rev. Fred Rogers had the desire to teach, had the yearning to demonstrate, that all individuals are equal. Rogers wanted his young viewers to know that we are all created equal. There is no one individual better than another.
As adults we can demonstrate this reality with our actions and with our words. In our home, in our church, in our place of employment, in our communities, in our social circles, we are to recreate the harmony as it was originally manifested in the Garden of Eden.
So, let us join Mr. Rogers as he enters the room where his little friends have gathered, singing:
It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood,
A beautiful day for a neighbor,
Would you be mine?
Could you be mine?