The Biblical Definition of the Image of God, Part III

Another text quoted by Berkhof and others is James 3:9. Traditionally, this is read as a generic statement referring to all mankind. The verse states as follows.

"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness."

The question becomes here who is James talking about as those who are being cursed by "we." The "we" is clearly to be understood as Christians, as they are those who praise the Lord and the Father. So he is not talking generically about human beings who bless and curse, but Christians who do so.

The important question, then, is whether those with whom James is primarily concerned are fellow Christians as God's images or if the images to whom he refers are all mankind in general. The context indicates that he is talking about fellow Christians who are spoken of poorly or slandered by those who should not be teachers in the church and cannot control their tongues (3:1-8). These people who do not have a mature character slander others out of selfish ambition in a way to lift themselves up over other teachers in the church (vv. 10-18 and 4:1-12). The concern is dissension in the church due to teachers biting and devouring one another as they contend for positions in the church (4:1-12). This contending for high positions was already condemned in Chapter 2. He makes it clear that these are believers fighting other believers in 4:11-12.

"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or condemns them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor?"

The context, again, indicates that this is talking about believers. Those who are being condemned and cursed are fellow believers. They are being cursed by those who have a selfish ambition to lift themselves up in the community by becoming teachers, likely something akin to self-proclaimed internet theologians on facebook or whatnot, who primarily use name-calling and condemnation as their debate tactic to win an argument. 

In no way, therefore, does James 3:9 support the idea that all of mankind, wicked or otherwise, is the image of God.