What is the biblical basis for ascribing theological worth to "human dignity"? I was reading an interesting article suggesting that "Christians" should embrace economic freedom, and was rather taken by the following paragraph:

Full article at http://tifwe.org/research/five-reasons-christians-should-embrace-economic-freedom/


  We are told in Scripture that the righteous care about justice for the poor.14 Christians believe that poverty is an affront to human dignity. Justice means enabling the poor to elevate their dignity by helping them escape the trappings of poverty. There is no other way of organizing society that has lifted more people out of poverty than global markets which are supported by economic freedom. - See more at: http://tifwe.org/research/five-reasons-christians-should-embrace-economic-freedom/#sthash.EHH8yf5d.dpuf


I left the footnote (14) in there specifically, because I am aware of the Scripture that would support that claim.  The sentence right after it - 


  Christians believe that poverty is an affront to human dignity.


however, doesn't have a footnote.  I agree about justice - but dignity is not necessarily justice. They are different ideas. And, to be clear, it is a both widely accepted (you really can't go through seminary without hearing it, especially from the more liberal side of the campus), and frankly, it seems pretty obvious.

That said, I'm not sure I could make that case from Scripture.  Pastorally? Yes.  Psychologically? Sure.  Spiritually? Sounds good to me.  But, scripturally, I'm trying to understand where "we" got the idea that human dignity is inherently part of the Gospel message.

Indeed, you might even say (and I can't possibly comment on that) that total depravity and the universality of sin would, in practice contradict it.

Again, please do not read into what I'm saying - I'm not arguing it's not.  I'm just trying to understand the basis behind it.  

So, what am I missing?
Ok, this is going to be more of a logical argument that's a bit jumpy and I don't have all of the scripture in mind, but there is scripture underpinning the ideas here:

Postulates


We are created in the image of God. As such human dignity is established as a part of our pre-fall state
Poverty exists because of the broken relationship between God, the self, the creation, and other men.
Our job as Christians is to be the restoration. Healing broken relationships is part of that job.


Connections

Because Poverty is part of the fall, and our dignity is established based on a pre-fall standard, much link sin, poverty is a concept driven by the fall and is an affront to our dignity.

Because our job as Christians is to work to restore the relationships that the fall broke, confronting poverty and restoring the folks who are in poverty (restoring their relationships with the creation, their fellow man, and most importantly God), is a prime concern of Christians.

Loose Scriptural Basis

Caring for the poor, and providing them with dignity is an emphasis both of the law given to Israel and also a primary focus of the ministry of Jesus and the New Testament church. Jesus repeatedly gives wealthy people the instruction "sell all you have and give your money to the poor." The Old Testament law goes on for pages about widows and orphans, provides clear instructions for not harvesting part of your crops so that the poor may go an glean from the leavings. One of the very first things that the apostles do following the ascension of Christ is to appoint deacons to care for the widows, orphans and other poor folks. 

Summary

Because God cares so deeply about the creation that is made in his image, and sees poverty as an affront to our dignity, he is very concerned about making sure that the poor among his people (before, during and after the ministry of Christ) are well cared for.