Honor, Shame, and Slanting Theology

  In my 'Top Recommendations from 2012,' I listed The Crescent through the Eyes of the Cross as my most thought-provoking book from last year.  It continues to challenge my thinking in a variety of areas, including getting me to read a book called 'Honor and Shame' by Roland Muller (also in  The Messenger, the Message, and the Community.)  This book deals with the topics of guilt-, fear- and shame-based cultures in relation to the Scriptures; most importantly it calls us to see the good news of Christ fully as it speaks to every person's guiltiness, fearfulness and shamefulness before the King and Judge of the universe.

  Most of us who were trained in a Western theological system were not taught to deal theologically with the Gospel outside of a guilt-justification context.  Thus, when people don't feel guilty before God, for instance in an Islamic (shame-based) or animistic (fear-based) culture, we struggle to bring the good news of salvation and true life to them.  Many of us have never felt particularly shamed or dirty before God, simply guilty; or maybe, we've never wondered if the spiritual forces which attack us are stronger than those which defend us.  In either case, the Gospel speaks thoroughly to these issues, as well, of course, as addressing our guiltiness.  And we do want a fully displayed Gospel!

A Tree Leaning on a Graveyard Fence

  This tree, which I walk by daily, reminds me of the dangers of an unbalanced and slanted theology: if the tree were not propped up by the fence, this tree would likely have fallen over long ago.  It seems like the tree lacked even sunlight and therefore grew dangerously.  I hope our theology is not as badly slanted as it feels, but from where I am, it certainly feels as badly slanted as the tree.  The problem is not what has grown; the problem is what hasn't!  

 The Old Testament has tons to say about God's purifying and exalting salvation to a shame-based culture where people feel polluted and unclean before God, but I am just beginning to see much of it for the first time.  The Gospel accounts are similarly filled with Jesus stepping into shamed and outcast peoples' lives and raising them to honor in salvation.  First Peter is another good place to go to consider these Gospel themes.  

 It is in that context that Zephaniah 3:11-12, 18-20 has given me great encouragement. Notice the parts I've bolded which speak directly to this great salvation!

“On that day you shall not be put to shame

because of the deeds by which you have rebelled against me;

for then I will remove from your midst

your proudly exultant ones,

and you shall no longer be haughty

in my holy mountain.

But I will leave in your midst

a people humble and lowly.

They shall seek refuge in the name of the Lord

I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,

so that you will no longer suffer reproach. ...

Behold, at that time I will deal

with all your oppressors.

And I will save the lame

and gather the outcast,

and I will change their shame into praise

and renown in all the earth.

At that time I will bring you in,

at the time when I gather you together;

for I will make you renowned and praised

among all the peoples of the earth,

when I restore your fortunes

before your eyes,” says the Lord.