Grace Anatomy – Shameless

Understanding Honor and Shame in Scripture

In this insightful Bible teaching, Matthew Vander Els from Founded In Truth Fellowship delves into the crucial cultural backdrop of the scriptures: the concepts of honor and shame. He argues that understanding these dynamics is essential for a richer and more accurate interpretation of the Bible, as the social atmosphere 2000 years ago, during the time of Yeshua (Jesus), was significantly different from today’s Western individualistic culture.

Vander Els begins by contrasting collectivistic, honor-shame societies with individualistic, guilt-based societies. In Western culture, maturity is often marked by a child’s ability to internally discern right from wrong based on conscience and societal laws. Moral decisions are typically made independently, and going against the crowd is often encouraged. However, in collectivistic cultures prevalent in the ancient Near East, including the time the Bible was written, morality and ethics were defined by the society as a whole.

In an honor-shame culture, one’s primary concern was maintaining honor and avoiding shame, both for oneself and for their family or community. Honor was a valuable, yet limited resource that could be gained or lost in public interactions. Society’s expectations and criticisms played a significant role in shaping behavior. Self-respect was maintained by adhering to what was expected by the community, rather than solely by an internal sense of good versus evil.

The teaching highlights that in the first century, a social dynamic known as the “honor game” was common. Public interactions often involved challenges where individuals had to respond in a way that protected or enhanced their honor. Yeshua, recognizing this dynamic, often advised his followers to avoid engaging in such games. The Pharisees’ public confrontations with Yeshua in the temple are presented as examples of this honor game. Similarly, the disciples’ tendency to ask Yeshua questions in private demonstrates their awareness of the honor-shame context and their desire to avoid potentially shaming their teacher in public.

Vander Els uses the example of the Duck Dynasty television show to illustrate how elements of the honor game still exist in American culture, particularly in challenges and responses to perceived disrespect. He also references the Greek philosopher Plato’s “Ring of Gyges” thought experiment to contrast honor-shame morality with a conscience-driven morality. In an honor-shame system, if one could act invisibly without societal knowledge, there would be no shame associated with their actions. This contrasts with a guilt culture, where an internal conscience would still dictate moral choices even in secret.

The story of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” is used to further exemplify the Western concept of an internal conscience that can lead to guilt and psychological distress even when actions are hidden from others. This internal struggle is presented as largely absent in the ancient honor-shame world, where external perception was the primary driver of moral behavior.

The teaching then applies the lens of honor and shame to specific biblical narratives. The account of David and Bathsheba in 2 Samuel 11 is re-examined, highlighting how David’s actions brought shame upon himself and the nation. Uriah’s honorable behavior in refusing to go home while his fellow soldiers were at war publicly shamed David. It is argued that David’s lack of internal guilt is evident until the prophet Nathan confronts him publicly, bringing external shame upon him through the parable of the rich man and the ewe lamb. David’s subsequent repentance in Psalm 51 is linked to this public shaming and the realization of his transgression against God.

The concept of “saving face” is explained as a crucial aspect of honor-shame cultures, where one’s public reputation is paramount. Losing face through shameful actions had severe social consequences. The speaker cites Duane Elmore’s description of the Thai word for losing face as literally meaning to “tear one’s face off.” The story of the missionary in Indonesia dealing with the wife whose husband committed adultery illustrates the profound impact of shame on the entire household, even when the wife was not directly responsible.

The conversion of Paul is presented as another example of external influence leading to a change in behavior. Paul, blameless according to the righteousness of the law, did not experience internal guilt for persecuting the church until his encounter with the risen Yeshua on the road to Damascus – a powerful external intervention. Similarly, Paul’s public shaming of Peter in Galatians 2:11 is cited as an example of using external pressure to correct behavior within an honor-shame context.

The teaching emphasizes that in scripture, the concept of something being “shameful” carried significant weight, often more so than simply being “wrong” in a Western sense. Having “no shame” was a serious indictment, implying a lack of a moral compass within an honor-shame framework. It is argued that Yeshua’s death was ultimately due to the shame he brought upon the religious leaders, challenging their honor and authority.

The implications of an honor-shame understanding for the community of believers today are also explored. Passages like Matthew 18 regarding addressing a brother’s sin are re-interpreted through this lens, highlighting how the steps involve increasing levels of public awareness and potential shame to encourage repentance. Paul’s exhortations in Galatians 6:1-3 to gently restore those who have sinned are connected to avoiding unnecessary shaming. The idea that the sin of one affects the entire community, as illustrated by the leavening analogy in Corinthians, is linked to the collective honor (or shame) of the body of Messiah.

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Application for Everyday Life

• Be mindful of the collective impact of your actions. Recognize that, as believers, your conduct reflects on the entire Christian community.
• Approach correction with gentleness and humility. When addressing a fellow believer’s sin, aim to restore rather than shame, reflecting the spirit of Galatians 6:1.
• Consider the potential for shame in accountability. Understand that the steps outlined in Matthew 18 utilize the social dynamic of honor and shame for correction.
• Strive to honor God through your actions. Recognize that your life as a believer carries the name of God and should reflect His glory, avoiding actions that would bring dishonor.
• Understand biblical narratives in their cultural context. Recognize that many events and teachings in the Bible are deeply rooted in an honor-shame worldview, which can offer new insights.
• Be aware of the “honor game” dynamics. While not the ultimate guide for behavior, recognizing these dynamics can help understand social interactions, both ancient and modern.

References

Bible Verses

• Psalm 44
• John 3
• 2 Samuel 11
• Psalm 51

Books and Resources Mentioned

• Honor, Shame, and the Scriptures
• Understanding Honor and Shame