Ron Writes
Before we had twins, we rarely noticed twins anywhere. After our twins were born, suddenly there were twins everywhere. It seemed like everyone was a twin or had twins. They were always there, we just hadn’t noticed them before. Have you ever bought a car thinking not very many people own a similar one? When we bought our car we had only seen one other car like it that was green with brown interior. Since then, we have seen them everywhere. Our eyes were opened to what was always there.
In the West individualism is elevated. An individual has a right to their own beliefs, speech, and actions. Theologically, we emphasize the idea that we have individually broken God’s law. I have broken God’s law. I am guilty. The West has been called a “guilt-innocence culture.” I need a redeemer. I need God’s mercy to save me from the penalty of my sin. I need to be saved from punishment.
In the East relationships are elevated. Social relationships are more important than the individual. It’s important that I don’t bring shame to my group. Honor comes when my group recognizes my worth. Theologically, it’s not so much that I’ve broken the law, but that I didn’t honor God. I have acted shamefully. Juliet November summed it up, that in the West, I would feel guilty because I did something bad. In the East, I would be guilty because I am bad in society’s eyes. In the East I would focus more on being saved for glory than being saved from punishment.
Isn’t it amazing that no matter where you’re coming from, no matter what your focus, God’s Word can speak to you! Hopefully you’ll notice these distinctions more as you read God’s Word. To acknowledge these different perspectives is not to elevate one over the other, but to further enjoy the fullness of our salvation. It shouldn’t be an either-or proposition. Shame, guilt, honor, and redemption are all part of our story. We need to recognize the extreme importance the Bible places on community and the ramifications of shame and honor that go with that as well as the importance we typically place on the individual.
