Date Posted:17:47:50 04/15/05 Fri Author: Chris Subject: Re: Shame-based culture of Biblical times In reply to:
Anonymous
's message, "Shame-based culture of Biblical times" on 17:27:48 04/15/05 Fri
I wanted to mention the point that the cultures of Biblical times were all shame-based cultures.
I think this is because it reflects the fallen human nature to cover up your guilt, instead of dealing with it. If you read Gen 3, after Adam and Eve had sinned and God was searching them, they showed exactly the pattern of a shame-based culture. They did not admit their guilt, but tried to cover up. Before they had sinned, it was different, the last sentence of Gen 2 says "... and they felt no shame."
When you read the chronologies of all cultures surrounding the Jews, who did not believe in the Jewish God, you will find how they only glorify their kings and cover up their faults. But if you read the chronology of the Jews, you will find a lot of sin and guilt mentioned: Even the great sin of God's favorite king David was not left out. The Jewish culture is a guilt-based culture, because they believed in the same God as we, the God who on the one side is just and holy, i.e. does not allow to cover up sin and leave it untreated, but on the other side is merciful and full of love, and has solved the problem of sin once and for all. We can freely admit our sins, because we know we have forgiveness. Jesus "covers up" our sins, when we come to Jesus with these problems. But we may not cover up our sins ourselves.
I think 1John1 makes the difference between the two behaviors very clear:
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
