You CAN contextualize the gospel in the language of honor and shame

© 2015 Mission ONE. Created by Werner Mischke / werner@mission1.org
You can contextualize
the gospel in the
language of  
honor and shame
ISI Regional Training Conference
Phoenix Seminary / Phoenix, Arizona
March 17, 2015

• Definitions of honor and shame
• Basic differences between guilt/innocence and  
honor/shame cultures
• What does it mean to contextualize the gospel?
• Where do we have a blind spot concerning
honor and shame in Western theology?
• How the gospel is embodied by culture, and what
it means to “assume the gospel”
• Comparison of “The Four Spiritual Laws”
with the “Father’s Love Gospel Booklet”
You can contextualize the gospel  
in the language of honor and shame

DEFINITIONS
HONOR: “the worth or  
value of persons both in  
their eyes and in the eyes of  
their village, neighborhood,  
or society.” … “The critical item  
is the public nature of respect  
and reputation.”
–Jerome Neyrey

SHAME: “the intensely
painful feeling or
experience of believing that
we are flawed and therefore
unworthy of love and
belonging” … “the fear of
disconnection.”
–Brené Brown
DEFINITIONS

Innocence/guilt vs
honor/shame

Innocence/guilt vs
honor/shame
North 
America
Europe
Australia &  
New Zealand
Western
World

Innocence/guilt vs
honor/shame
Majority World

Very general 
comparison
Majority  
World
Western  
World

Very general 
comparison
Majority  
World
Western  
World
Equality
Individual

Very general 
comparison
Majority  
World
Western  
World
Equality
Individual
Hierarchy
Group

There’s a lot more about shame
in the Bible than guilt
Majority  
World
Western  
World

0
100
200
300
400
Guilt-based words Shame-based words
Old Testament
New Testament
Guilt
Shame
References to Guilt vs. Shame 
in the Bible
SOURCE: Timothy C. Tennent: Theology in the Context of World Christianity, p.93

A classic  
Bible text on
contextualization…

(19) For though I am free from all, I have made myself
a servant to all, that I might win more of them.
(20) To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win
Jews. To those under the law I became as one
under the law (though not being myself under the
law) that I might win those under the law.
(21) To those outside the law I became as one outside
the law (not being outside the law of God but
under the law of Christ) that I might win those
outside the law.
(22) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the
weak. I have become all things to all people, that
by all means I might save some.
(23) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may
share with them in its blessings.
1 Corinthians 9:19–23 ESV

How can the gospel “come alive”
in all these different cultural
contexts, and still be the same
authentic gospel? That is the
problem of contextualization.
–Lesslie Newbigin,  
The Gospel in a Pluralistic Society, p.144

contextualization—
The dynamic and
comprehensive process
by which the gospel is
incarnated within a
concrete historical or
cultural situation. …
Dean Flemming: Contextualization in the New
Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission  
(Kindle Locations 123-126). Kindle Edition.
‘‘

contextualization—
… This happens in such a way that
the gospel both comes to authentic
expression in the local context and  
at the same time prophetically
transforms the context.
Contextualization seeks to enable the
people of God to live out the gospel in
obedience to Christ within their own
cultures and circumstances.
Dean Flemming: Contextualization in the New
Testament: Patterns for Theology and Mission  
(Kindle Locations 123-126). Kindle Edition.
‘‘
’’

Here’s a way of thinking about
contextualization based on ideas from
Jackson Wu’s book: 
Saving God’s Face: A Chinese
Contextualization of Salvation
through Honor and Shame

Great blog:
jacksonwu.org

Biblical Truth
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1
From Jackson Wu: Saving God’s Face: A Chinese Contextualization of Salvation through Honor and
Shame (EMS Dissertation Series, William Carey International University Press: Pasadena, 2013) 52-53.

Biblical Truth
Theology
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Theology
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1
Note: The totality of Biblical truth is  
always higher and greater than one’s theology.

Biblical Truth
Theology Cultural 
Context
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Context
Area 1: One’s theology is biblical and
correct but a culture rejects the truth.
1
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Area 2: The culture has accepted biblical
categories and values (perhaps
unknowingly), but which are outside of
one’s theology.
Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Area 3: Values and beliefs are consistent
with biblical truth, one’s theology and the
cultural context.
Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Area 4: One’s theology is accepted by the
cultural context, but is outside of biblical
truth.
Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
4
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Area 5: Beliefs are part of one’s theology,
but are neither biblical nor overlap with
the cultural context.
Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
45
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Area 6: Beliefs and values in the cultural
context are neither biblical nor a part of
one’s theology.
Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
45 6
Jackson Wu’s  
Figure 1

Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
45 6
Area 2: The culture has accepted  
biblical categories and values (perhaps
one’s theology.
What are some values
from other cultures
which might fit into  
Area 2 ?
• honor/shame
• respect for
ancestors
• familial piety

Biblical Truth
Context
1 2
3
45 6
Area 2: The culture has accepted biblical
categories and values (perhaps
one’s theology.
Area 2 is  
where  
“blind spots”
occur

Example of a  
blind spot

Timothy Tennent, President, Asbury Theological Seminary 
Theology in the Context of World Christianity, p.93
Since Western systematic theology has been
almost exclusively written by theologians from
cultures framed primarily by the values of guilt and
innocence, there has been a corresponding failure to
fully appreciate the importance of the pivotal values
of honor and shame in understanding Scripture and
the doctrine of sin.
Bruce Nichols, the founder of the “Evangelical
Review of Theology,” has acknowledged this problem,
noting that Christian theologians have “rarely if ever
stressed salvation as honoring God, exposure of sin as
shame, and the need for acceptance as the restoration
of honor.”*
‘‘
*Bruce Nicholls: “The Role of Shame and Guilt in a Theology of Cross-Cultural Mission,” Evangelical Review of Theology 25, no. 3, (2001): 232.

In fact, a survey of all of the leading textbooks used
in teaching systematic theology across the major
theological traditions reveals that although the
indexes are filled with references to guilt, the word
“shame” appears in the index of only one of these
textbooks. This omission continues to persist despite
the fact that the term guilt and its various derivatives
occur 145 times in the Old Testament and 10 times in
the New Testament, whereas the term shame and its
derivatives occur nearly 300 times in the Old
Testament and 45 times in the New Testament.”
‘‘

This is clearly an area where systematic theology
must be challenged to reflect more adequately the
testimony of Scripture. I am confident that a more
biblical understanding of human identity outside of
Christ that is framed by guilt, fear, and shame will, in
turn, stimulate a more profound and comprehensive
appreciation for the work of Christ on the cross. This
approach will also greatly help peoples in the
Majority World to understand the significance and
power of Christ’s work, which has heretofore been  
told primarily from only one perspective.
‘‘
’’Timothy C. Tennent: Theology in the Context of World Christianity:
How the Global Church Is Influencing the Way We Think about and
Discuss Theology (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2007) p. 92–93

0
100
200
300
400
Old Testament
New Testament
Guilt
Shame
References to Guilt  
vs. Shame in the Bible

0
100
200
300
400
Old Testament
New Testament
Guilt
Shame
References to Guilt  
vs. Shame in the Bible
Could it be
we have a
blind
spot?

narrative / oral propositional / written
honor / shame guilt / innocence
kingdom / regal democratic / legal
familial / ancestral individual / present-future
obedience / concrete knowledge / abstract
mystery / both-and logical / either-or
poverty / vulnerability wealth / stability
Canopy of Biblical Truth
Spectrums of Biblical-Cultural values, Set 1

suffering / vulnerability wealth / stability

Western

glory to God glory for humanity

justice for oppressed 
justice for oppressor acceptance of injustice

subjective / emotional objective / intellectual

everyday / local cosmic / universal

Israel relativized Israel prioritized

Israel relativized Israel prioritized
romantic / desire militant / duty

Could it be we have  
multiple
blind spots
?

“We must start with the basic fact
that there is no such thing as a pure
gospel if by that is meant something
which is not embodied in a culture.
… Every interpretation of the
gospel is embodied in some
cultural form.”

Let’s look at an example of
a gospel presentation which
is embodied in the cultural
form of Western American
evangelicalism:

The Four Spiritual Laws
© CRU (Campus Crusade for Christ).  
Taken from http://www.campuscrusade.com/fourlawseng.htm
Let’s look at an example of
a gospel presentation which
is embodied in the cultural
form of Western American
evangelicalism:

Four Spiritual Laws

Four Spiritual Laws
narrative

Four Spiritual Laws
propositionalnarrative

Four Spiritual Laws
regal

Four Spiritual Laws
legalregal

Four Spiritual Laws
legalregal
justice for
oppressed / 
justice to
oppressor

Four Spiritual Laws
legalregal
justice for
oppressed / 
justice to
oppressor
acceptance 
of injustice

Four Spiritual Laws
concrete

Four Spiritual Laws
abstractconcrete

Four Spiritual Laws
abstractconcrete
glory 
to God

Four Spiritual Laws
abstractconcrete
glory for 
humanity
glory 
to God

Four Spiritual Laws
familial

Four Spiritual Laws
individualfamilial

Four Spiritual Laws
honor / 
shame

Four Spiritual Laws
innocence /
guilt /
honor / 
shame

Four Spiritual Laws
innocence /
guilt /
honor / 
shame
assumes
suffering / 
vulnerability

Four Spiritual Laws
innocence /
guilt /
honor / 
shame
assumes 
stability
assumes
suffering / 
vulnerability

“Every interpretation  
of the gospel  
is embodied in some
cultural form.”
Again…

Western
?

?

?
Are there ways to
present the gospel of
Jesus Christ using
cultural forms and
values which
resonate more
deeply with Majority
World cultures?

Who will have their honor restored?
TheFather’sLove
A story told
by Jesus Christ
Luke 15:11–32

There was a man
who had two sons.
The younger son said
to his father,
“Give me now the part
of your property that
I am supposed to
receive someday.”
Jesus Christ told many beautiful stories and parables.
Perhaps this is the most famous:
Whatmadetheyoungerson’sdemand
soinsultingandhurtful?
Scripture quotations are fromThe Holy Bible, Easy-To-ReadVersion (ERV), Copyright © 2006 byWorldTranslation Center. Drawings Copyright © Robert H. Flores. www.bibleartbooks.com

So the father divided
his wealth between
his two sons.
Not long after that,
the younger son sold
his share of the property
and left home
with the money.
He traveled far away
to another country.
Whatwillthesondointhefarcountry?
Whydidthefatheragree
tohisrequest?

There he wasted his
money living like a fool.
After he spent
everything he had,
there was a terrible
famine [lack of food]
throughout the country.
He was hungry and
needed money.
Whywerehisactionssobad?

So he went and got a job
with one of the people
who lived there.
The man sent him into
the fields to feed pigs.
He was so hungry that
he wanted to eat the food
the pigs were eating.
But no one gave him
anything.
Whatwillthesondonow?
Howishetryingtostayalive?

The son realized that he
had been very foolish.
He thought,
“All my father’s hired
workers have
plenty of food.
But here I am,
almost dead because
I have nothing to eat.”
Whydidhefinallygainhumility?

“I will leave and go to my
father. I will say to him:
‘Father, I have sinned
against God and have
done wrong to you.
I am no longer worthy
to be called your son.
But let me be like one of
your hired workers.’”
Whenhegetshome,whatshouldhisfatherdo?
Isthereawayout?
Stay
here?
Go home and
be a slave?
Steal the
pigs?
?

So he left and
went to his father.
But while the son
was still a
long
way
off,
Whatdoesthesonthinkthat
hisfatherwilldotohim?

his father saw
him coming and felt
sorry for him. So he ran
to him and hugged
and kissed him.
Whataretheneighborsthinking?
Astheneighborswerewatching,
howdidthefatherprotecthis
sonfrombeingshamed?
Itwasabigshameonthefather
toruntohisson!

The son said,
“Father, I have sinned
against God and have
done wrong to you.
I am no longer worthy to
be called your son.”
Whatdoestheyoungersonneed?

But the father called
to his servants,“Hurry!
Bring the best clothes
and put them on him.
Also, put a ring on his
finger and good
sandals on his feet.
And bring our best calf
and kill it so that we
can celebrate with
plenty to eat.” Thefathercalledforabigpartyto
honorhisyoungerson.Why?

“My son was dead,
but now he is alive again!
He was lost,
but now he is found!”
So they began to
have a party.
The older son had
been out in the field.
When he came near the
house, he heard the sound
of music and dancing.Thefather’spartyforhissonwouldhave
surprisedthepeopleinthevillage.Why?

He would not go in
to the party.
So his father went out and
begged him to come in.
But he said to his father,
“Look, for all these years
I have worked like a slave
for you. I have always done
what you told me to do,
and you never gave me
even a young goat for a
party with my friends.Howdidtheoldersoninsulthisfather?

“But then this son of yours
comes home after wasting
your money on prostitutes,
and you kill the best
calf for him!”
His father said to him,
“Oh, my son, you are
always with me, and
everything I have is yours.
But this was a day to be
happy and celebrate.Your
brother was dead, but now
he is alive. He was lost,
but now he is found.”
Howdidbothsonsdishonorthefather?
Itwasabigshameonthefather
tohavetoleavetheparty.
Buthetalked
inagentleway
withhisson.
Whatkindoffatherishe?

Howdidthefathershowsufferinglove
tobothhisyoungersonandolderson?
v
YOUNGER SON
Rebellious Sinner
OLDER SON
Religious Sinner
He insulted his father by rejection, He insulted his father by hating the
greed, and foolish actions. forgiveness given to his brother.
He was lost in a far-away land. Later, He was lost at home. He never left his
he returned in humility and sorrow. father, but he was full of ugly pride.
Turning from his dirty sin and shame, Thinking he had no sin and shame,
he humbled himself before his father. he argued, and accused his father.
He received the father’s love; his He never knew the greatness of the
shame was covered, his honor restored. father’s love and mercy.
He entered into the father’s house He stayed outside the father’s house
for the great party. during the great party.
Jesus said, “I tell you, it will be the same in heaven.There will be great joy when
one sinner turns away from sin.Yes, there will be more joy than for 99 godly people
who do not need to turn away from their sins.” (Luke 15:7 NIRV)

Rebellious
Sinner
Religious
Sinner
Thefatherwasdishonoredandhurtbybothsons.Butbecauseoflovefor
bothsons,thefathersufferedshametohealhisrelationshipwiththem.
Jesusisteaching: God is like a father willing to suffer shame for us.
As humans, we ALL have sinned,
insulting our glorious Creator God. And,
“When people sin, they earn what sin pays–
death…”(Romans 6:23). Still, He loves us
somuch,thatHesufferstocoverourshameandgiveusHishonor!
Howcanitbe,that because of love, Almighty God would suffer
to coveroursinandshameand give us His righteousnessandhonor?
Isthereaway,today,to have the honor of joining God’s great family–
and know for sure the honor of entering heaven’s great party?

“Jesus answered,
‘I am the way,
and the truth,
and the life.
Theonlywaytothe
Fatheristhroughme.’”
(John14:6)
JESUS CHRIST was perfect, pure, holy. But
He died in public at the hands of sinful men.
The Bible says that Jesus was shamed, nailed
to a wooden cross. After He died, His body
was put in a tomb. Butthreedayslater,God
raisedHimfromdeathinhighesthonor!
JESUS DEFEATED SIN, SHAME, DEATH.
He died on the cross, suffering shame for
all peoples. But in rising from death, Jesus
defeatedsinandshameforus. And when we
believeinJesus,followingHimdaybyday,we
can truly live in victory over sin and shame!
GLORIOUS LOVE. “But Christ died for us
while we were still sinners, and
by this God showed how
much He loves us.”
(Romans5:8)

Do you want victory over sin and shame? The honor of being a child of God?
To have eternal life? Turn from your sin and follow Jesus. Prayhonestly:
“Jesus,You know all the ways I have insulted the honor, love, and holiness of God. I am sorry.
I deeply desire an honor that never goes away—the honor of being one of God’s children.
Jesus, I believe that because of love,You suffered to bear our sin and shame, so we could bear
God’s honor and join God’s family.You invite us to joinYou in heaven’s great party. Oh yes,
I want to be there. I believe you rose from deathto defeat sin, shame, and death.Please save
me from all my sin and shame, withYour eternal life. Lord Jesus, I believe inYou. Amen.”
“The Father has loved us so much! This shows how much He loved us:We are called
children of God.”(1John3:1) “Some people did accept Him [Jesus].They believed in Him,
and He gave them the right [honor] to become children of God.”(John1:12)
Jesus said,“Anyone who hears what I say and believes in the one who sent Me has
eternal life.They will not be judged guilty … and have entered into life.”(John5:24)
“If you openly say,‘Jesus is Lord,’and believe in your heart that
God raised Him from death, you will be saved. …Yes, the Scriptures say,
‘Everyone who trusts in Him will not be put to shame.’” (Romans10:9-11)

WasJesusChristrewardedforHissufferinglove—
bearingtheshameofhumanityandconqueringdeath? YES!
“So God raised Him up to the most important place and gave Him the name
that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person
will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth will bow.They will all confess,‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’
and this will bring glory to God the Father.” (Philippians2:9–11)
Do you have questions? Do you want to grow with others
in the honor of following Jesus? Please contact:
thefatherslovebooklet.org Design:Werner Mischke © Copyright 2012 Mission ONE.

WasJesusChristrewardedforHissufferinglove—
bearingtheshameofhumanityandconqueringdeath? YES!
“So God raised Him up to the most important place and gave Him the name
that is greater than any other name. God did this so that every person
will bow down to honor the name of Jesus. Everyone in heaven, on earth,
and under the earth will bow.They will all confess,‘Jesus Christ is Lord,’
and this will bring glory to God the Father.” (Philippians2:9–11)
Do you have questions? Do you want to grow with others
in the honor of following Jesus? Please contact:
thefatherslovebooklet.org Design:Werner Mischke © Copyright 2012 Mission ONE.
This booklet is available for purchase at 
thefatherslovebooklet.org

TheFather’sLove
A story told
by Jesus Christ
Luke 15:11–32
Is this “a gospel” which  
better overlaps biblical
truth with Majority World
values—and thus has more
relevance?
GOSPEL

The Seed of the Gospel
The concept of seed, kernel and husk—and “assuming the gospel”—as applied to contextualizing the gospel
is taken from Jackson Wu: Saving God’s Face: A Chinese Contextualization of Salvation through Honor and
Shame (EMS Dissertation Series, William Carey International University Press: Pasadena, 2013), 21–29.
Let’s further explore  
what it means to  
contextualize the gospel

“since you have been born again,  
not of perishable seed but of imperishable,  
through the living and abiding word of God; …
… And this word is the good news [gospel] 
that was preached to you.”
–1 Peter 1:23, 25

The faith as understood and canonized in the
Western church ... was the unalloyed kernel;  
[on the other hand] the cultural accoutrements  
of the people to whom the missionaries went  
were the expendable husk. In the  
accommodation process, the kernel had to  
remain intact but adapted to the forms of the  
new culture; at the same time, these cultures  
had to be adapted to the “kernel.” (p. 449)
“
”
Critiques traditional view of  
contextualization using word picture  
of gospel seed—husk & kernel
David Bosch

Kernel
Husk
The Seed of the Gospel
Concepts taken from Jackson Wu:  
Saving God’s Face:  
A Chinese Contextualization  
of Salvation through  
Honor and Shame

Gospel
Husk embodies  
the gospel
Traditional view of
contextualization
focuses on the husk,
not on the gospel itself.

Gospel
Husk embodies  
the gospel
Traditional
contextualization
“assumes the
gospel”

Husk embodies  
the gospel
{
Gospel
Traditional
contextualization

Husk embodies  
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.
Gospel

Husk embodies  
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.
• Contextualize the husk
Gospel

Husk embodies  
the gospel
{
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.
• But the gospel is “assumed”
Gospel

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.
EXPANDED  
VIEW of 
contextualization

Gospel
Contextualize
• language
• music
• clothing
• food
• storying
• values, i.e. 
hospitality
• etc.
EXPANDED  
VIEW of 
contextualization
• PLUS: Contextualize the kernel!

Gospel
Let us also learn to
contextualize
the gospel itself.

WesternGOSPEL

Western
GOSPEL
GOSPEL

Western
?
GOSPEL
GOSPEL
Let us ﬁnd ways to better
contextualize the gospel!
Therefore…

PATRONAGE
BODY
LA
NGUAGE
CONCEPT OF FACE CHALLENGE
&
R
IPOSTE
IMAGEOFLIMITEDGOOD
NAME/KINSHIP/BLO
OD
PURITY
LOVE OF HONOR
TWO SOURCES
OF
HONOR
Achieved
Honor
Ascribed
Honor
LOSE
WIN
HONOR

“The gospel is already  
contextualized  
for honor/shame 
cultures.”
–Jackson Wu,  
as quoted in The Global Gospel, p. 278

Free resources to learn more
about honor and shame

30-page article: “Honor & Shame  
in Cross-Cultural Relationships”
© Copyright 2013 Mission ONE. Developed by Werner Mischke. http://wernermischke.org / http://mission1.org / werner@mission1.org Page 1Available as a free download at http://wernermischke.org/resources
Nine lessons for individuals
and small groups
inthedynamicsof
Honor&Shame
Werner Mischke
ExecutiveVice President
Director ofTraining Ministries, Mission ONE
An introduction to key concepts about honor and shame in the Bible
A B I B L E S T U D Y
Inductive Bible study: 
“Nine-lessons for individuals
and small groups in the
dynamics of honor and
shame”
Blog: wernermischke.org/resources
Love of honor: Aristotle: “…honor is clearly the greatest of external goods…it is honor
above all else that great men claim and deserve.” Augustine: “For the glory that the
Romans burned to possess…is the favorable judgment of men who think well of other
men.” The ancients name love of honor and praise as their premier value. (Neyrey)
Two sources of honor: 1) Ascribed honor: granting respect to a person based
upon family, kinship, name, title, government, politics. 2) Achieved honor: respect
based on competition, warfare, aggression, envy, athletic competition, or “social
games of push-and-shove”. (Neyrey)
Challenge and riposte: Four steps: 1) Claim of worth or value, 2) Challenge to
that claim or refusal to acknowledge the claim, 3) Riposte or defense of the claim,
4) Public verdict of success awarded to either claimant or challenger. (Neyrey)
Image of limited good: “The belief that everything in the social, economic,
natural universe … everything desired in life: land, wealth, respect and status,
power and influence … exist in finite quantity and are in short supply.” If you gain,
I lose … a “zero-sum game.” (Neyrey)
Name / kinship / blood: “In the ancient world, people are not just taken on their ‘merits.’”
Honor “begins with the merits (or debits) of their lineage, the reputation of their ancestral
house. Greeks and Romans receive a basic identity from their larger family: for Romans
this takes the form of including the clan name in the name of each individual.” (deSilva)
Honor-status reversal: When a person, family
or people have their honor status reversed. Two
types. 1) End result is honor: Honor-to-shame-
to-honor, or simply, shame-to-honor. 2) End
result is shame: Shame-to-honor-to-shame, or
simply, honor-to-shame.
Primary honor/shame dynamics in the Bible
Ascribed
Honor
Achieved
Honor
And the winner is…
WIN L OSE
NAME
HONOR
Body parts: Feet and other dirty parts
of the body represent shame. Head, face,
right hand, right arm represent honor.
Cross-cultural ministry skills related to honor and shame
1. READ God’s Word through the lens of honor and shame. Reading
the Bible is a cross-cultural experience. Reading the Bible through the
lens of honor and shame is an attempt to know the Word of God the
way the original hearers would have heard it or read it. It’s an effort to
de-Westernize our reading of the Scriptures. Read one book at a time.
2. SPEAK using the Bible’s language of honor and shame, both in
conversation and in prayer. Talk with others together about what you’re learning. Become
comfortable using words like honor and glory relative to our own relationship with Christ. Pray
Scripture. Pray together using the honor/shame words found in God’s Word.
3. WALK your own authentic path of shame to honor—in the light of Christ. Discovering
the honor of who we are in Jesus Christ has two parts.
a. Be vulnerable and real about your own shame—the shame dynamics of our own lives
—whether as agents or victims of sin—and letting the work and Person of Christ deal with
that. Personal prayer times and trusting small groups are healthy places for vulnerability.
b. Explore the honor of who we are in Christ. See yourself and your church family as a
part of the story and drama of the honor-status reversal of Jesus Christ. Pray together
with others about overcoming shame and experiencing honor—in relation to Jesus Christ.
This sense of honor may be experienced both individually with the Lord, and in community
with the Lord, that is, together in the love and ministry of the Body of Christ, the church.
Sources: Jerome H. Neyrey: Honor and Shame in the Gospel of Matthew (Louisville: Westminster Press, 1998),
David A. deSilva: Honor, Patronage, Kinship & Purity: Unlocking New Testament Culture (Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 2000)
READ
SPEAK WALK
Together
Reading your Bible through the lens of honor and shame
1. Recognize honor/shame dynamics: In the “universe” or spectrum of words and
dynamics of honor and shame, circle the words in black in your Bible as you read.
2. Recognize all conflicts as honor competition. From sibling rivalries to deadly
wars—remember it is fueled by “challenge and riposte” (the ubiquitous honor-
shame “game”) and the “image of limited good” (win-win was conceptually impossible
except as revealed by God; win-lose was the only way). Make a note in your Bible.
3. Identify examples of honor-status reversal. Underline or circle these verses with
a yellow colored pencil. This can range from individual verses to long stories.
4. Observe words and ideas relative to salvation (in Old Testament and New) —
saved, ransom, redeem, atone, propitiation, etc. Underline or circle these words in
red. Observe the relationship, if any, between salvation and honor-status reversal.
5. Share and pray. Talk with others about what you’re learning. Pray biblically; use the
words of Scripture. Become comfortable using words like honor and glory relative to
our own relationship with Christ. Pray with others about overcoming shame and
experiencing honor in relation to Jesus Christ.
Written and designed by Werner Mischke © Copyright 2012 Mission ONE.
For information about training contact Mission ONE: 480-951-0900 /
werner@mission1.org / mission1.org/equip / Blog: wernermischke.org
This resources is available at: wernermischke.org/resources
HONOR
shame
Blessing
Renown
Praise
Great
Authority
Worthy
Might
Holy
Power
Apostle
Glory
Worship
Majesty
King
ThroneBeauty
Raised
Over
High
Free
Above
Pure
Clean
Ambassador
Warrior
Boasting
Pride
BlessBlessed
Kingdom
Fame
Glorify
Glorious
Royal
Greater
Boastful
Ring
Robe
Reign
Awesome
Highest
Lifted up
Conquer
Priesthood
Bright
White
Honored
Exalted
Approved
Crown
Overcome
Boast
Confidence
Family
Name
Head
Blood
Father
Son
Right hand
Face
Inheritance
Heirs
Elder
Below
Elect Adopted
Righteous
Chosen
Beloved
Pleased
Friend
Inside
Children
Offspring
Loved
Sanctified
Pleasing
Anointed
Honorable
Respect
Dominion
Freedom
Right arm
Remembered
LifeRise
Immortal
Cursing
Mocking
Dishonor
Spit upon
Hidden
Blind
Diseased
Unclean
Impure
Ashamed
DarkDefeated
Death
RejectedDespised
Smitten Afflicted
Desolate
Naked
Suffered
Humiliation
Crucified
Cut offRejected
Darkness
Accursed
Feet
Slave
Under
Low
Fallen
Younger
Alien
Stranger
Imprisoned
Enemy
Lesser
Reproach
BywordSick
Oppressed
Outside
Gentile
Persecuted
Least
Wretched
Cursed
Crushed
Forgotten
Captivity
Reviled
Fear
Weak
Strong
Better
Quick Reference Guide: “Read the Bible  
in the Language of Honor and Shame”
Quick  
Reference
Guide

Key blogs
honorshame.com
jacksonwu.org
wernermischke.org

honorshame.com
jacksonwu.org
wernermischke.org

TheFather’sLove
A story told
by Jesus Christ
Luke 15:11–32
globalgospelbook.org
thefatherslovebooklet.org
Learn more 
and purchase:

Contact
Werner Mischke: werner@mission1.org
Blog: wernermischke.org
Free resources to learn about  
honor and shame:  
wernermischke.org/resources
mission1.org/equip

You CAN contextualize the gospel in the language of honor and shame

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