Good News

Good News for All Cultures

Introduction

Modern socioligists have begun to classify and discuss subcultures as "honor/shame" or "innocence/guilt". This essay is our congregation's contribution to this awareness, with an emphasis on how the good news is relevant to all kinds of cultures.

"Innocence/Guilt" Subcultures

Overview

In an "innocence/guilt" subculture, the most valued quality is personal innocence from tresspassing legal or social laws. Individuals who have tresspassed the law are restored to proper standing in the community by a public conviction of their crime and the acceptance of a punishment that includes resititution to those wronged and an increase of self-discipline. Society's role is to protect individuals by using justice to make sure the guilty "pay off" their guilt.

In such a subculture, spirituality is valued for how it aids resisting temptations and standing against evil. What is considered unforgivable is any crime for which restitution cannot be made, or any person incapable of self-discipline.

In this kind of subculture, caring for your own needs is your duty. People falsely accused of crimes must deal with those who seek justice (by defending their case or fleeing). People secretly guilty of crimes feel guilty and to some extent punish themselves.

Those with power in this kind of subculture make standards for what is legal and enforce discipline, accepting this duty as an added responsibility they willingly shoulder to help others. Leaders with much anxiety are understood to be trying to do too much. Leaders may do normally prohibited actions such as printing money, executing crminals, or declaring war because they have legal exemption to do so.

Obviously, both ancient Israel and first-century Israel were in many ways an "innocence/guilt" Mediterranean subculture. In modern America, many families raise their children by creating a family-wide "innocence/guilt" subculture.

How the Good News Applies

The good news declares to an "innocence/guilt" subculture that through Yeshua's sacrifice we are ransomed. Our crimes have forgiveness because Yeshua has "paid off" our guilt. Adonai, as our Father and our Judge could be just in allowing this because the World to Come will include restitution for all tresspasses.

...the Beloved [Yeshua], in whom we have our ransom through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace... -from Ephesians 1:6-7

This kind of subculture sees a healthy congregation as a team of innocent people.

"Honor/Shame" Subcultures

Overview

In an "honor/shame" subculture, the most valued quality is either individual or family honor. Individuals who have been shamed by an insult become defined by that insult, losing honor until the insult is removed by a public repudation of the insult or victory over the insult giver. Society's role is to project honor and shame by using justice to make sure honor and shame are put on those who deserve it.

In such a subculture, spirituality is valued for how it establishes a baseline level of honor for everyone. What is considered unforgivable are public ridicule (an insult difficult to later remove because witnesses will have dispersed) and types of insults that remain even after triumph over the insult giver.

In this kind of subculture, caring for your own needs is done privately, and has low priority. People falsely accused of crimes feel and act shamed. People secretly guilty of crimes still feel and act honorable.

Those with power in this kind of subculture make the standards for acceptable superiority, avoiding responsibility by putting blame for all failures on others. Leaders with much anxiety are understood to be dutifully trying to be honorable. Leaders may do normally prohibited actions such as condemning and punishing people that have not insulted them because they have divinely-granted favored-status: as people comissioned by or related to the divine they do not acquire shame for doing these otherwise shameful actions, and in exchange become responsible for distributing divine provision and blessing. (For more informatino about this last dynamic involving leadership and favored-status, please see our vocabulary essay about chen.)

Obviously, both ancient Israel and first-century Israel were in many ways an "honor/shame" Mediterranean subculture. In modern America, a common example of "honor/shame" subcultures are academic settings in which teachers are esteemed by reputation rather than by actual data about student learning.

How the Good News Applies

The good news declares to an "honor/shame" subculture that through Yeshua's sacrifice we are brought into the family of God. As relatives of the one true God we have a favored-status that puts us above all condemnation from men, and in exchange become responsible for distributing Adonai's provision and blessing.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the favored-status which will be revealed toward us, for creation waits with eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. -Romans 8:18-19

This kind of subculture sees a healthy congregation as family who help God govern and provide.

"Greater Good" Subcultures

Overview

In a "greater good" subculture, the most valued quality is individuals having virtues. Individuals who have suffered an impediment to having virtues (poverty, a bad upbringing, family strife, etc.) are pitied as victims. Society's role is to remove such impediments with the expectation that then virtues will grow naturally. Society also expects that if it promotes virtues in the proper ways its other roles (administering justice, defending its borders, physically providing for the poor, etc.) will become obsolete.

In such a subculture, spirituality is valued for how it helps people increase in virtues. What is considered unforgivable is acknowledging that society's expectations are false: virtues do not naturally growing once impediments are removed, and society will always have its roles other than promoting virtues.

In this kind of subculture, caring for your own needs is seen as healthy and complimentary to caring for society. People falsely accused of crimes present arguments that they did not harm society. People secretly guilty of crimes act as if they owe something extra to society.

Those with power in this kind of subculture make the standards for what is considered virtuous, and since control is seen as a source of temptations they seek responsibilities in exchange. Leaders with much anxiety are understood to be trying too hard. Leaders may do normally prohibited actions such as administering justice because the "office", not the person, is responsible for those actions.

Only in minor ways was either ancient Israel or first-century Israel a "greater good" Mediterranean subculture. In modern America, common examples of "greater good" subcultures are small, liberal communities.

How the Good News Applies

The good news declares to an "greater good" subculture that through Yeshua's sacrifice we are freed from slavery to sin and iniquity, and it is finally true that free of impediments to virtues and filled with God's Spirit our individual virtues will naturally grow. Furthermore, in the World to Come there will be no vices or lacks, which means society will finally be free from all roles aside from allowing people to experience God and live virtuously.

Let it therefore be known to you, men and brethren, that through this man [Yeshua] is proclaimed to you freedom from sins, and by him everyone who believes is made innocent from all things, even from which you could not be made innocent by the Torah of Moshe. -Acts 13:38-39

This kind of subculture sees a healthy congregation as an optimal mini-society.

Conclusion

For Ourselves

Each of us live in many different subcultures as we participate in family groups, school and workplace environments, religious and social groups or clubs, circles of friends, and our city/state/national goverments. Since we probably are part of all three kinds of subcultures, it is important to remember how the good news applies to each.

American followers of Yeshua tend to focus on what the good news says to "innocence/guilt" subcultures. Let us not neglect that we, as God's family, are responsible for helping him distribute the blessings and provision and protection of his Kingdom. Let us not neglect that we, free from the evil inclination, should be increasing in virtues.

For Sharing

When sharing the good news, we should be sensitive to the kinds of subcultures in which the people we talk to participate, and how the good news can bring grace to all circumstances.

Perhaps the person we are sharing with does not feel burdened by guilt for transgressing God's laws, but feels great shame from his or her parents, or frustration from being unable to genuinely increase in patience or love towards his or her children.

Whatever the life issue is, the good news probably speaks directly to that issue.