Divine Culture

Some people are convinced that there are two versions of society in the earth – guilt-based, and shame-based.

In a guilt-based culture, citizens are taught to feel bad if they have done something the rest of the people consider to be wrong. The offending citizen should feel guilt even if no one knows about the failure. Paying for the error, or having it paid for by someone else, the offender can experience some level of freedom from the guilt, but should still feel badly if someone else paid the fine.

In a culture of shame, I am not instructed to feel remorse for my actions if no one believes that I did anything wrong. However, if my fellow citizens or tribe members believe evil of me, I have lost face and honor. In the worst of these cultures, it is better to die than to be shamed or shunned. Also, to be shamed or dishonored by an enemy demands vengeance or I would be shamed by my own people.

The Kingdom of God brings another culture to earth. Being born of God happens in the process of forgiveness of our sin. Being a son or daughter of Yahweh, having His nature (2 Peter 1:3-11), we are not under a law, and we are honored as family of the King.

2 Peter 1:3-11

For His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted, and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. Therefore, brothers, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly supplied to you.

(from Holman Christian Standard Bible® Copyright © by Holman Bible Publishers.)