As we look at culture, there are three ways that culture is divided — guilt, shame, or fear. These are spectrums of cultures it is how things are viewed from a cultural anthropology perspective. I am not going to try to explain it as it is a bit beyond me and there are numerous others who have written on this topic. The one coming from a guilt culture needs forgiveness. Those that come from a shame culture need honor. People have come from a fear culture need to be rescued. There is one who can do all three — give forgiveness, restore honor, and release us from fears. Jesus, God’s son came to do that. Covered Glory looks at the topic of honor and shame and how to proclaim Jesus.

The Bible is filled with stories of how this has happened but it still happens today. Covered Glory looks specifically at the topic of Honor and Shame both from the Bible and from a people group where that is a value within the community.

Why Read Covered Glory

The topic of honor and shame is one that we discuss as we minister to peoples from East Asia. While we have a different people group, the cultural concept is similar. That prompted me to want to learn a bit more about the topic of honor and shame. I found this book on Net Galley and received a copy to read in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed the book so much I purchased my own copy so I could read it again and make notes.

You might be thinking I don’t know anyone that this applies so. Why should I read the book? I don’t live in an honor and shame culture. That might be true but there is probably more honor and shame in your life then you realize. Also, this is a topic in the Bible. Reading this will just give you a glimpse into that worldview. Read the book, you might be surprised how it does apply to you.

Honor and Shame in the Bible

(Some of this is from the book and some are from my own study.)

Honor and shame are written throughout the Bible. Begin in Genesis 2:25 God created man and his wife and they were naked and were not ashamed. At that time they had honor. After disobeying it wasn’t long and they were feeling the shame. They were naked and were trying to hide the shame.

Jesus, God’s only son, came to earth giving up his place of honor to take the shame of the world. He did that so that we could be restored and have honor. We can have honor.

Covered Glory, the Book

In this book, the author shares her own story of shame and then shares stories of women that she has met through her years overseas. She shares the story of how they experience shame and in some cases how honor is restored through Christ.

Part 1 of the book is Honor Understood. Shame steals our identity. “Honor is lost, and shame is the consequence.” (page 32) Think about that as seen in the Garden of Eden. “Shame changes one’s very identity. The one who once was accepted is not rejected. The insider is now an outsider. (page 32) Christ was rejected when he came to earth.

Part 2 of the book is Honor Restored. This looks at Christ’s life and how he restored honor both in his teaching and in his death. We are not hidden from God. God sees us and knows us.

Part 3 of the book is Honor Shared. What happens when our good works are not enough? How do we share with those living with shame? There is hope, honor can be restored.

My Thoughts

This is an excellent book to read. It gives an introduction to this concept. While this is a concept some cultures, there are elements of honor and shame in western culture. In Eastern culture so much is based on the community so we bring honor or shame to the community. In western culture, our honor and shame are often seen individually, how I bring honor to myself or how I bring shame to myself.

While this might be a cultural worldview, we need to be careful that we don’t try to change people to become like western culture. We need a Biblical culture and worldview.

If you want to begin to understand honor and shame culture, I recommend this book.