Our 'honour/shame' ministry road....

Honour and Shame have been two words which we have used several times in our blogs, and its those two words that are the focus of our ministry these days -

Back in October 2012 I wrote a little bit about it and said that one day I should explain some of what led us to this point of even talking about the topic.....well here is a quick overview......

Through a variety of extremely difficult circumstances and an abundance of daily life experiences while living here in Botswana, God graciously led us along a path a few years ago, that began to open up our eyes to the cultural issues surrounding these two words.  

Although there is a smattering of literature around which refers to the Asian and Muslim world as "Honour/Shame based", there is almost nothing that includes sub-Saharan (non-Muslim) Africa in this category.  Yet as we began to learn more of what an 'honour/shame' culture is, we also began to recognise more and more of the same dynamics at work in the society around us.  But we still couldn't find very much at all in the literature that could help us understand the Africa situation or give us better ministry strategies or materials for this context we 'discovered' we were in.

So alongside doing a LOT of talking to people to get feedback on what we were learning, and in the process having our discoveries confirmed over and over again, we began writing a brochure/tract that told the gospel story right from Creation, but incorporating more clear definitions of subject matter such as SIN, and GOD, and also bringing in the biblical perspective on Shame and Honour and how it relates to our sin and the great salvation we have in Christ.

As we trialled this brochure 'in the field' we got some amazing feedback and we certainly knew we were on the right track!  We were able to refine it even further.....and eventually print it professionally.

The more we read and talked and researched and discussed and jotted down some of what we were learning, the more we realised that this was not some little sideline of ministry, this needed to be a dedicated ministry focus.  God was making it very clear that the myriad of events and difficult circumstances and varied ministry contexts we had been involved in since arriving in Botswana, were definitely not random events but His careful directing far and above any evil schemes of the Devil.  We came to see that without realising it, God had us in the first stage of the 'data gathering' of this research for the previous 10 years or so!

As the research continues, now alongside some African co-workers, and with an international team of cultural and theological consultants, we have had requests for the brochure to be translated into Setswana and other languages.  The Setswana translation process is now complete with an audio version of both the English and Setswana also complete.  A printed version of the Setswana is just awaiting someone with time and skill to do some desk-top publishing!

In addition to this we have seen a huge need to produce some materials that not only alert missionaries to Africa of the need to understand this dynamic if effective evangelism and discipleship is to take place, but also produce materials to awaken Africans (especially the Christians) to this dynamic (as like anyone in their own culture, we are normally unaware of our own cultural dynamics and its driving worldviews), as well as provide discipleship materials that address Christian growth in the context of the cultural pressures of excessive honour and shame in both its bold and subtle forms. All this so that God may be truly glorified among the nations, especially in those who have such a strong honour/shame basis.

So we press on, with a very strong sense that we are constrained by the Lord to enable the eyes of the hearts of African's to be opened to the truth of God's word that can penetrate into areas of their daily life that they had no idea it could....but at the same time will bring a new sense of liberty in Christ, where before there was only cultural bondage.

As a Christian Nigerian lecturer at the local University recently said after talking with us on this whole topic for the first time....."This hasn't been an eye-opener, this has been a mind opener"

Embracing Obscurity by Anonymous

It's not everyday an author doesn't want any recognition or applause or acknowledgement.....

But its not everyday a book is written that calls people to embrace the idea that Obscurity is something to be set as a goal!

That is because, everyday, every human being faces their biggest area of vulnerability when it comes to temptation.....pride!

Pride is the core of every sin, because it sets 'me' as the No. 1 priority and authority when God should be my No. 1 priority and authority.

But as we have studied more and more on the issues that are the fabric of what is known as an 'honour/shame' society or culture, the issue of "Misplaced Shame" (as author John Piper terms it), has at its core, our own pride.  Misplaced Shame or Honour can only have influence because of the sinful pride of the 'fallen' human heart.

That is why I was so interested to find the book "Embracing Obscurity" by an author who was only willing to be known as 'Anonymous'!

When our (African) Motswana research assistant/consultant joined us in ministry this year, it was one of the first books off the 'research material shelf' he wanted to read and it challenged him deeply.  He would desire for many to understand the truths conveyed in this book and because of that wrote a bit of a 'review' of the book from the perspective of someone who is part of the African honour/shame context and culture.

We would like to recommend the book because:

1. it will challenge you to the depth of your heart and lead you further in your walk with Christ, so as to glorify God even more day by day

2. it will enable you to see a little more of the even greater challenges of a Christian in a culture where personal honour in the eyes of one's community by conforming to its mores is the ultimate goal of life

3. it will help you share our burden to allow the Lord to use us to share truth such as "the first shall be last and the last shall be first" in a cultural setting where to be "last" or 'least' is shameful and to be avoided and escaped from if at all possible

4. it will hopefully provide additional context for your prayers for us here, and for African Christians and for God to help them to be more true, strong and faithful witnesses to the Lord Jesus Christ

Here are some excerpts from his review of the book.............

In this Book the author points out that we are all drunk. He writes "in our defense the epidemic is so common that most of us don't even know that we are under the influence". This intoxication and influence is driving our attention away from the kingdom and we end up undermining the gospel of Christ. The question then is, "what is this influence and this intoxication?" The author answers this question by saying the following: "we're intoxicated with a desire to be known, recognized, appreciated, and respected."

We live in a culture that bases significance on how celebrated, or common, we are. And now the church also has bought this lie. The author points out this lie is very serious because of its source. It's just the sort of lie that Satan, the father of lies, has manufactured and sells very well. Therefore this lie, or this virus, has to be addressed radically. Just as David cut the head off Goliath, so must we deal with this virus of popularity and fame.

In chapter 2 the author talks about 'embracing the definition'. He quotes Cicero when he said "we are all motivated by a keen desire for praise". This desire for praise is 

manifested in different forms.

The author does not hesitate to state that this desire for pre-eminence is sin. It is only when our eyes are opened to see this as sin that we will be able to deal with it seriously. The first test that Satan tested Eve with was his tried and tested old trick of pride. He did that by appealing to Eve's pride and eventually Eve gave heed to the lie. Since then all mankind has been struggling with this old trick. He writes: "the depth of my own pride is seemingly infinite". (pg 32).  

The honor and shame culture bases its dynamics on the performance level. The performance levels are done with a view of gaining recognition and acceptance and honor from those I respect. Therefore a person living in this culture is influenced more by this cancer than a person living in guilt based culture. So the topic of embracing obscurity will not be allowed, for it is seen as something that brings shame and dishonor, for this is a culture that strives for acceptance.....

The question then comes how do I deal with pride? Is there a solution for this? The author, in chapter 3 leads us to the above question. He states that the answer to the above question is two-fold. First we have to admit that we cannot do this on our own. Second we have to follow God's instruction. He then leads us in chapter 3 to the solution of overcoming pride. The perfect model to follow to overcome our cancer is embracing the humble King (Jesus Christ). Christ laid down his rights and took on the nature of a servant/slave. He goes on to say "the supreme Being; the one who spoke our entire universe into being with a word, yet cannot be bound by human language; the namer of stars and the crusher of the mountains; the God whose face necessitates veiling to preserve a man's life; the one responsible for each breath you've taken while reading this paragraph; the only omniscient reality - yeah, this God became a roughly eight pound mass of created cells". Christ's humility and service makes any other so called great leader to disappear into the background. To overcome our cancer we must take a closer look at Christ....

After pointing out the vanity and the empty pursuit of that which is temporal, Mr Anonymous leads us to the pursuit of that which is significant and eternal.

.......our union with God clearly shows is that we are dependant creatures. This union is maintained by prayer. J I Packer defines prayer as a point of whereby we show that we are helpless to do what we do, and therefore we call the Almighty God to act on our behalf. .... It is in this union that we find our significance.

The person in this culture wants significance so that he will be able to fit in the community and be able to be noticed. The only proper way of dealing with this is to show the people living in this culture that what you are doing violates the principles of the big family community in which God is the Father, therefore this brings shame and dishonor to his name and who he is. 

It also has to be noted that if this culture is not studied properly it leads to the fact that what the members of the society condone is not what God allows. So God's approval is secondary to the principle that runs the community. 

The Squirrels are Playing and the Baboons are Barking

Well, its now been a couple of months since we moved house to a small
village just a few minutes outside Gaborone - it will probably be
swallowed up into the 'greater Gaborone' area in a few years time!

The area we have moved to is however, not right in the middle of the
village - rather it is on the very edge and also on the edge of a
small hill. (Yes there are a few small 'hills' on the eastern side of
Botswana - most of them look like someone piled up a bunch of rocks -
because the area around each hill is still very flat and the hills are
very rocky - hence a reason why our house is made from stones.)

Apart from an abundance of trees, cool clean air, and wonderful views,
we have also been blessed with the sounds of nature around us. The
bird life is prolific and we have some other 'wildlife' around us as
well. Apart from a few scorpions, one snake and a bazillion ants some
of which are of a gigantic 25mm long, we have lots of vervet monkeys
who love to gorge themselves on marula fruit on the tree at the bottom
of our garden area, several cute squirrels, a mongoose here and there
and baboons. The baboons we don't see too often but we hear them
'barking' a lot from wherever they are further up the hill.

We have gone through what many would call 'trials' of various kinds
over the years of our time in Botswana, and even having to move house
this last time seemed like a huge trial. We didn't want to move, even
though the house continued to have leak problems - we liked the house
and location and had decided we would just put up with the leaks.
However, God so arranged it that we had no choice when the landlord
decided to change his mind and not renew the lease and demolish the
house instead. At the time we would say to ourselves that if God was
moving us on, He had something better in mind! We had no idea how
much better, 'better' could be!

The ambience, environment, size of house, landlord and his staff, and
garden are more than we could have ever imagined. I never imagined
living in a stone cottage with thatch roof and slate floors! Even
when friends have told us the Gaborone temperature has got up to
45degreesC, inside our house has not got above 30! This has done
wonders for better coping with my POTS issues, and is just so much
more refreshing. The whole environment is also so very much conducive
to a relaxed mind that can focus more easily on the research we are
now involved in with "Honour and Shame", ......and we almost didn't
even look at this house in the midst of our house-hunting efforts!

But God knew that despite the huge task of moving, this was the huge
blessing He had waiting for us. He has lavished His love upon us and
has given us a home far beyond what we could ever ask or think!