The threat of the younger critic

In a shame honour emphasis society there is an unwritten law - the older person is always supposed to know more than the younger person, and thus the younger person cannot question or critic an elder.

We may look at that and say 'how terrible'.  But is human nature so different in the Western world?

Actually no.

Human nature at its core is incredibly similar no matter who we are.  How it plays out is sometimes slightly different, but alongside differences there are some amazing similar threads.

Apart from the humility demonstrated by Christ being lived out in the lives of people on this earth through His Body, sinful human nature is just that...sinful.

And sinful human nature that throws off any reference to God and flees from the influence of salt and light develops some remarkable similarities.

Here is an example from the 'modern Western world of science' that was mentioned in a recent 'Breakpoint' Commentary regarding an article in the New York Times.....

Norbert Schwarz, a psychology professor at the University of Southern California, tells the Times that many senior researchers bristle at the thought of a younger, less experienced scientist critiquing their work. "There's no doubt," he said, "that replication is important, but it's often just [seen as] an attack, a vigilante exercise."

In other words, the real flaw in a lot of research isn't technical or methodological. It's just old-fashioned human pride.

Pride, as a false mis-placed sense of honour, fears shame.  Pride in one's achievements or age position is held onto tightly.  Both are looked on as honour to be gained. 

The Westerner doesn't want to lose the honour of his professional position, accomplishment and applause from peers that he sees he has 'worked hard' to achieve.  The African doesn't want to lose the honour of his tribal position through the age he has attained and the sense in which others defer to him and his knowledge which he believes he has 'lived well' to achieve.  

In the African setting, someone younger speaking out is simply prohibited by the elders who govern the culture so as to preserve honour and eliminate any chance of shame.  In the Western setting, speaking out is allowed and even encouraged by the culture and so there is a very real threat always present that someone else will discover more, or even worse, something that disproves your work.  

If your identity is tied up in your achievements, to have someone achieve more is a threat to one's identity and 'being' and 'purpose'.  If your identity is tied to your age position and the authority that gives, then to have someone younger know more is a threat to your position and authority and identity and 'being' and purpose. 

Apart from identity in Christ where we are 'all one in Christ Jesus' and see humility as honourable, pride rules and jealousy follows.

Instead of seeing our position, age and accomplishments as achievements to be gained and jealously held, let us see them as gifts from the hand of God to be enjoyed, shared, a means to build others up, spur others on, esteem others more highly, teach others, and seek to have others go further.  Like Jesus let us not see our position as something to be held onto, but something we are willing to sacrifice for the good of others and the glory of God.