Book Review: 'James - An honor and shame paraphrase

Once again, we have a guest post from our co-worker Kenosi Molato on some of his thoughts on the newest book in the series of honor-shame paraphrases of books of the bible - James:

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This paraphrase of the book of James is one of the honor-shame paraphrase series, which gives us a fresh perspective of honor-shame nuances within James, and also provides a tool for applying honor-shame frameworks to cultures which have strong honor-shame dynamics.  As an African living and ministering in a worldview which is predominantly honor-shame this paraphrase of the book of James aids me, and liberates the biblical text which has been enmeshed in worldviews, translations and interpretations which are guilt oriented.  Moreover it provides a fresh look at the book of James in a way which resonates with my own honor-shame oriented heart and outlook on life. 

The author views the main thrust of the book of James as persevering in loyalty to God. He asserts that the first chapter is a prologue and the rest of the book from 2:1 to 5:6 revisits the theme from chapter one and develops it more (pg. 11).

Daniel Eng knows his intended audience and the web of shame and honor, which controls their worldview.

He is to be highly commended on the narrative style of writing in this paraphrase. Like a good teacher, he does not only reveal the honor-shame dynamics but he also captures the narrative sense, which the original readers would have been most familiar with. Unlike the modern translations, which submerge the text into dynamic equivalence, Eng skillfully employs vivid pictures, which capture the scenes. For example in Chapter 2:1-4 he uses words such as "disheveled, with dirty clothes and filthy fingernails, lacking in social graces." He takes the reader by the hand and invites him/her to the historical setting and like a time machine makes the reader listen to the heartbeat of the Apostle James. However, I feel like sometimes Daniel Eng is hesitant to employ honor and shame terms to drive words into the heart of the reader. E.g. on page 16 he uses the word "rubbish" in condemning the deeds done by the recipients of the letter and I wished he could have used a phrase such as "shame on you", as it would have resonated with my heart more than "rubbish". But that might just be a personal preference based on my own cultural vocabulary.

Honor and shame cultures are community and relationship-based and this paraphrase captures these concepts well. Words such as 'family members' used in Chapter 3:1 captures this motif, therefore, the readers feel a sense of belonging and feel related to the one who is addressing them (Pg. 17,18 &19). In my African honor-shame culture, people who belong to your clan are important therefore their advice is to be fully accepted, as compared with a stranger's advice, which has to be received with a grain of salt. In page 18, Eng picks up the community-based rhetoric in relation to the concept of disputes and fights in the community structure. Living in a culture which traditionally defines sin as anything that disturbs the harmony of the community, I find Daniel Eng's paraphrase reaches to the heart, and addresses the motive of the problem just as the original author intended. Note the phrases he utilizes: "My family members, don't speak slander about each other. The person who badmouths or condemns a family member also badmouths and condemns the royal decrees of God."

Unlike many translations which insert the word 'guilt' to James 4:17, the word  "ἁμαρτία"  (harmartia - sin) is better paraphrased by Eng as 'failure in God's eyes'. The context of 'not doing something you know you should do' clearly directs the meaning as a failure to do what is required, while in contrast, guilt has to do with crossing a boundary and 'doing what you know you should not do'.

Daniel Eng has chosen that the theme of the Book of James is persevering in loyalty to God. Subsequently he then chooses to refer to God as a "benefactor" (pg. 10). Unfortunately, the cultural idea of a Benefactor in my part of Africa implies someone who dispenses some gifts 'with strings attached'. Additionally, in my context whereby there's excessive prosperity gospel which is driven by a mis-placed honor-shame ethos, it will not be wise to use Benefactor to refer to God, without significant clarification, as it will water the soil of the prosperity Gospel.

This paraphrase of the book of James will remain as a valuable tool both to the teachers and the students of the word of God in an honor-shame culture and Daniel Eng has done an honorable job in writing this valuable work.

'Highest Honour' book is now fully available

Yes.

I realised that amidst all the issues getting this book I co-wrote with our co-worker Kenosi Molato, to this stage, that we had omitted to do a post on it now being available fully, at last!

So now you can get hard copies from us or LogosLife International or Amazon, and you can get e-books from us (pdf) or from Amazon (Kindle).

We have already sold several hundred copies.

But its not just exciting that copies are selling, but that people who are buying copies are coming back to buy more to give to others.

It has led to Kenosi being sought out on facebook by people wanting to contact him and thank him for the book, as well as him being interviewed on radio by someone who had read the book and wanted to promote it further.

We are thrilled to hear where the book is going and how it is being used - from devotions in a hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo, to Bible Study Groups in Australia. One local 13 year old girl is taking it to school here to work through it with her friends at lunch times! Another church is using it for their ladies groups.

I received an email just a few days back from a mum of three teenagers saying:

I have been reading your highest honour book and am so impressed and really enjoying it actually. Besides the odd reference to "ancestral worship" I feel it could be a wonderful book for any new Christian of any culture and even for teenagers as it speaks simply but very clearly. Praise God for this and please that it may spread far and wide in Africa. I love that it advises on other books to read for each topic and all the biblical references, it is truly God inspired.  Thank you.

Here are the recommendations from the back cover of the book:

This book calls the Christian, particularly African Christians for whom it is primarily written, to give God the place of highest honour in their lives. In the form of a 60 day 'devotional', it gives the reader a foundational understanding of who God is and then explains what giving God honour looks like in the practicalities of everyday life, whether it be in the family, at work, at church, in the area of finances, of how we should treat the environment, how we speak, how we set life goals and priorities, in our motives and attitudes, the difficult situation we face, times of temptations and more. It also addresses in a practical way, the many issues that emerge in a cultural context where seeking and maintaining honour and harmony in relationships and avoiding shame are prominent.

 "It calls all of us to our most satisfying duty - to give God the highest honour in our lives." 
Dr Conrad Mbewe, Pastor of Kabwata Baptist Church and Chancellor of the African Christian University, Lusaka, Zambia

"The authors have given the African Christian a tremendous treasure in this book. While an excellent source for family devotions and individual discipleship, this book is convicting, rich in content, and addresses critical questions on dealing with the shame culture. Reading this has been a delight"
Andrew Isiaho, MA in Biblical Counseling, Lecturer in Missions and Biblical Counseling, Christ Seminary, South Africa

"This book promotes God's highest honour, and does so in a lucid, refreshing, comprehensive an devotional manner. In relationship based cultures, people tend to live their lives based on cultural expectations and the desire to please people. Tis book effectively redirects our whole motivation towards honouring God who in turn rewards us with real honour. "
Rev Dr R Musasiwa, Principal: Domboshawa Theological College, Harare, Zimbabwe

"Much of the lack of Christian witness in our societies today can be attributed to this missing element in our discipleship. We do not understand what it truly means to honour God in the diverse spheres of our lives. This timely book provides a clear, practical and biblical path to help the earnest believer align every aspect of life in a way that brings glory and honour to God"
Dr Joshua Bogunjoko, SIM International Director

We look forward to how the Lord will continue to use this book to his glory and honour.

African birds didn't go to the school that teaches that they are supposed to be scared of owls!

I kept hearing birds outside my window today, but they didn't seem to be tweeting the normal melodious happy notes we are used to.

They went on and on.  I could hear it wasn't just one species of bird either.

Eventually I took a look , thinking I might get a few photos of those birds!

Instead, in a branch of the big tree just outside our window, there was an owl.  Just sitting quietly.

But around him in the tree, above, below, behind, jumping all over the place, squawking more than singing, were many birds!….of many species! 

Here are just a few that I managed to get some photos of through the flyscreen (hence the haziness of the photo), but they weren't all that co-operative and there were a couple species I didn't get clear photos of.  They were very jittery, hopping from branch to branch and twitching their tails.

They also seemed to be all making sure they were facing the owl as they squawked!

This bunch of birds may have been diverse in their species but there certainly seemed unified in expressing their disapproval of Mr Owl being in that tree!

But the owl didn't seem the slightest perturbed about the whole thing and just kept sitting, watching me.  

Oh periodically he swivelled his head to look behind him (showing me just how good a disguise the back of his head is - you really have to look hard to realise those black spots are just feathers and not his eyes)!  

But that was about it.

This warranted some further internet research.

Not sure why, but I was totally ignorant of the fact that birds are supposed to be scared of owls.  There is a myriad of 'advice' on the internet telling people to put plastic owls in their gardens to scare away noisy unwanted birds.  You can buy plastic owls on Amazon just for this purpose!  

But the opposite happened in our thorn tree!  

The owl turned up and birds from all over came to the tree making a whole lot of noise!

So I don't know what the deal was in 'bird land culture'. Maybe they saw him as in intruder to their territory and were trying to tell him to move on. It seems he didn't want to listen. The opinions of other birds seemed totally irrelevant to him!

But whatever it was, those birds were not scared away, although they were not too impressed with Mr Owl being there.

Eventually when the noise stopped, I took another look, and the owl had gone.  But later in the day, I noticed him again, and you guessed it, one by one, birds started turning up making a big noise!

So I have no clue as to what all that was about!  Of course our Creator knows exactly what it was all about!  

Although I was reminded that often when we stand resolute on godly issues and move into new territory, we might not be considered welcome, and we might stir up a whole heap of relentless noise against us and around us!  Maybe we can learn from this owl. Sometimes we just have to ignore the 'noise' and quietly and gently just resolutely continue on being and doing what we were created (anew in Christ) to be and to do.

And despite not knowing what the whole deal was today in my African thorn tree, once again my heart was caused to thank the Lord for the opportunity to witness more intricacies of His creation and praise him for beautiful birds!

….And, I am totally fine about Mr Owl coming to visit anytime!