Why does shame have a bad name in the West, yet Confucian societies regard shame as essential for morality? We explore this question in Part Three of my “interview” with Bongrae Seok’s "Moral Psychology of Confucian Shame: Shame of Shamelessness." Read more
This is Part Two of my "interview" highlighting key ideas from Bongrae Seok’s Moral Psychology of Confucian Shame: Shame of Shamelessness (MPCS). By understanding moral shame, we can better see how shame works in various human cultures and how it applies to the Christian life. Read more
Have you ever noticed the peculiar way we talk about shame? We don’t want people full of shame, yet being called “shameless” is an insult. In fact, it’s ironic that being shameless is equivalent to being shameful. Read more
We take a risk whenever we talk about culture and other such broad ideas. Everyone recognizes that the word “Western” has distinct connotations from “Eastern.” While exceptions always exist, certain characteristics still mark each culture. When trying to help people understand honor and shame (H&S), it helps to make contrasts and broad characterizations. There’s no faster way to kill a presentation or explanation than to kill it with a thousand qualifications. Generally speaking, people know that exceptions exist. They know... Read more
It's theology conference season! This week begins the annual conference of the Evangelical Theological Society (ETS) as well as the Society of Biblical Literature (SBL). I will present three papers. I welcome your prayers. If you would like to attend any of my presentations, here is the information you'll need to know. Read more
Sooner or later, someone will ask the question. Whether at a conference of in personal conversation, people eventually want to know the answer. How does honor and shame relate to penal substitutionary atonement (PSA)? Read more
If “nations” (ethne) in the Bible does not refer to “people groups,” sociologically-defined, what does this mean for mission strategy? How might our understanding of people groups be applied to the missionary task? Is our contemporary knowledge of “people groups” even useful? Read more
For nearly two decades, my heart and mind have squarely been with the Chinese church. And they will continue to be. Due to several recent developments, however, I’ve accepted a new position with an organization that will move me out of East Asia. Read more
Mission agencies often base their strategies on Matthew 24:14, hoping to hasten Christ’s return. Yet, this verse is full of ambiguities, raising more questions than answers. How might we need to rethink the role of Matthew 24:14 in our mission thinking? Read more
Doesn’t the Bible tell us to go to the nations? Doesn’t “nations” translate the word ethne, from which we get “ethnicity”? Seems pretty straightforward, right? Well, no. The underlying issue to acknowledge is this: ethne in the Bible is not necessarily equivalent to “nations,” as used by contemporary social science. Read more
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