Hebraic Musing – Can We as Westerners Fully Appreciate an Eastern Culture Bible?
I’ve been
wondering about this; and Johanna Hocker published a paper that makes a lot of
sense to me.
The context of the
Bible is from the Eastern, Honor-Shame Culture; so knowledge of the
Eastern Culture is essential to truly understand our Bible. Israel seems close to Europe, but their
culture was much closer to Asia’s, not Europe’s. The Eastern culture in Bible times was
based on “Honor – Shame” like Japan or China today.
1.
Community is extended family
oriented; Honoring of our neighbors builds community
2.
The Community shapes one’s identity;
One’s Behavior is judged by the community
3.
Belonging is the ultimate goal. When a person’s behavior is not acceptable,
they are rejected by the community, i.e., “shamed”. (A person will defend Islam even when they
don’t practice it because it is part of their community identity)
4.
There is a strong need to be loyal
to the community faith system. To reject
faith, is to reject community.
5.
Guilt is not internally generated;
it is pricked by someone else when one is shamed by the community.
6.
It is difficult to change in that
environment, one fears being rejected for going outside group expectations.
Yeshua was very
honoring in His relationships with others, especially the children, sick and
outcasts and lepers; and even with us! But He spoke parables where He expected the
listener to catch honor and shaming, e.g. the lost sons, The Prodigal Son, the Embezzling
Manager, isolation treatment of the unrepentant sinner and church discipline by
shunning/shaming.
Our Greek/Western
culture
(European and especially our American) is unique. Our American culture is based on immigrants
seeking a better life. They were on
their own and accepted the challenges presented to them. Our Western “Culture” goes back to Greek
society. We see things as a dichotomy; a
choice of right/wrong, leader/follower, good/bad, etc. This leads to extreme emphasis on independence
and identity:
1. Identity
is within self (not in context of a community).
2. Individuality
the norm.
3. React
to other’s with; “so what”.
4. Lack
of closeness with others.
5. Guilt
is internally felt, not externally administered.
6. Protect
self with walls.
7. Belonging
through nuclear family, sports teams, clubs, classes, etc.(rather than a
community).
Characteristics of
the Greek/Western Culture are derived from Greek
gods.
They are to be worshipped with sex, eating dedicated food, entertained,
adored, revered and celebrated; but NOT to be OBEYED. Competition was by nude athletes trying to
appease the gods by their great feats. Knowledge
was the key to everything. Truth
was determined by persuasiveness in philosophical debates! Life was Intellectualized with
abstract metaphysical concepts. Sex,
especially homosexuality, dominated life.
Gnosticism (man determining life, not God) has led to a monastic
system and papacy.
Cultural &
Biblical contrasts
between Greek/Western and Hebrew/Eastern thinking:
· Abstract – Concrete.
Greeks and the West are trained to be
abstract not concrete. Hebrew is very
concrete, Hebrew words go back to house, family and land, with an agricultural
theme. When Hebrew is conceptual or
abstract, it’s basics are founded on creation and the family.
· Linear thinking of
Greek leads to Dispensationalism & Evolution. Hebrew thinking is cyclical – calendar
of Sabbaths, new moons, appointed times, Shemitah, jubilee & agricultural
cycles.
· Commandments
of the Hebrew Bible are parental – loving instructions to protect, guide,
sustain, restore and bless; not legislative.
· Action is expected
from Hebrew thinking; while Greek describes and analyzes.
· Worship: Greeks
built huge coliseums to accommodate events for worshippers – like singing, instrumentals,
nude dancing, homosexual acts, etc. Clergy
were over laity: people were told what to believe; but Hebrew focuses on the
word “avodah” (service servitude). Everything you do is worship, taking care of
self and earth and doing it all for the glory of Yehovah.
· Salvation in
Greek is from knowing the right things.
Biblically, Yeshua is our Savior based on relationship.
· Prayer in Greek
culture is a leader’s call for help. In Biblical
Hebrew, we each talk to Yehovah directly.
· Nature of Man: In Hebrew, unity
of spirit, soul and body; holy, righteous, good, redeemed; sanctified actions are
important; not just the Greek’s thinking and intellectualizing.
Points
to ponder
Might we better understand the Bible if we set aside Greek
thinking
and use “honor/shame” thinking?
Is our contemporary culture, becoming more Greek-like?
Do most people worship a triune god – Me, Myself and I?
“Is
loving your neighbor as yourself” an Eastern Hebrew or a Western Greek concept?
“Each
of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of
others.” Phil.2:4 NIV
Yosef a.k.a.
Joe Brusherd September 27, 2022
Author: “Hebraic Insights – Messages
exploring the Hebrew roots of our faith”
“Biblical Marriage” Weekly
“Hebraic Musings” InsightsByYosef.blogspot.com
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