Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Home
Evangelical
We Need a New Perspective on Glory

We Need a New Perspective on Glory

Last updated on: June 20, 2013 at 8:10 am by Brad Vaughn

We Need a New Perspective on Glory 2013-06-20T08:10:42-07:00 Brad Vaughn

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

No one can read John Piper and miss this single point: GOD WANTS GLORY.

Piper’s impact on contemporary evangelicalism and missions is incalculable.

Among the missionaries (ages 40 and under) whom I have personally met, I would estimate 70-80% of them list Piper as one of the major influences on their doing cross-cultural missions. He is also the face of what has been called “The New Calvinism” or the “Young, Restless, and Reformed” Movement. As a result, every other contemporary worship song these days speaks of God’s glory, his name or his renown.

Despite all this, few have paid attention to the fact that “glory,” “name,” and “renown” are ALL honor-shame words. Consequently, many people continue on as usual–––overlooking the various ways that such glory-honor language should influence our theology and missiology.

If we accept that God is fundamentally about the glory of his name and “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him,” then shouldn’t we expect there be a significant ripple-effect on the rest of our thinking and practice? Certainly, these are not mere doctrines to be tossed in the pile of other theological ideas.

The New Perspective on Paul (NPP) is an important debate for sure. However, I also have another suggestion.

We need a “new perspective” on glory.

What Are Some Common Objections?

Let me list a few quick responses to some of the most common objections I hear. For more complete answers, you’ll have to see my book Saving God’s Face.

(1) You shouldn’t equating “glory” and “honor.”

The Bible determines the meaning of words, not personal preferences. The old dictum “Context is king” reminds us that word in their context have meaning according to their usage. We must not let narrow western conceptions of honor obstruct the Bible’s message. When I researched this specific question, I search theological dictionaries, anthropological dictionaries, commentaries on biblical books, monographs, etc. Interestingly enough, there is broad consensus that the two are functional equivalents.

(2) “Shame” is language reserved for sinners. How can you talk about “saving God’s face”?

I’ll have to do a separate blog post on this one. But my answer is essentially the same as the last question. Shame-language can include words like “dishonor,” “disgrace,” “blaspheme,” “disrepute,” “a byword,” etc. I think many people are simply unfamiliar with how honor-shame language works in practice. Additionally, I could add the answer to the next question.

(3) Isn’t “law” language” objective whereas “honor-shame” language subjective?

No. Both legal and honor-shame language have objective and subjective dimensions. This is shown to be evident both in Scripture and in our daily lives. For more, see the book.

“It’s not about you” . . . or us

Rick Warren’s opening line to The Purpose Driven Life is spot on right: “It’s not about you.” However, I would like to add a little phrase; “. . . or us.”

People in Eastern societies already know life is not about them individually. They are far more concerned with their community, whether it be their family, clan, or country. Many people don’t realize that closely related to honor-shame is the concept of collectivism. In short, collectivistic societies see the group as most fundamental, not the individual.

This simple shift in orientations make a dramatic difference in how own reads Scripture and lives daily life. The typical Westerner can hardly imagine how this could possibly matter that much. Some people may be tempted either to trivialize it to a sentimental feeling or demonize the concept by equating collectivism to a sort of social indoctrination that oppresses peoples.

Our identity is formed based on both how we the same and different from each other. Westerners often only think of terms of difference: “I’m not like….” Easterners often think with respect to sameness: “I have …. in common with….” How would our understanding of the Bible be changed if we were not so one-sided?

We need a “new perspective” of identity.

Photo Credit: CC 2.0/wikimedia

Previous Post

June 19, 2013

Ministry Success or Mission Failure?

Next Post

June 25, 2013 Justifying Honor and Shame in Romans

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Atonement Biblical Theology Book Reviews China Chinese Church Chinese Culture Chinese Language Collectivism Contextualization Culture (General) Ecclesiology Evangelism Gospel Honor & Shame (Face) Interpretation/Exegesis Justification/Righteousness Missiology Mission Methods One Gospel for All Nations Other Practical Contextualization Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes Resources Romans Salvation (General) Saving God's Face Seeking God's Face The Cross in Context Theological Contextualization Theological Education Theology Uncategorized

Select a Month October 2026 September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 March 2026 February 2026 January 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 October 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 July 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 March 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What biblical figure was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Abraham Noah Isaiah Moses

Books by This Author Books by Brad Vaughn

See All Titles »

We Need a New Perspective on Glory

No one can read John Piper and miss this single point: GOD WANTS GLORY.

What Are Some Common Objections?

“It’s not about you” . . . or us

Related articles

What biblical figure was prepared to sacrifice his son Isaac on an altar?