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
Won’t this cause you to lose face?

Won’t this cause you to lose face?

Last updated on: April 18, 2018 at 7:45 am by Brad Vaughn

Won’t this cause you to lose face? 2018-04-09T10:17:11-07:00 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.

Note: This post comes from a cross-cultural worker in East Asia.

It was a crisp, bright morning as I rode my bike to language class. About a block away from the school, I noticed a man sitting on the sidewalk begging for money. I immediately felt compelled to talk with him, but I had no time to do so as class was about to start. However, the next morning after class, I saw him sitting in the exact same spot as before. I felt compelled to talk with him again, and this time I had no excuse not to, but I rode my bike right past him and continued riding anyway.

Public Domain

Meanwhile, my spirit, unsettled within me, knew God was speaking to me to talk with this man, but I was afraid—afraid that I wouldn’t be able to successfully communicate with him, afraid that this interaction could potentially interrupt my day, afraid of what other people might think of me. Nonetheless, I turned around and after five minutes of silent prayer, I worked up enough courage to ask if I could sit with him. This led to us casually talking for about a half an hour.

Then I asked him if I could treat him to lunch. He agreed, but then he asked me something I will never forget: “Won’t this cause you to lose face?”

“Face” in East Asia

One thing you should know about this man is that his face and hands are completely scared due to being burned in an accidental kitchen explosion. For four entire years, he never stepped foot out of his house for fear of what others might think of him upon seeing his marred complexion.

You see, one of the things characteristic about East Asia is that its culture is heavily influenced by the principles of honor and shame. So much so that the reality of who one is (i.e., family of origin, education, job status, possessions, appearance) defines one’s perceived value in the eyes of society.

This notion of one’s perceived value or worth is commonly referred to as “face.” One can gain “face,” and one can lose “face.” To gain “face” is to be honored and esteemed by others. On the contrary, to lose “face,” is to be shamed and scorned by others.

Credit: Flickr/SonofGroucho

Because this man literally “lost” his face due to scarring, and he can’t work due to disfigured hands, and the only way he can make a living for himself is by begging for money on the street, he is on one of the lowest levels of society. Thus, for me to associate with him, should cause me to lose “face,” since I am perceived to have a higher social status.

Face defines identity

However, I told him that I wouldn’t lose “face” because, as a child of God, my “face” comes from Him. I am free from worrying about what other people may think of me because my identity is not defined by others (although I sometimes struggle to believe this truth). While we were eating lunch, he asked me why I wanted to take him to lunch. I told him it was because I wanted to get to know his story. With tears welling up in his eyes, he said that no one had ever asked him about his story, much less a foreigner like myself.

As we were walking back to the spot where I had met him, he pulled a mask out of his backpack and showed it to me. He said that normally when he walks around town he wears the mask to cover up his disfigured face, but because I was with him, he didn’t have to! Simply by being with him, I was, in a sense, giving him his “face” back!

Although I may have lost “face” in the eyes of society that day by my actions, I believe I gained true “face” in God’s eyes as I lived in accordance with my identity in Him.

I emphatically proclaim along with David, “But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, the lifter of my head!” (Psalm 3:3, ESV)

Previous Post

April 11, 2018

Honor and Shameful Retribution in Ancient and Biblical Laws

Next Post

April 25, 2018 Unity and the Korean Language

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

Who tried to lure Nehemiah into a trap to discredit him?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Haggai and Zerubbabel Sanballat and Tobiah Ezra and Eliashib Darius and Cyrus

Books by This Author Books by Brad Vaughn

See All Titles »