What does it mean to be saved? To be justified?
When I was younger, someone defined the word “justification” as being declared innocent, “just as if I’d never sinned.” This is a simplified definition of a complex theological truth, but at its core the definition still stands.
For some, the core of the gospel is about the forgiveness of sins and being declared righteous before God. For others, the gospel is all about being adopted into the family of God and being recognized as children of the King. For others still, the gospel centers around having freedom from fear and spiritual chains.
All of these things are indeed found in the message of the gospel.
All around the world, people experience life in different ways. The cultures we find ourselves surrounded by share how we understand these concepts of right and wrong, community, belonging and power.
There are three major worldview patterns that shape how people view the world and how they might experience the gospel: guilt/innocence, honor/shame and fear/power.
Each of these worldview perspectives leads a person to ask a different fundamental question:
- Guilt/Innocence: Is this right or wrong?
- Honor/Shame: Will this bring acceptance or disgrace?
- Fear/Power: Am I safe or am I in danger?
Many cultures will lean heavily toward one perspective or another, but every human will experience all three perspectives at some level. There is truth in all three cultural perspectives: we all need forgiveness for our guiltiness, we all seek to be restored from our shame and we all yearn for freedom from fear.
The gospel of Jesus Christ speaks to each of these needs in the heart. The beauty of the gospel is that it is a message that is multifaceted and multilayered, and it is a story of redemption that will touch every heart.
Let’s consider how the good news of the gospel meets people where they are in the cultures that they inhabit.
From Guilt to Innocence
In the Western world, we’ve often heard themes like morality discussed in legal terms. When we do something wrong, we must face the consequences. In the U.S. legal system, the saying goes, “innocent until proven guilty.” Perhaps in your youth group or church you’ve heard the gospel explained as a courtroom scene – we stand accused guilty before a holy and perfect God, but Jesus takes the punishment that we deserve and declares us “not guilty.”
In the Bible, this theme is illustrated through many stories. Adam and Eve disobeyed God, and that disobedience brought guilt and separation from God (Genesis 3). Jesus told the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more” (John 8:1-11).
When one stands accused as guilty, the gospel responds with forgiveness, justification and freedom.
“ … for fall have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus … ” Romans 3:23-24
From Shame to Honor
In cultures that view the world primarily through the honor/shame worldview, the deepest fear is not being found guilty, but the loss of reputation or losing face. The fear in these cultures centers around alienation, humiliation and abandonment. For those in honor/shame cultures, salvation is about being welcomed back into the community, and being restored to honor.
Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son is one such biblical story where dignity is restored for one who was shamed (Luke 15:11-32). The prodigal son dishonored his father by taking his inheritance and squandering it away, but when he returned home his father ran to meet him with arms wide open. His father clothed him in fine garments and threw a feast to celebrate his return and restoration.
When one is shamed and alienated, the gospel answers with acceptance, honor and belonging.
“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.” 1 John 3:1
From Fear to Power
In many places around the world, life is dominated by unseen forces, spirits or curses. There is great need for protection against and deliverance from powers that threaten people’s lives. This is a fear/power cultural worldview.
We can see examples of this in the stories we hear from our missionaries in Tanzania, as they minister among the Hadzabe and Datoga tribes. These are communities where rituals are used to drive out evil spirits, and where the strongest divine power must be obeyed.
Scripture displays the power of God over evil time and time again. In the Exodus we see God’s victory over the false gods of Egypt (Exodus 7-14). Jesus calmed the storms (Mark 4) and walked on water (Mark 6) and ultimately defeated death (Matthew 28).
When one is gripped by fear, the gospel answers with freedom, victory and peace.
“For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7
The gospel is not for one culture or worldview or nation. The gospel is for everyone. The gospel answers the needs of the heart of every human. The gospel is good news for every person and for every culture. The beauty of the gospel is that Jesus meets the broken and downtrodden where they are.
Jesus washes the sinner clean, lifts the head of the shamed, and frees the enslaved from their chains.
