Image: p_marione, Flickr
LOVEFAST 4: A LOOK AT SHAME AND HONOUR CULTURE
By Georgina from Mahabba Cheltenham
Daily verse
“For in Scripture it says:
‘See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and precious cornerstone,
and the one who trusts in him
will never be put to shame.’”
Thought for the day
Shame is the result of two things: expectations and exposure.
The constant whispers of shame are “You’re not who you should be!” (expectations) and “They’ll find out who you really are!” (exposure).
Consequently, we strive to live up to expectations and to avoid exposure.
Technological invention and social media has created entirely new levels of both expectations and exposure for people in the modern world.
The expectations provoked by social media come not from the advertisements in our feeds, but from the images of our peers’ amazing life.
We no longer have to keep up with the Jones next door, but the hundreds of Jones we now “follow.”
Social media has virtually dismantled the space between private and public life.
Anyone’s smartphone has the power to capture and broadcast one misspoken word or untimely gesture.
What you do anywhere anytime can be revealed to the entire world.
By fuelling heightened levels of expectations and exposure, social media has become a new cultural arena for honour and shame.
The recent emergence of “internet shaming” and “cyber bullying” testifies to this significant cultural shift: our reputation is now digital.
Read more at honorshame.com.
Inspired by today's entry in 30 Days of Prayer for the Muslim World
Prayer for the day
Pray that we will remain steadfast in our honour as children of God, and so-doing testify to the Grace of God in our lives to Muslims as well as non-Muslims
Daily action
Try to bring honour where social media tries to induce shame
Your turn
Let us know how it went! Leave a comment below, or tag us on social media with #lovefast or #30dop hashtags on social media. You can find us on Facebook and Twitter!