If you know me well, you know I love graphs, diagrams, and charts. I really appreciate visual representations of invisible concepts and categories that help us better understand the world. There are certain visuals and categories that stick in my mind so much that I can’t seem to forget them. This week, I revisited a chart that has repeatedly opened my eyes to the beauty of the multidimensional gospel.

In 2020, I was preparing for a mission trip (which ended up getting canceled due to COVID) and I read The 3D Gospel: Ministry in Guilt, Shame, and Fear Cultures by Jayson Georges. Before reading this book, I knew that culture affects the way different people interpret the gospel, but I had never seen it categorized or broken down on a conceptual level. This chart in particular provided so much nuance and clarity and exposed how one-dimensional my perspective of the gospel was. It breaks down different aspects of the theology and how they relate to 3 prominent perspectives in our world: guilt/innocence culture, shame/honor culture, and fear/power culture. These categories have not only helped me understand how different types of culture view the gospel, but they have also helped me appreciate the intertwined narratives that exist within the beautiful story of our redemption. My hope is that it will do the same for you. 

Let’s start by looking at the guilt/innocence perspective. This is most common in Western countries, and it is definitely the most prevalent in American culture. This perspective is rooted in an internalized code of conduct based on morality. Doing good keeps one innocent; doing wrong makes one guilty. It is individualistic and justice-oriented. Identity is more so based on a person’s actions than which group or community they belong to.

Shame/honor culture, which is more common in Asian countries, is heavily rooted in group orientation, especially when it comes to family. Identity is centered on a person’s reputation in relation to the community’s expectations. Shame comes from disappointing a group who, in turn, ostracizes you. Honor comes from having worth in the eyes in the community which establishes harmonious social bonds. Everyone has a social role they must fulfill, which often comes at the expense of personal desires. Shame is assigned by leaders and elders within a community, and correcting it requires a change in identity that often comes when a person of higher status restores honor.

Fear/power cultures are centered on the unseen forces at play within our world. It is commonly associated with tribal communities and people groups that practice witchcraft or voodoo. Acceptable behavior is defined by what a person does in the seen world to placate spiritual powers in the unseen world. This culture lives in fear that any misstep would expose them to harm from evil spirits. In order to feel power in the face of unknown forces, people will try to gain control by manipulating spirits to help them.

All three of these perspectives are represented in scripture. In fact, you can see all three angles in Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1, and he examines them further throughout the letter. We see guilt/innocence in 1:7– “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses”. He elaborates on this idea in 2:1-10. Chapter 1, verse 5 shows us shame/honor– “he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ”, which is further explained in 2:11-22. Fear/power shows up in 1:19-21. “And what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion.” Later, we learn how to “stand against the schemes of the devil” in 6:10-20.

Guilt, shame, and fear are all responses to sin, and they all find their resolution in Christ. He is the one who forgives, embraces, and empowers us through His work on the cross. 

I want to encourage you to read through the chart and let it expose blind spots in your understanding of the gospel. We’ve all been shaped by our culture, and it has affected the way we interpret the cross. Reading about other perspectives can provide an opportunity to explore our salvation in a greater depth. As you read and reflect, ask the Lord to show you the multifaceted realities of your salvation–that these truths would settle in your heart and reshape your understanding of God so that you can worship Him more. 

Going beyond our personal reflection and worship, I hope this helps you in how you share the gospel with others. By better understanding the way someone responds to sin and the culture that has shaped their worldview, we can better communicate the wonders of the cross. The book is a short read, and it is a fantastic resource on how to share the gospel according to each narrative. I highly recommend it for anyone, whether you’re interested in international missions or living in a city like Boston that is full of people with a wide variety of cultures and perspectives.