Honor-Shame vs Guilt-Innocence Cultures in Biblical Theology

On this weeks Prove All Things, Jeff and Mike welcome back Tyler elder Blake Silverstein for a conversation that helps explain why the Bible can sound so foreign to modern ears. Blake unpacks the difference between an ancient “honor and shame” culture and today’s Western “guilt and innocence” mindset—and how that lens can change the way we read familiar stories like David and Bathsheba and the Prodigal Son. Along the way, they connect it to Christian discipleship, repentance, and why restoring relationships matters more than a merely “transactional” view of faith. If you’ve ever wondered why certain teachings (like eternal torment) don’t line up with the full biblical picture, this episode will give you a fresh and practical way to think about it.