Shame has many faces. From the pressing need to avoid "losing face" to the urge to scapegoat and blame, from the desire to exclude those who are different to the horrors of ethnic cleansing, from the obsession with body image to the abiding terrors of the abused, shame is a universal phenomenon. It transcends boundaries of time and is evident in diverse cultures across the world. It is, furthermore, found throughout the pages of Scripture, yet in modern theology shame is conspicuous by its absence. This book attempts to redress the balance by exploring the theology of shame, from its inception in the garden of Eden, to the final triumph over shame on the cross. Restoring the Shamed will offer readers the opportunity to think theologically about one of the most urgent, yet strangely secret, issues of contemporary society.

This book shows that in Psalm 22 the psalmist complains to God about his shame experiences and he prays to him for his deliverance from shame and the restoration of his honor. The book also presents the shame and honor values and means found in Psalm 22 which are related to the shame and honor status of the psalmist. It discusses the social values of patronage, kinship/family, and trust which are the key values the psalmist held on to maintain his honor. are discussed in the book. It also explains the means of forsakenness/abandonment, taunt speeches, nakedness, and feast/meal that factor in the psalmist’s shame and honor. The book also surveys the different deliverance terms which convey the psalmist’s deliverance from shame. It shows Yahweh’s active role in the restoration of the psalmist from shame to honor. The study adds an overview of the similarities and differences of how the same values and means were practiced in the Mediterranean and Mesopotamian, and Israelite backgrounds.

Never has the sacred covenant of marriage been more maligned than it is today. It can be difficult to know how to respond to a culture that is becoming more and more antagonistic to biblical beliefs about marriage. And this is a topic worth getting right. Marriage was given to us as a picture of the triune God in relationship with his people, which means what we believe about marriage is indissolubly tied to what we believe about God and his creating and saving purposes. Therefore, it is more important now than ever that we think theologically and carefully about what marriage is and how we live faithfully in it. Marriage: Its Foundation, Theology, and Mission in a Changing World is the much-needed work on marriage for this generation and the next. Rooted in a scriptural understanding of marriage, it thoughtfully engages the issues surrounding marriage being debated today and lays the groundwork for the crucial conversations of our day. Each section contains chapters from trusted theologians as well as experienced practitioners who work with couples daily. Rediscover the beauty of God’s design for marriage and be strengthened to stand firm amidst any challenges the world may bring

Enriching Awareness and Practice in the Pastoral and Reflective Supervision of Clergy increases and enriches the awareness, knowledge, and skills of pastoral and reflective supervisors who work with clergy in a pastoral/reflective supervision context. The content is also applicable to supervisors within a Clinical Ministerial Education context, and to all clergy who want to develop their awareness of, and skills in, interpersonal dynamics. This book explores themes such as theological reflection in pastoral/reflective supervision, the place of prayer in pastoral/reflective supervision, working with stuckness in pastoral/reflective supervision, understanding trauma in pastoral/reflective supervision, working with shame in pastoral/reflective supervision, developing an awareness of culture and diversity in pastoral/reflective supervision, the importance of self-care in pastoral/reflective supervision, and understanding context in pastoral/reflective supervision.

"Why do the first generation still act like that?" "Why can't we try some new ideas?" "Why are the second generation so lazy?" "Why are the second generation so disrespectful?" "Isn't it a shame how the church is split between the two generations?" These and many more questions reflect the tangled conflicts within the Asian American church. Cultural differences have led to many misunderstandings and conflicts. Conflicts have created bitterness and churches have split apart. How can these tangled threads be rewoven into a beautiful tapestry of God's grace? What would it take for the Asian American church to reflect God's grace? In Tapestry of Grace, Dr. Benjamin C. Shin and Dr. Sheryl Takagi Silzer apply their years of study and teaching to explain how the cultural complexities that occur between the different generations of the Asian American church can be untangled. Taking lessons from their own spiritual journeys, they show how each generation can experience the amazing grace of the Gospel.

Sexual shame causes women to feel far from God, live a secret life of sexual sin, doubt that God loves them, and even question their salvation. Sexual Shame in Women and How to Experience Freedom will help readers understand sexual shame as one of the root issues among women’s sexual struggles, while focusing specifically on the issues of pornography and sexual abuse. Ministry leaders must help women find freedom from sexual shame to help them walk in sexual integrity, wholeness, and healing. The freedom journey begins through understanding the character of God, being known in biblical community, and understanding God’s design for sexuality. This research project is a dissertation from Dallas Theological Seminary’s DMin program.

Shame is a much misunderstood and often misdiagnosed problem that can cause significant issues in the church as in wider society. Indeed, there have been times when the church has even been the cause of shame. How, then, do we create a less shaming church? Shame and the Church presents a six fold typology of shame: personal, communal, relational, structural, theological and historical. Seeking to establish the causes and consequences of shame, chapters explore how theology and the Bible engage with shame, and consider personal firsthand accounts of shame in a church context. Wise, challenging, practical and underpinned by a rigorous theological foundation, this book is an important contribution to the conversation around shame and effacement in church contexts and at the same time a vital aid to practice.