Why Culture Is Key to Human Flourishing: Bible’s Dignity Model Explained

In the ancient tale of Abraham, we find a timeless truth: culture shapes human flourishing. When Abraham sought a wife for his son Isaac, he didn’t just pick a place at random. He sent his servant to Haran, a city where he had once "made souls"—a place known for its openness to goodness. This wasn’t about geography; it was about values.

Fast forward to today, and we’re still grappling with what makes a culture thrive. The Bible offers a clue in the story of Moses, where God reveals His character through the Thirteen Attributes, one of which is being slow to anger. This trait defines biblical leaders like Abraham, who stayed calm when his nephew Lot stirred trouble, or Rachel and Moses, who faced insults without lashing out. They rejected the honor culture of their time, where a slight demanded vengeance, and they’d never fit into today’s victim culture, where offense sparks complaints.

Honor culture says fight; victim culture says whine. Both are fueled by quick anger, and both miss the mark. Modern studies back this up—chronic anger is linked to heart attacks, strokes, and even memory loss. The Bible, though, pushes for something better: a culture of dignity. In Leviticus, God calls for fairness, not favoritism, urging us to rise above victimhood. A dignified culture is one of responsibility, restraint, and gratitude—people who act thoughtfully, not react impulsively.

Yet, in much of modern America, we’re nudged toward victimhood, trained to spot microaggressions and report them. This fuels division, not flourishing. The biblical model, as author Mark Gerson argues in his new book, God Was Right, offers a blueprint: a society where we choose words carefully, stay focused on purpose, and build communities rooted in dignity. Culture isn’t just important—it’s everything.