This phrase - “A Culture of Honor” has been kicking around in my head for the last month or so. A church culture built on honor was one of the most valuable things I took away from my seminary internship. I had been thinking and praying about the right time to introduce this and recently I was perusing Bethel Church's website (Bill Johnson in Redding California), and my laptop suddenly, without my permission, loaded a new page and up pops a screen with a book by one of their pastors called.... “A Culture of Honor”. Ahhh Lord – thank you. I get the point. You want it introduced now... (I take great comfort in the fact that the Lord even uses my ongoing battle with laptops for His purposes!.) I immediately ordered the book from Amazon and as I was writing this article guess what shows up on my doorstep? Yep – that same book. OK - Lord, you have my attention.
What is Honor?
According to the thesaurus, honor has these synonyms: "esteem, respect, pay homage to, assigning value to." The Greek word translated "honor" in our English Bibles, timao, means "to prize, i.e. fix a valuation upon; by implication, to revere" (Strong's Concordance). Showing honor, then, means treating another respectfully because we value them highly.
So what does the Bible say about honor? We are told to honor our parents in the 10 Commandments and it goes without saying that we are to honor God, but should we honor everyone? Should we value every man or woman?
Paul tells us in Romans 12:10 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.” And in Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” Jesus too makes it clear that we are to love and honor each other “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. ” (John 13:34)
So exactly what is this culture of honor?
Well, in short a culture of honor is first a culture where our Creator is honored and secondly where each person is honored for who they are as His children. It is recognizing that every person has value in God's eyes and therefore should have value in our eyes. Bill Johnson put it best when he said that a culture of honor is one where we focus on what we can give instead of what we need. It's an atmosphere where we lift up and edify each other. It's an environment where encouragement and support are given instead of judgment and criticism. It means instead of pointing out someone's faults or failures or mistakes we pray for them. It means we treat others in the way that Jesus would treat them. It means when someone stumbles or falls we are there with an encouraging word – to help them - or to simply stand beside them – as Jesus would be.
How do we get there?
To bring a culture of honor to the Church requires a change in the way we think – as a church and as individuals. It is what Paul means when he says to “put on the mind of Christ”. This change in thought and attitude most importantly is a product of God's grace but also requires us to evaluate our words and attitudes towards others. It requires us to stop and think before we speak - “Can I say or do this in the Name of Jesus? Would Jesus do or say this? What can I do to encourage this person or walk along beside them? What can I do for them? How can I honor them as one of God's beloved children?”
We honor others because God honors them. Jesus tells us that we are to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. A Culture of Honor is a culture where the love of our Daddy – our Abba Father - is lived and given through each of us. And as we live this culture it will become like a Divine vaccine that will spread into the community inoculating our community with Jesus' love. It really is possible. And it starts with each one of us.
A couple of years ago I heard a comment was made to a clergy person leading a discussion about someone being very special. The comment was made in such a way that it obviously elevated this person above everyone else. (I don't remember the specific comment). As the comment was made the thought ran through my head “I wonder how they will handle that comment” and without missing a beat, the clergy person replied “Everyone is special”. It was perfect! I remember thinking to myself - “Wow! He really thinks fast on his feet! I wish I could think that quickly.” In recalling this incident it occurs to me that he was not simply being politically correct – he was being honest and was sincerely communicating what he believes. He was exhibiting a culture of honor because everyone is special.
I read a fictional book a couple of years ago where a man had an opportunity to chat with God – ask and receive questions. As the man brought up certain individuals in his life, God the Father would reply “Oh, I'm especially fond of him (or her).” The author was able to capture the whole idea of a culture of honor so well. God is especially fond of each of us – each of us has value because He created us and He knows what He created us to be. He knows the potential each of us has that He created us to live into – He knows the person He created each of us to be (even though we may not be able to recognize it ourselves). When we recognize that each of us are special in God's eyes we can, as the old US Army commercial goes “Be all that we can be”.
When we get to the point where we recognize that each person we meet is special in God's eyes - that each person has incredible potential, then we are better able to honor them and to live in a culture of honor. Then it becomes more than words – it becomes a way of life – something we really believe and like the clergy person in the above story – we don't need to “think quick on our feet” to say or do the right thing – it is simply who we are. We develop the mind of Christ.
So Jim, it sounds like this culture of honor is simply another way to say “be nice to everyone”. Well – that's where it starts – but it goes much deeper than that. We begin to live this culture of honor when we start to think more of others than ourselves. (That is true humility – humility is not saying that everyone is wonderful and we're not – it's elevating others to the place of honor that Christ has placed them (and us) and not thinking ourselves better than they or that they are better than we – but thinking about what we can give them as opposed to what we need. And we find paradoxically that as we begin to focus on the needs of others our own needs change and we are fulfilled.) This too goes beyond just physical needs – yes Jesus tells us to feed and clothe the poor – and that is important – but God is calling His people to a higher standard than that. Giving money and food for example to the local food pantry is important, but God is asking us to do more than an occasional random act of kindness (our acts of kindness should not be occasional and random – but rather a continual way of life – a part of who we are as Christians.)
The book of the Acts of the Apostles mentions Barnabas, a companion of Paul's and one who gave the members of the early church much encouragement. Barnabas' very name means “son of encouragement” and the Bible lifts Barnabas as an example of how we should all be “sons and daughters of encouragement”. Nothing lifts someone who is struggling in an area of their lives more than someone standing next to them and offering words of encouragement – reminding them of who they are in Christ. That is part of the Gospel that we are to proclaim - that despite the struggles that we all go though in this life that Our Lord Jesus Christ is there with us – holding us – helping us – sometimes carrying us – but He is always there.
Jesus calls us to comfort, encourage, edify and build up those around us. That is a culture of honor – where God is honored – lifted up, worshiped, praised and glorified for who He is and our neighbors are honored – recognized as who they are in God's eyes. We are all special. God is especially fond of each of us.
Blessings!
Jim