I began to work on an in-depth study entitled “The Absence of Honor” about 5 years ago after I had witnessed just exactly that. Try as I might, I couldn’t figure out why honor was missing in so many arenas of life, and why it is no longer important to so many Christians and the people of society, in general. My question became: Have we lost the definition for what it means to honor?
According to a variety of dictionaries the concept of honor means the following.
- To have honor is to have a good name or public esteem or reputation.
- It means to show of merited respect and recognition where it is due.
- Honor also refers to having certain privilege. For example: the honor of joining the captain for dinner on a cruise ship.
- Honor means acknowledging a person of superior standing where you should say, “If Your Honor please”
- Honor can be defined as someone whose worth brings respect or fame. They are credit or an honor to the profession.
- Honor is also an evidence or symbol of distinction, such as an exalted title or rank. It may be signified by a badge, decoration for distinction or bow.
- Superior students are conferred an academic distinction or honor.
- In a physical and moral sense, honor can refer to one’s purity or chastity such as when it was said, “she fiercely fought for her honor and lifel
- Honor includes possessing a keen sense of ethical conduct. It is related to integrity. A person would then say “I wouldn't do it as a matter of honor”
- Honor can also mean that gives one's word as a guarantee of performance, “On my honor, I will be there.”
- Honor can be further defined as exhibiting social courtesies or civilities from a host.
- Obviously honor can additionally mean the practice of respect and esteem shown to another. Therefore honor demonstrates the recognition of someone's right to great respect.
- Honor is also synonymous to homage given to God and people worthy of that.
- It also implies the attitude and treatment of reverence through the offering of profound respect mingled w/ love, devotion, or awe.
- Lastly, honor includes the definition of deference. This means then that if you honor someone you will yield or submit to another's judgment or preference out of respect or reverence.
I believe that the absence of honor is the root for a great number of problems and the deficit has been the result of a list of an accumulated series of issues, both inside and outside the Church. Regrettably, I have heard from different leaders of groups that there were warnings about these potential problems, but they generally went unheeded.
From what I can ascertain, thus far, the concept and practice of honor has disappeared because of the following various influences.
1. Post-modernism has been a major contributor to the dismantling of honor. This cultural ideology and mindset has gradually dismantled healthy standards for honor and replaced it with selfishness and individualism. Therefore, honor would not be considered, except maybe to one’s self. Additionally, it fostered an incorrect definition for tolerance that made room for all sorts of problems. Hence, honor is not honor.
2. Over the course of the past 100 years, especially, a great number of national cultures have become Identity conscious rather than conviction and conscience cultures. As such, sin is no longer defined, and shame and rejection become the basis for life.
3. I believe that the affects of the Mystery of Lawlessness have gradually removed the parameters for truth and fostered a new vocabulary that “seems” to value honor, but in fact doesn’t, because the definitions for the words tolerance, love, equality and more have been skewed and made into something they are not. Therefore, a great portion of the generations under 60, do not have an understanding or definition for healthy honor.
5. Much focus has been placed on the understanding and behavioral ideologies of the generations. There has been a shocking shift in the Church away from a biblical understanding of generations to a Sociological Generational emphasis. Therefore, rather that teaching about the affects of the New Birth, as a chosen generation, believers are told that they are bound to act like the sociological template for their culture and age based generations such as Traditionalists, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y. Honor lost much of it’s definition during the changes of philosophies and education from the Traditionalist generations on.
6. Honor has also become victim to the infiltration, introduction and embracing of Shame-based cultures. These cultures do not recognize conviction for sin, and react only to whether they're shamed or honored, according to their self-determined belief systems, as different from biblical context.
7. Certain facets of the Civil Rights movement, Hippie Movement, Jesus Movement of the 1960s and 70’s contributed to the disintegration of the definition for honor because the biblical basis for right and wrong were being cast off in favor of “freedom” and the right to do what one wants to do.
8. Finally, one of the biggest culprits to the downfall of the definition of honor was the exaltation and almost-worship of youth.Starting in the mid 1950’s the youth were allowed, and then given an authoritative voice, that ignored the wisdom of the elders and embraced personal, limited experience above time tested lifelong applications. I believe we will see the increase of the pride of youth go to war with the defense of the honor of the elders.
IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A LIFE THAT HONORS YOU HAVE RECOGNIZE WHO IS WORTHY OF THAT AND WHY-
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. KJV
I’ve included a list of the key biblical types of honor identified in the Scriptures.
1. Honoring elders, seniors, parents, husbands to wives, wives to husbands, children to parents, honoring one’s own body, leaders, governments, laws,-
Elders and Senior Citizens-
1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. KJV
Lev 19:32 You shall rise up before the grayheaded, and honor the aged, and you shall revere your God; I am the LORD. NAS
Job 32:4 Now Elihu had waited till Job had spoken, because they were elder than he. 5 When Elihu saw that there was no answer in the mouth of these three men, then his wrath was kindled. KJV
Isa 3:5 And the people shall be oppressed, each one by another, and each one by his neighbor; the child shall behave himself proudly and with insolence against the old man, and the lowborn against the honorable [person of rank]. AMP
Isa 3:4 And the worst sort of anarchy will prevail-everyone stepping on someone else, neighbors fighting neighbors, youths revolting against authority, criminals sneering at honorable men. TLB
1 Tim 5:1 DO NOT sharply censure or rebuke an older man, but entreat and plead with him as [you would with] a father. Treat younger men like brothers; 2[Treat] older women like mothers [and] younger women like sisters, in all purity.AMP
Honoring your father and mother. This is a command not an option and it promises a blessing of long life. Furthermore, honoring parents is not supposed to be practiced according to whether they treated you well or not.
Ex 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. KJV
Husbands honor your wives.
1 Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. KJV
Wives honor your husbands
Eph 5:32 This is a profound mystery-but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband. NIV
Honoring your body by keeping yourself from sexual impurity.
1 Thess 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. KJV
Honor widows!
1 Tim 5:3 Honour widows that are widows indeed. KJV
Honor your employers, both good and bad!
1 Tim 6:1 Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. KJV
Honor all people
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.KJV
Honor your governmental leaders! You don’t have to agree with them to honor them!
1 Peter 2:17 Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.KJV
Honor the Body of Christ
1 Cor 12:18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.19 And if they were all one member, where were the body? 20 But now are they many members, yet but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked: 25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. 26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it. KJV
2. Honor manifests through how you speak, what you say to and about others!
3. Honor means you don't seek your own way, or make yourself to be something that you're not, or more than you are!
4.Honor, as in being considerate about being on time for things, keeping one’s word, and communicating in advance about whether you'll be on time (RSVP) You are considerate to others.
5. Honor by recognizing accomplishment, title, age, positions
Acts 23:1 And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. 2 And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. 3 Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? 4 And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God's high priest? 5 Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. KJV
6. Honor in how you dress and look-
A change in how we dress, for when we’re serving God, indicates a change in how we consider honor. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to be with Christians who think nothing of how much skin and exposure of their bodies is on public display, even in church services. Then if you confront this they can't believe that anyone would dare tell them what to wear! Obviously, I'm not speaking of the religious extremes of no-make up etc. I realize different Christian circles view this with various opinions according to their interpretation. But dress in a manner that honors God. You don't need to be risqué.
1 Thess 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; 5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. KJV
7. Making anyone feel special as you follow through to see that the honor is rightly communicated.
8. Dishonor is expressed when you ignore what’s important, who’s important, what’s valuable, significant to someone else or what a group considers valuable. Disrespect!
When there is an attitude of right understanding of honor then unity in the Body of Christ can occur, along with unity or agreement with God.
Mark 3:22 And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. 23 And he called them unto him, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan?24 And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand.25 And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. KJV
Acts 2:1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.KJV
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;KJV
Phil 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;KJV
Phil 2:1 If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. KJV
I would encourage you to read these verses and ask yourself if you're living out a biblical definition for honor. If you aren’t, your life will be hallmarked by pride, opinionated-ness, rude behaviors and disrespect for others. Do a heart- check today! If you've been disrespectful to people, then you need to repent to them for your actions and change your behavior. Don’t repent to them and tell them how you don’t like them, and then say you choose to honor them. That is a contradiction. Honor them with true humility and give your feelings to God. You're first and foremost accountable to Him.
