HONOR

       A few years ago, I met a great young man in a TV studio in Washington, DC.  His name is Bryan Kim.  The very first day I  he met him, God instructed me to go to an ATM machine and pull out all the money I had and give it to him.  So I did.  What I didn't know was, he had not been paid for weeks and had no money so my obedience was a great blessing to him.  Weeks later, God put it on my heart to hire him as our youth pastor and Bryan moved to Annapolis to join our church staff.  What a blessing he was to us.  But, what he taught our youth and brought to our lives was an important principle - honor!  You see, Bryan is a second generation Korean and as a Korean he was taught from an early age to honor his father and mother - to honor his elders.  When he first joined our staff he was deeply disturbed how badly behaved our youth were. How disrespectful they were toward their parents and those in authority. So rather than put up with it - he challenged our youth and called them to repentance.  Bryan did an awesome job in bringing kids to Christ but he discipled them and taught them how to honor God, their parents, those in authority and one another. I knew Bryan would only be with us for five years and I am honored to have had him in my life for that period. Bryan has not only taught honor but has continued to live it in front of others.  He has honored me as his mentor.  Today Bryan pastor's a get church that he planted in LA. called "EKKO."  Today, well over 200 young people have come to faith, are discipled, and taught to honor. 

       Another great man, an elder statesman in the kingdom of God, John Sandford has invested a lot into my life personally.  For many years, John came to our church here in Annapolis and taught one thing. "Honor your father and mother, that things may go well for you, and that you live a long life in the land that I give you."  So out of this 5th commandment found in God's word there are three promises. If you learn "HONOR" your parents, God says, (1)  THINGS will go well for you; (2) You will live a long life (Health promise);  (3) God will give you "land" to settle yourself in.  If you violate the principle of "Honor" then things won't go well in your adult life - that's the evidence of dishonor. 

     What's interesting to me is that I hear to many so-called "Christians" bashing their leaders, their president, their employers, their pastors and even one another throughout our American culture.  Why?  Because they have learned and practiced dishonoring of their parents. Then these same people wonder why their kids are defiant, on drugs, sexually promiscuous, and rebellious. It all has to do with "Doing what you model, not what you tell them to do."  If you dishonored parents - you'll dishonor your president, you'll dishonor your employer, and you will dishonor God and yourself.  I am often shocked at how many  "ex-military" people I've met that think it's okay to express and use language against the president of the United States, disrespecting him and his office. Where did they get the idea that once they left the military that it became okay to speak to their superior officers (governmental leaders, employers and pastors) the way they do.  They would have been thrown in the Brigg for showing such disrespect.  We recall that even after King Saul had become disobedient to God and corrupt, he remained as the anointed King over Israel for quite some time. Saul eventually became jealous of the heir to his throne, David, and began a relentless manhunt to kill him. At one point, David and his men stumbled across Saul encamped in a cave and had the opportunity to kill their sleeping pursuer. But instead, David chose to quietly cut off a portion of Saul's robe as evidence to show his unwillingness to slay Saul when he had opportunity. However, later the Lord convicted David's heart that not only was it wrong to slay God's anointed, it was wrong to even cut his robe or lift a finger against him in any way. "Now it happened afterward that David's heart troubled him because he had cut Saul's robe. And he said to his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD" (1 Sam. 24:5-6).  Why have I focused on the military here?  Because I live and work in a city that supposedly trains officers in the navy at the Naval Academy.  What do I find in the lives of many of these ex-military personnel?  They dishonor Leaders. They talk behind their superiors backs, they speak against their employers, their community leaders, their pastors and sow discord with others, rail against dignitaries and leaders in every field. Why?  Because they had bad relationships with their parents and they've taught their children to do the same.  This is why when Bryan Kim came to Annapolis he found "dishonor," rudeness, and disrespect among the youth of our city.  God has called our city to be the training ground for our country's future leadership. Leadership requires understanding what the word "honor" means. If Strength and self-differentiation are  marks of true leadership, then these two qualities can be exercised without tearing down those we disagree with.  Honoring  those in authority - whether elected, called, or given the place of responsibility requires all of us to humble yourself under the mighty hand of God and so that He exalt us in due time. When we continually humble ourselves before God, he can exalt us. Self-exaltation always tears down others in order to promote the self-life. This applies in our homes, the job, and even the church.  Too often we get impatient waiting for God's promotion and we start joining in with the griping and the gossip going on around us because we didn't get the recognition we thought we deserved. Then, to top it off. we develop a bad attitude and we stop the flow of God exalting us.

         In our city God has raised up The United States Naval Academy to teach "honor" as a
         necessary ingrediant to great leadership.  Some of the greatest young people I've met
         and have been a part of our congregation have come from the Naval Academy and          
         have demonstrated the principle of honor and respect.  Honor those in authority 
         is a matter of the heart.  (See Jeremiah 17:9)

         Young people who have been great examples of honoring their parents from
         the Naval academy within the life of our church over the last few years have been
          - Rachel Barton,  Chase Hanson, Simon Irish, Sarah Bull and many others who
         have conducted themselves with great honor as midshipman - reflecting the vision 
         and values of leadership training in our national military academies.

         I remember hearing a story about  an old naval academy professor that lectured new midshipman about the chain of authority. "As far you may see, as a second lieutenant you be may younger than the other men on the ship, inexperienced, and green behind the ears. They may not figure how in the world you got to the rank you are, but remember this when a commanding officer gives you an order, those under you will be watching you as you look at the bars on  your commanding officer's uniform and  watch you say 'Yes sir!' When  you obey the orders of those above you, you're obeying the one at the highest level who, for whatever reason, they saw fit to grant authority to you. So, live your lives by example."   The Christian solution to the antagonisms in the home and in society is not to water down the 5th Commandment but reinforce it. "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"--which is the first commandment with a promise-- "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth." (Ephesians 6:1-4).  After watching a television presentation about rebellious youth, a husband said to his wife, "What a mess! Where did our generation go wrong?" The wife calmly answered, "We had children."

      It seems no matter where we look in modern society, we see belligerence, combativeness, fighting, insubordination hostility, division, and rebellion. Husbands and wives divorcing each other; children rebelling against their parents, and wider society paying the price. For if we have failed to learn to obey at home what will motivate us to obey in society? If we fail to learn to respect our parents who else will we learn to respect?  Learning to "honor" and "obey" those in authority is the right thing to do. There is an order in nature, ordained of God, that argues for the rightness of an action. Since the parents brought the child into the world, and since they have more knowledge and wisdom than the child, it is right that the child obey his parents. The "modern version" of Ephesians 6:1 would be, "Parents, obey your children, for this will keep them happy and bring peace to the home." But this is contrary to God's order in nature and experience shows it doesn't work. When a person becomes a Christian, he is not released from normal obligations of life. If anything, his faith in Christ ought to make him more committed to being accountable and submissive to authority. To the Colossians Paul enforced his admonition with "for this is well pleasing to the Lord" (Col. 3:20). Here is harmony in the home: the wife submits to the husband "as unto Christ"; the husband loves his wife "even as Christ also loved the church"; and the children obey "in the Lord." Harmony comes from relating to one another as if we were doing so to the Lord - for you know what?

      God has called us to "HONOR" one another. The Bible warns that contempt toward God's obedient servant is equal to contempt toward God (Exodus 16:2,8, Josh. 22:19). Is President Barack Obama God's servant?  Yes.  Just like Nebuchadnezzar was God's servant as King of Babylon and Cyrus was God's servant over the Medo-Persian empire. Romans 13:7 exhorts us "Give honor to whom HONOR is due." "Show family affection to one another with brotherly love. Outdo one another in showing honor" (Romans 12:10). "We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves" (I Thess. 5:12-13).  "Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” Do not admit a charge against an elder except on the evidence of two or three witnesses. As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear" (I Timothy 5:17-20).   Here's one for you!  "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you" (Heb. 13:7).  You ex-military and ordinary civilians both need to be an example of what does the word, "OBEY" your leaders and submit to them means in Christian terms.  Just because you disagree with a national policy or presidential decision doesn't excuse you from practicing honor as a Christian.

       I've heard people who try to conceal their disrespect by saying, "Oh, I respect the office but not the man!  Really?  Where in the Bible does it say you aren't called by God to respect the President Of The United States or your Queen or Prime Minister?  Why are you expected to honor him while in the military but then once you're out, you think it's okay to rail on him?  To rail against a Leader who God has placed in authority is to rail against God (Romans 13).   Respect toward authority is not limited to our actions, but even relates to how we speak of them. The Bible warns against lifting our tongue against the Lord's servants, even though they might be worthy of criticism. When the Apostle Paul was unjustly punished for preaching the Gospel, he spoke defiantly until he realized that he was addressing Ananias, the High Priest. He apologized and said, "I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, You shall not speak evil of the ruler of your people" (Acts 23:5). Just imagine. Even though this High Priest was an enemy to the Gospel, and was wrong to have Paul slapped on the mouth, yet he was still a spiritual authority whom Paul was obligated to respect. If Paul was not permitted to speak against Ananias, then you certainly don't have any right to badmouth Godly, spiritual leaders. It is an act of rebellion, for which you will answer to God.

     How can we claim to be a Christian when we don't even exemplify or practice the "PRINCIPLE OF HONOR" that the scriptures so challenge us to practice?  And, YES by all means get if any of us get offended by what I'm saying here - we should ask ourselves why it we can easily into slip into deflection rather than addressing the roots of dishonor within us.  IT is not acceptable to speak or model disrespect toward our President, our leaders, our husband, our pastors, our employers or even those who teach our children in the classroom.  God has established the order, structures, and authorities over us to bring accountability, stability and order to our world (See Romans 13).  The bible warns against "Speaking against dignitaries." Jude 8-9.  One is the meaning of "dignitaries" in v. 8.  The Greek word is doxas, which literally means "glories," and has been translated as everything from "rulers," "them that are in authority," to "angelic majesties," to "celestial beings."  But taken most literally, the word simply speaks of those to whom honor is due, and it condemns the sinners who refuse to confer that honor.  God requires us to respect the authority He has placed over us, even if that authority isn't perfect. Leaders are human and will make mistakes, but the Lord still demands our respect and restraint toward them. They are His servants and He reserves the right to correct or reprove them (Psa. 105:15).  The important thing to remember as we face the challenges of a new emerging participatory culture, where individualism is highly valued and personal perspectives are important to take in consideration - is learning how to how value and esteem others in the midst of dissent.  All of us, at times have found ourselves at odds with our governmental policies - but when working "we the people" - means we may not all agree and- we don't need to lower ourselves to dishonor one another because we find ourselves in differing perspectives. Scripture declares, "Give honor to who honor is due." Did you know that five times in the Book of Malachi, God even complains of feeling dishonored and his people don't see it.

          Every Christian is called to show "Honor."  It begins with repenting of the dishonor you had toward your mother and father.  To "honor" our parents means much more than simply to obey them though. It means to show them respect and love. To care for them as long as they need us, and to seek to bring honor to them by the way we live. As an adult what does your life expressions say about your parents?  The prophet Malachi ends his letter with these words "And he shall turn  the heart of the fathers toward the children, and the heart of the children toward their fathers, lest I come and smite the earth with a curse.  Maybe this is why America is having so many problems.

      The fifth commandment has a promise attached to it: "That your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God gives you" (Ex. 20:12). This promise originally applied to the Jews as they entered Palestine, but Paul applied it to believers today. He substituted "earth" for "land" and tells us that the Christian child who honors his parents can expect two blessings. It will be well with him, and he will live long on the earth. This does not mean that everyone who dies young dishonored their parents. Paul was stating a principle: when children obey their parents in the Lord, they will escape a good deal of sin and danger and thus avoid the things that could threaten or shorten their lives. But life is not measured only by quantity of time. It is also measured by quality of experience. God enriches the life of the obedient child no matter how long he may live on the earth. Sin always robs us; obedience always enriches us. There is no substitute for a godly Christian home.  If it was not your privilege to share in one, aspire to create one for others. So, the child must learn early to respect, to honor and obey their father and mother, not only because they are his parents, but also because God has commanded it to be so and with it will bring great blessing. Disobedience to parents is ultimately rebellion against God.  And that is the challenge to you and I. Lets practice obedience from the heart and honor those in authority seriously, lets understand why they were given and lets change our society for good.