A Culture of Honor

We had just arrived at the retreat center in Vanadzor, Armenia just a few weeks ago. We were there to do a youth conference for college age students, or so I thought. But as we were getting out of the van, we were engulfed by youth between the ages of nine and sixteen. It was then that I realized that I would be doing a major focus shift concerning speaking; after all junior high kids are young, immature and often inattentive, right? Not these kids, most of whom came from very poor families, yet were so thankful just to be on a retreat which none had experienced before. What I witnessed for the next 4 days was an eye opening experience of what can be when young people are taught the meaning of "honor."

There is a passion burning in my soul, and that passion was fueled by these young people who modeled such honor and respect, that it almost seemed surreal. I know what you are thinking; every time pc goes over seas, he gets all "messed up." Messed up is a contemporary phrase used by today's youth for something "good" happening. (Just in case you didn't know.) Anyways, yeah...I got messed up! It was not that my eyes were opened to new revelation, but I was reminded of an old Biblical standard that is not modeled much anymore or even taught; that being Christian virtue, with "honoring others" above yourself being central to our Christ walk and building disciples .

Virtue is defined as moral excellence, righteousness, and responsibility. In a Christian context, it is the many facets of "goodness" lived and practiced before others, flowing from a heart filled with "Christ-likeness." Solomon, in the book of Proverbs, says that virtue provides visual proof of our faith and is the noblest of all good qualities a person can have. When virtue is sought after, Honor is a natural bi-product. Paul tells us in Romans 12:10, "That we must love each other with genuine (from the heart) affection and take delight in HONORING one another." Wow, what a heavy statement! If we live the kind of lives that always seeks to put others first, joy will be our reward! James tells us in chapter 4 verse 10, "Humble yourself before the Lord, and He will lift you up in honor."Likewise, 1st Peter tells us in chapter 2:12, "Live honorable lives among your unbelieving neighbors. Then, even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior and give honor to God." "Honor" then is a verb-something that we do, and an adjective-describing how we live.

Now back to the retreat and what the Holy Spirit passionately revealed to me. As we were getting out of the van, a nine year old no bigger than my bag fought with me as to just who was going to carry it up two flights of stairs to my room. Another little 'urchin' (Don't know what an urchin is? Ask me sometime.) grabbed my back pack, and so it went; with every opportunity to serve us, these young people had a passion to honor us with their servant's heart.

I could just go on with all sorts of examples, such as when we would walk into the dining area to their applause that was not orchestrated, to every talk given, done with complete silence and respect, and then followed with applause at the end, and these were junior high kids! I only thought, "how do you manufacture kids like this?" Keep in mind that they were kids and exhibited all sorts of immaturity that junior high kids exhibit. But when it came to respect for authority, honoring their adult leaders, and blessing us as guests, they were focused, passionate, and intentional; these were traits lived and modeled at home. One other interesting happening just after the retreat took place. I was speaking to church leaders and pastors, and at break time, went to the rest room, to wash my hands from the piece of cake that had melted in my hands. Because water is only turned on every other day, and that day not being one of them, I had to take a small ladel and dip into a large barrel to get some water. Before my ladel even touched the water, a young man walking by the wash room, rushed in, grabbed the ladel and dipped it in and then proceeded to wash my hands. I was just stunned. As quickly as he had come, he was gone, and all I could think about for the rest of the night was the honor Jesus showed His disciples by washing their feet and the honor this young man showed me as their guest speaker and brother in the Lord.

Through my 'Armenian retreat experience,' what He placed in my heart was a new passion to teach and model timeless truths that have been overshadowed in our culture by arrogrance and pride, and even in the church where somehow, it has become more glamorous to focus on things that Jesus said," would take care of themselves "-rather than on teaching people how to model Christ to a sin sick world; letting them see a generation of young warriors rising up whose passion is to make disciples by living virtuous lives and modeling those timeless truths beginning with honor.

I close with James 3:13, " If you are wise and understand God's ways (or claim to), proove it by living an honorable life." I might add, living a life that gives honor where honor is due!