Yorba Linda Vineyard

It’s interesting when we look at the culture that surrounds us In fact; sometimes I love to people watch because it fascinates me at times. Culture is always communicating back to us. The culture determines often how people act, which is the result of the way people, think. But what I’ve found interesting is the way people determine those things we honor or give prestige to. Have you ever thought about that? The way people choose what’s important enough to give honor too? And why is this? Why is it that the culture determines what is valuable enough that we should honor it? I recently read in some study concerning the military where honor is in the code of behavior and is pressed into the core of those that serve. Those in the military are taught to salute, understanding that you salute the rank, not the man. The man wearing the stripes might be an absolute jerk. But you saluted the rank out of your respect for authority.

We could use some more of this in our culture. We could use more of this in our homes, in the streets, but definitely in our churches. Isn’t the Church supposed to be the place where we honor people just because that’s our high call of love and placing value on people? Doesn’t this type of honoring fall onto the shoulders of those that have been honored by Christ by the value he placed on our lives and were aware of this? Maybe we should know it because that’s the message that Jesus made it clear were to carry? In fact the word honor means—fixing the value—setting the value. In other words, we set and determine the value on people’s lives.

For those of us in the Vineyard; we haven’t done very well when it comes to honor. I honestly believe there are two layers of honor. Those that choose not to honor and those who actually choose to dishonor. I don’t really know which ones worse, but I’m sure the Lord does. Honor is so important to the Lord and as a people that should understand what it feels like to be dishonored. If we look back into our history we have gone through seasons of being misunderstood or not valued for what we carried. Would we want those same things experienced by others from our hands? From our choices? Maybe should be ones that go out of our way making sure other people, other places of influence and other denominations feel honored by us. Not just because John [Wimber] had a high value to do so, but that its important to the heart of God. I often wonder what people in leadership believe will happen to them and if they themselves would like to be treated the same way they’ve treated ones that have gone before them?

Whatever the answer that is the cycle that will continue unless we wake up to the high call of honoring those that have served and made a way for us. Remember honor means to set- to fix the value on someone or something. If we don’t set the value of those that are worth setting the value to, then those following will do the same to you. That’s a Kingdom principle. Whatever you need, or desire, just do that, and those things will come back to your life in overflowing measure.

If we even look at Church culture I’ve even found myself where I find it easy to honor the person that serves from the stage, but often forget the one sitting next to me. But in doing so I believe I’m missing the very message and opportunity Christ has set before us. Honor isn’t just honoring those we deem as worthy, but rather out of respect of their rank, as a person, a human being, made in the image of God. This is noble and honestly I believe our high calling of the Church, that when we begin to see people and honor them, just because it’s what Christ has commissioned us to do. All the other stuff that we categorize into various forms of serving comes down to honor. You and I wont serve others and give our lives to others unless we first see them as worthy, as honorable.

I was reading the story of David & Saul in 1 and 2 Samuel. It’s a story of intense love, yet jealousy, rage and insecurities all pulled into one. I love it, as it also contains words of wisdom of learning how to love and honor- despite how one might be treating another. In Samuel 2 we find where David gets word that Saul and Jonathan have died and we see David’s response. Now remember, Saul was after David for years. He was trying to kill him out of a jealous rage for what David carried and how God had anointed his life in place of Saul. So imagine God saying to you ‘that you haven’t been faithful to the call, but he’s found another that’s better than you?’ That would be more than humiliating and humbling on so many levels. Saul didn’t react well and jealousy consumed the whole latter part of his life. Yet David served King Saul time and again and even ministered to him in his most desperate states of torment. Even though David ministered in bringing peace to him, Saul still tried to kill him.

Yet in 2 Samuel David hears that Saul died, and it says, “He mourned, wept and fasted.” He didn’t dance for joy; he didn’t respond by saying, ‘He sure got what he deserved..’ But instead it says he was mourning the one he called, ‘anointed by God.’ David had this ability to see Saul and the value he was and what he could have been.

In fact, that’s what honor is as I believe it. Honor is placing value on people’s lives—treating them of what they’re meant to be—giving them the chance to rise to the occasion. Perhaps even having the ability to see beyond where someone may currently be or even how they may be acting.

David had this ability to weep and mourn the loss of someone that had great potential. Oftentimes we honor people because they look like they deserve it. But more often than not, when we choose honor we can actually pull people into what they can be. To choose honor means we can actually place a value of people calling out those things even though they may not know they themselves have or the value they have.

To honor means were doing what Christ has called us to do. Remember in Romans 12 where the Apostle Paul says to "honor others above yourself?"

As we know this can be very difficult, especially when people make it hard to see who they can be when they’re acting a certain way. But the Bible doesn’t say treat people above yourselves when they’re nice or they treat you right, but rather, ‘treat others above yourself….”

The other amazing thing that David does is in 2 Samuel 1:17- “He ordered the men of Judah to be taught how to lament.” In other words honor has to be taught. To honor people rightly there has to be a value placed on it where those around us and those that follow after us know this is what we do. We honor people, not because we like or dislike them or their behavior, but rather because every life has value and were called to honor others above ourselves and our own needs and expectations.

I’m sure David had a desire to live in peace, and not having to run for his life for so many years, but instead of rejoicing when Saul was out of the picture, he instead chose to honor and grieve over his loss. He did this privately and publicly.

For those of us in leadership, we have to be intentional when it comes to honoring others. We have to set the bar, we have to privately and publicly give honor where honor is deserved and where the Lord desires us to do so. For myself, I made a decision almost a decade ago now that I will choose to honor. I will choose to honor and even in the last few years where I choose to honor those that feel they deserve it or not. If I over-honor or error, I choose to error on the side of over-honoring. Whatever that means, but in short saying I want to be one that freely blesses and acknowledges those that the Lord sees.

I can’t wait until the Church can understand the power of honor. I believe that when we do, we will see people all around us come alive –and that will be a sight to see!

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