Honor All People

Recently my facebook friend and preaching colleague Adam Shanks posted a piece about honor that caught my eye.

“The world has decided to erase shame by erasing honor: giving awards for participation instead of achievement, heaping praise on those who are unable to control their urges, applauding the irreverent, and lifting up the dishonorable.”

Adam continued with these excellent insights.

“The modern ideal of equality is that we are all worthless and incapable of greatness and hard choices.”

“Whereas God has decided to erase shame by increasing honor: giving applause to the humble, lifting up the repentant, and celebrating those who are willing to be converted by truth. God’s ideal of equality is to take broken people and lift them up into places of honor, raising the bar on holiness and righteousness. God doesn’t give up on people; He believes in them.”

“The world’s way is easy, but it leads to emptiness. God’s way is difficult, but it leads to the gaining of every good, perfect, and eternal blessing.”

“I choose God’s way.”

Adam’s post gave birth to some further thoughts about honoring others. While we are obviously commanded to honor God and those in positions of authority, Peter penned, “Honor all people” (1 Pet. 2:17).

Regarding this command, C. D. Hamilton offered this observation in his commentary on 1 Peter. “Instead of holding others in contempt or as being beneath one, Christians are to estimate others as being of value and to be interested in their welfare above their own self interest. Every human creature made in the image of God should be viewed as one being of value and one should be willing to submit himself to that person’s welfare and benefit.”

Our attitude toward and respect for others reminds me of the late Dee Bowman’s book “It’s all about the People.” In it he relates stories about people, mostly common folks, you’ve never heard of, and makes some wonderful spiritual applications about our relationships and honoring people. All people.

In the first chapter Dee tells about a 50ish Mexican fellow, Ben Diaz, who shined shoes and worked as a janitor in the radio station. Dee said Ben was “skinny, very small, walked kind of like a duck” who spoke with an accent that made him difficult to understand. “He was a good little fellow,” Dee recalled. “I liked him a lot.”

After adding some interesting details about Ben and their interaction, Dee offered this insight that set the stage for the rest of the book.

“Life is about little people. It’s not about the rich and famous, it about simple folks–folks like Ben Diaz (and me) who haven’t made a big splash in life, nor said anything special, or done anything worthy of public praise or honor. Life is about folks who shine shoes, pick up garbage, wash cars, and patch pot holes. Life is about folks who work in offices, who man the drive in window at the bank, who sack the groceries, who deliver the mail. Life is about us.”

The Bible, both directly and somewhat subtly reminds us to take note, appreciate and honor everyday, ordinary people that cross our path.

We think of the heroes of faith like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Joshua, David, and the prophets Isaiah, Daniel and Jeremiah. Or the well known apostles Peter and Paul. But what about the lesser known, unheralded, and overlooked?

Joanna, Susanna, and certain unnamed women who faithfully followed Jesus and “who provided for him out of their substance” (Lk. 8:2).

Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, who Paul said “refreshed my spirit,” as well as the Corinthian brethren. Then he added, “acknowledge such men” (1 Cor. 16:17).

In Romans 16 Paul sends greetings to 26 individual people, including 9 women. Most of these people you would never guess in a game of Bible trivia. Epaenetus. Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater. Tryphena and Tryphosa. Amplias, and Stachys. And the list goes on. Ever heard of them? Yet, Paul speaks of them as being “beloved in the Lord,” “chosen by God,” and “fellow workers.” Ordinary Christians. But they made a difference in Paul’s ministry. And in the churches where they labored.

Abraham Lincoln is credited with saying, “God must have loved the common people; that’s why he made so many of them.” In fact, Jesus’ association was not with the elite, erudite, or religious leaders of his day, but regular folks. No wonder the Bible says, “the common people heard him gladly” (Mk. 12:37).

Both Bible writers Paul and James, remind us that those most often receptive to the gospel are not the mighty, noble, rich and powerful, but the lowly, humble, poor, and ordinary (1Cor. 1:26-29; Jas. 2:1-7).

Furthermore, Jesus reminds us in our ministry not to overlook “the least of these.” Who are they? Widows. Orphans. And the downtrodden. The poor. The needy. The disenfranchised. The voiceless in society. They, too, are created in God’s image. They were important to Jesus. And they should be valued by us as well.

Respect for human dignity needs a rebirth in today’s culture. Honor all people.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman