I love the expression of honor.
But there's a tendency for honor to go up rather than down.
Lavish gifts for people who already have much. A private jet to my conference so you'll spring for a private jet to your conference. @Referring to that baller as my friend on twitter so as to distinguish ourselves from all the other shmucks we ignore and practically grunt at in public... or refer to our assistants.
I think the kind of honor Jesus was talking about was scandalous. It was a reversal of the kind of honor we naturally express. It was directed toward the guy in the lowest seat. Raising him up to the highest seat.
Here in Virginia Beach, there are actual rules against the fraternization of officers and enlisted men. Church is the one safe heaven for breaking those rules. It has to be. It must be.
Whenever scandalous honor happens, it's a fresh wind that blows through the church and gives us a taste of the social economics of Jesus. The other kind stinks to high heaven.
Definitely. I get the impression Jesus wasn't concerned with courting influencers or building exclusive relationships to network with. He had an inspiring way of avoiding lording his authority, but opening his power, authority, and honor to those who followed him. I'm glad he did and still does that...for my sake. Great post.
Posted by: Sarah | January 19, 2012 at 10:05 PM
"Lavish gifts for people who already have much." <-- drives me nuts seeing that. So backwards.
Posted by: Daniel Decker | January 20, 2012 at 08:32 PM
I have also been wrestling with the creation of an "honor" culture in churches that are overtly heirarchical. When we are taught to honor those ABOVE us, and the system leads up...well, I'll stop there.
Thanks for this post.
Posted by: Sam Mahlstadt | January 23, 2012 at 08:50 AM