55 Sermon Illustrations on Honor

"How well I whistle!" said the Wind to the Keyhole. "Well, if that isn't rich!" said the Keyhole to the Wind: "you mean, how well I whistle."—"Get some paper," said the old woman, "and stuff up the keyhole, and stop the draught." And so neither Wind nor Keyhole whistled any longer. Leisure Hours.

When Regulus was sent by the Carthaginians, whose prisoner he was, to Rome, with a convoy of ambassadors to sue for peace, it was on condition that he should return to his prison if peace was not effected. He took an oath to do so. When he appeared at Rome he urged the senators to persevere in the war and not to agree to the exchange of prisoners. That advice involved his return to captivity. The senators, and even the chief priest, held that as his oath was wrested from him by force, he was not bound to go. “Have you resolved to dishonor me?” asked Regulus. “I am not ignorant that tortures and death are preparing for me; but what are these to the shame of an infamous action, or the wounds of a guilty mind? Slave as I am to Carthage, I have still the spirit of a Roman. I have sworn to return. It is my duty to go. Let the gods take care of the rest.” Regulus accordingly returned to Carthage and was tortured to death.

See MONEY NO TEMPTATION.

HONOR AMONG BOYS

Two boys, John and William, both about the age of twelve, had a dispute over a game of ball, when John said that such action was mean and dishonest, upon which William immediately called him a liar, and they began to fight. They were not quarrelsome boys; they were serious and studious, but were boys of spirit and held high ideas of honor and uprightness. The teacher, who was a man of strong character, and a sturdy disciplinarian, came promptly upon the scene and separated the combatants, and sent both boys to their seats. The breach of school discipline had been flagrant, and all expected that severe punishment would be meted out to the boys. But nothing was said until just before school was dissmissed, when the teacher called the boys before him and said, “Do you think you did right in engaging in this fight?” To which both boys said they did, and that they would fight one another again upon the first opportunity. After some reflection, the teacher turned to John and said, “John, will you agree never to mention this subject until William mentions it first?” John replied, “Yes, but I will lick him good if he ever does.” The teacher turned to William and asked the same question, to which he replied, “I will not start it, but if John does I will lick him.” The teacher then said, “I think you are both honorable and trustworthy boys, and I am going to depend upon you to keep your word of honor, and not renew this fight until the other begins it. Now John, you take William by the hand, and tell him that you will never mention this subject unless he first speaks of it; but if he does, you will lick him.” The boys joined hands, and John told it over to William, and then William told it over to John. The solemnity with which the proceeding was conducted all the way through made a deep impression on the entire school, who felt it to be a very sacred thing between the two boys, and that it should never be even hinted at. This was a lesson in courage, self-respect, obedience, fidelity and self-control to the whole school, and it resulted in a lifelong friendship between the two boys.--JAMES T. WHITE, “Character Lessons.”

In one of his great debates on American taxation, Edmund Burke once paused to say, with regard to the consequence of the course he was pursuing: “I know the map of England as well as the noble lord or any other person, and I know the road I take is not the road to preferment.” But he took it, nevertheless.

The end of the right road is never obscurity or ingratitude or obloquy. It is the smile and welcome of God. Even here on the earth, the man who does right comes to his own. Of the men of his age in England, Burke is now among the most honored and will be among the longest remembered.

Apropos of the King’s (Edward VII) visit to Biarritz, an incident is reported of a recent visit when his Majesty witnessed the arrival of cross-country competitors at Villa Machelon. Now, this villa belongs to a worthy and prosperous Biarritz butcher, who had been requested by the committee to place it at the King’s disposal. The butcher’s bosom friends held the view that it was absolutely indispensable that the master should do the honors of his villa to the King of England, his guest. So the butcher fetched out his Sunday suit, arranged his braces outside his knitted waistcoat which he invariably wears, stuck his hat over his ears, and, freely perspiring under the blazing sun, awaited his august visitor.

King Edward arrived and got down from his motor car. With fine scorn for the conventions, the butcher boldly walked up to his Majesty, tapped him on the shoulder and said in a drawling voice:

“Come in; don’t stop in the sun; go up to the salon.”

A friendly shove accompanied these words. The King grasped the situation at a glance, smiled and obeyed, leaving the butcher to chew proudly his penny havana on the doorstep. He had done the honors of his home, had seen and spoken to his guest, the King.

Seven principles for a Christian’s attitude toward work:

1. God controls kingdoms and companies.

2. You are employed by Christ, not by your company.

3. Your future depends upon God and your response to him.

4. Your circumstances are designed by God.

5. Count your superiors worthy in thought, word and deed.

6. You must trust the Lord to direct your career.

7. Your only status symbol must be the cross.

Letter from a young person to God:

God,

My heroes are You, Martin Luther King, Chris Columbus, and Ghost Busters. You

are my second favorite. Honest.

Melanie, age 7

#2145

*

Have dinner ready. Plan ahead, even the night before, to have a delicious meal - on time. This is a way of letting him know you have been thinking about him and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home and the prospect of a good meal is part of the warm welcome needed.

Prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so that you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your make-up, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has been with a lot of work-weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift.

Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, etc. Then run a dust cloth over tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift, too.

Prepare the children; take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces (if they are small) comb their hair, and if necessary, change their clothes. They are little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part.

Minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of the washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him.

SOME DON'TS: Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he is late for dinner. Count this minor compared with what he might have gone through that day.

Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair or suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Listen to him. You may have dozens of things to tell him, but the moment of his arrival is not the time. Let him talk first. Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other places of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to be home and relax.

* Let him go hunting, fishing and golfing anytime he wants, he needs an outlet.

........................................................................

THE GOAL: Try to make your home a place of peace and order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit.

#3887

*

Series in Malachi. Communion Malachi 1:6-11

HOW TO HONOR GOD

================

I. The "I love you" computer infection.

II. God loves us.

A. A statement of his love.

B. God's defense: Jacob and Esau.

C. Does God hate people?

III. Do we love God? 1:13

A. Lip-service is popular.

B. God deserves more. 1:10

C. How can we love God? 1:6

IV. God deserves our best.

A. Jews tried to cut corners.

B. We do the same. 1:8

V. How to honor God with our best.

A. The example of medieval Christians.

B. Areas where we can give our best.

VI. God is G-R-E-A-T!!

A. He is not limited to our little corner of the world. 1:11

B. Each person can acknowledge the greatness of God.

*

After David Livingstone had been in Africa about 12 years, he had a desire to travel from where he was, on the east of the continent, over to the west coast through a part of that continent that no other European had ever been before. He didn't have any possibility of doing it on his own, so he went to a local chief and asked for 27 men of the local tribe who would go with him. The chief was more than a little bit suspicious. The trip was dangerous and he'd learned about white men that they were not entirely trustworthy. Livingstone, sensing some of that feeling about him, made him a promise.

"If you give me your sons, I promise to return with them, and to deliver them to their homes and their families. My life will be a pledge."

Well, the chief agreed on that basis, and Livingstone set out.

The journey was every bit as dangerous as it was thought to be. There was incredibly difficult terrain, there were hostile tribes, there were all kinds of predatory and dangerous animals, there was sickness and illness. But finally, they made it to the west coast, and they stumbled into the port of Luanda, which had been their target, only to be amazed by finding a British warship there. And that warship had been sent from England for the specific purpose of finding Livingstone and bringing him back, on the orders of Queen Victoria.

The captain came to him and said, "Sir, Queen Victoria has sent me to urge you to return. All England is waiting to honor you." Very tempting. The request, even the order of the Queen, because when the Queen invites, that is a command in most cases. And the thought of going home, and the thought of being honored, but Livingstone had a problem. He had made a promise. "Well," they assured him, "the promise of a white man to an African doesn't matter. And the Queen is more important than a chief."

Livingstone had made a commitment, and despite all the urgings of the naval officers who were there, he turned his back and headed back into the jungle. The round trip ended 2 1/2 years after he started, with him delivering those people back.

To honor a promise.

That was probably why, when Livingstone died, the Africans were very committed to bury his heart in Africa. They were more than willing to listen to a man whose word was something they could trust. It was also something very important to Livingstone - his whole life was staked on a very simple premise. He talked about it often. He took \reference{Matthew 28:20}{Matthew 28:20} seriously - "Lo, I am with you always, right to the end of the age." And he used to say, "It's the word of a gentleman, and I trust it."

-- Dr. Gary Inrig, sermon on 5/26/1991,

One afternoon during his time as governor of New Jersey, Woodrow Wilson received news of the sudden death of a personal friend, a New Jersey senator. He was still recovering from the shock when the telephone rang again. It was a prominent New Jersey politician. “Governor”, he said, “I would like to take the senator's place.”

Wilson replied, “It's perfectly agreeable to me if it's agreeable with the undertaker.”

If we are to credit the annals of the Russian empire there once existed a noble order of merit which was greatly coveted by the princes and nobles. It was, however, conferred only on the peculiar favorites of the Czar, or on the distinguished heroes of the kingdom. But another class shared in its honor in a very questionable form. Those nobles or favorites who either became a burden to the Czar, or stood in his way, received this decoration only to die. The pin point was tipped with poison. and when the order was being fastened on the breast by the imperial messenger, the flesh of the person was “accidentally” pricked. Death ensued as next morning, the individual so highly honoured with imperial favor, was found dead in bed from apoplexy.

Satan offered to confer a brilliant decoration upon Adam and Eve: “Ye shall be as gods.” (Genesis 3:5) It was a poisoned honor. “The wages of sin is death.”

-- W. Adamson

Three small boys were bragging about their dads. The first

boy said: "My dad writes a few short lines on paper, calls it a

poem, sends away, and gets ten dollars for it." "My dad," said the

second, "makes dots on paper, calls it a song, sends it away, and gets

twenty-five dollars for it." "That's nothing," declared the third

boy. "My father writes a sermon on a sheet of paper, gets up in the

pulpit and reads it, and it takes four men to bring in the money!"

[verse 3 is most familiar and quoted of this poeml; Lovelace fought on the side of the Royalists against the establishing of the Puritan Commonwealth]

Tell me not, sweet, I am unkind,

That from the nunnery

Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind

To war and arms I fly.

True, a new mistress now I chase

The first foe in the field;

And with a stonger faith embrace

A sword, a horse, a shield.

Yet this inconstancy is such

As you, too, shall adore;

I could not love thee, dear, so much,

Loved I not honour more.

*

On top of the hill in the cemetery outside Hackettstown, New Jersey, there is a beautiful memorial. The granite stone has a young woman in a flowing gown reaching up to a garland. The stone reads:

She died in

defense

of

her honor

Apr 8th, 1886;

Aged 19 Years

Erected by an

appreciative public

Tillie Smith

Over a hundred years ago Tillie was a student at Centenary College. One night she was brutally attacked but she would not yield to her assailant, and died from her wounds. A large reward was offered but no one was ever convicted of the crime though a night watchman was suspected. The town raised money to erect the memorial and the college has named a dining hall after the valiant young woman.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported in September on what it called increased instances nationwide of black Baptist clergymen consecrating themselves as “bishops,” which are not formal Baptist positions and are sometimes assumed against the will of their congregations. The new bishops say the title gives them added credibility, and Baptists’ tradition of local autonomy discourages leaders outside the congregation from objecting, but critics say it’s just an example of some pastors being caught up in the “celebrity culture.”

A mother bowed before Jesus with a request. Her sons were under the tutelage of the rabbi who was stirring the city with words of another kingdom, and she wanted to assure them a place. Kneeling, she uttered, “Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom” (Matthew 20:21b).

This exchange I remember well, and I confess, often with an air of superiority. The overzealous mother, and the sons who seemed to be standing in the wing as she asked, were told they didn't quite get it. Jesus' response seemed to be aimed at both mother and sons alike, “You don't know what you are asking,” he said to them. He came to be a servant, humbling himself as a sacrifice. For people who didn't understand, he came to show them the way. “Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?” Jesus asked them. “We can,” they answered, still having no idea what they were saying, much less what was about to come. Right and left seats were the least of their worries.

Author Donald Miller once realized that the right and left seats beside Jesus were also the least of his worries. He wittily explains how he never pictured himself as bothering with the seats of honor or the politics of heaven, and considered himself the better for it. In a moment of honesty, he realized he just wasn't that interested. He pictured himself more readily as being off somewhere on a remote and rolling hillside, exploring, or fishing, or napping. The seats of honor could be given to someone else.

I suspect many of us hold similar pictures. We follow Christ, but are at times unconcerned with how closely we follow, indifferent about the gap between his steps and ours, so long as we are at least following. At times we are more like James and John than we want to admit — unaware and incorrect. Perhaps to our casual wish to be uninvolved with seats and honors in heaven, Jesus would say the same to us, “You don't know what you're saying.” Maybe we don't always get it either.

The request that her sons sit on the right and left of Christ was not absurd in the sense that we sometimes read it. Their desire to remain as close to Christ as possible was not the problem, and in this sense James and John understand a great deal more than those who lag behind. It was their assumption that Jesus challenged. To be given a position of honor in the kingdom, they believed they had to hold a position of great importance on earth — exercising authority, excelling in leadership. Gathering the twelve together, Jesus corrected their beliefs with foreign words: whoever wants to become great must become a servant; whoever wants to be first must become a slave. He concluded, “the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

Christ desires that we would love him as he first loved us, following after him as a friend and not as an acquaintance. “Greater love has no one than this,” he told his disciples, “that someone lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13). In James and John was a quality God seeks. They longed to be with Him, such that they turned their minds around when Jesus told them they weren't understanding. Like all of the disciples, they followed Christ to their deaths, becoming servants to the world they longed to reach, laying down their lives for the one they longed to follow. Let us follow similarly, not with dragging feet or minds of indifference, but as friends of the Most High.

________

Copyright © 2005 Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Reprinted with permission. "A Slice of Infinity" is a radio ministry of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries.

*

James A. Michener was once invited by President Eisenhower to a dinner at the White House. He wrote a letter to Eisenhower explaining why he couldn't accept.

“I received your invitation three days after I had agreed to speak a few words at a dinner honoring the wonderful high school teacher who taught me how to write. I know you will not miss me at your dinner, but she might at hers. In his lifetime, a man lives under fifteen or sixteen presidents, but a really fine teacher comes into his life but rarely.”

Eisenhower wrote back to say that he understood.

Among all in his era, Noah was the most godly. He alone was considered by the Almighty, blameless. In a time when terrible wrath was about to unfurl, Noah alone found favor with the Lord. Consider this man Noah and what he experienced: Aware that the end of his world was at hand, he faithfully preached repentance for over one hundred years, yet his words converted no one. His eyes beheld the terrible descent of the wrath of God; his ears heard the terrifying cries, the final cries, of an entire civilization. His mind experienced the horrifying destruction of every man, woman and child outside the ark.

What burden does such an experience create upon the human soul? What nightmares? We don’t know how Noah processed the catastrophic end of the world, but here’s what we do know: After the flood, Noah began mankind’s journey anew. He farmed and planted a vineyard. From the harvest he produced juice, which fermented into wine. We don’t know if this was the first time he, or any man, tasted the effects of wine, but we do know that he drank it and it made him so drunk that he collapsed in his tent. The great man of God lay unconscious and naked, in a drunken stupor.

Here was a righteous preacher who, for whatever reason, had fallen short of his own high standards. Into this scene comes Ham, one of his three sons. Ham entered Noah’s tent and saw the shameful state his father was in. Then, Ham reported the scene to his two brothers. Instead of silently, discreetly covering his father’s shame, he sought to expose it. His brothers, Shem and Japheth, the Scriptures tell us, took raiment and, walking backward with the sheet on their shoulders, they covered Noah with it. Keep this point in mind: Ham dishonored his father by seeking to expose his shame; Shem and Japheth honored their father by covering his weakness. Your future and the future of your children is attached to how well you understand the value of honor and the curse that follows a dishonoring spirit.

I want to talk to you about honor and dishonor. From our cultural inception, Americans have been a bold, and often defiant, people. Our founding fathers, reacting from the tyranny of kings and bishops, dreamed of making this land free of authoritarianism. The swing away from honor thrust us, however, into an opposite error: dishonor. Consequently, because we have learned to dishonor the civil and religious institutions of life, we have become the home of lawlessness and disorder; we are experiencing the breakdown of the family, the church, and society at large.

America has become one huge reaction to tradition; even wholesome traditions that provide peace, stability and respect to the human condition are considered enemies to our nature.

Recall: several early American state flags displayed a serpent coiled around a staff. The inscription read, “Don’t tread on me.” This brazen banner actually identified those who looked to it as a standard against any rule, even the rule of Christ Himself.

Most nations possess a singular focal point that epitomizes their culture. For the Asian nations, honor and respect preside over their societies; for Germanic nations, discipline and obedience set the standard. For America, the central theme would be freedom and rebellion to tradition. To express compliance or honor is considered a weakness.

Even among the early American Christians, there existed a strong independent heart attitude. Most of our first ancestors came from “Protestant” stock: they were “protest-ants.” Not only had they protested the errors of Catholicism, but during various eras, Protestant denominations persecuted and protested against themselves as well. Their legacy of visible, vocal dissent as a means of change has been structured into America’s subconsciousness; this legacy defines much of our societal chemistry. For the secular individual, to protest was to walk a heroic, patriotic path. For the religious soul, to defy the edict of a king or pope was courageous and noble; it was to follow the righteous pattern of the Old Testament prophets.

Thus, confrontation emerged in America as a means through which change materialized. Certainly, there is virtue to be found in a heart that fearlessly speaks against evil. However, “confrontational spirituality” has been carried to an excessive extreme. It is mainstreamed as a legitimate American form of communication, both among the religious and non-religious alike. In America, our “right to protest” is not just a privilege, but a moral and even spiritual obligation; it is to be accomplished with zeal.

So, a true American is typified as one who is his own ruler; he is independent, and unafraid to speak his mind to anyone. Yet, to whatever degree this confrontational attitude is esteemed a virtue in our larger society, it is certainly not a living grace in the kingdom of God. The New Testament Scriptures, in fact, call us to the exact opposite approach in our relationships, where we honor and respect people. Here is what God’s word commands:

“Honor all men; love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect. . .” (1 Pet 2:17-18a).

Honor all men? Honor the king? Servants be submissive with respect? Surely this apostolic leader is not speaking to the church in America! We want our rights! We are not afraid of any man, be he king or priest. Yes, but the issue is not whether we are afraid; it is whether we are capable of showing genuine honor.

There is something within us that grates at the idea of honoring people. We say, often quite righteously, we will only honor God. We feel it is our task to keep others humble lest their pride take over. In fact, it is our pride that has taken over, not theirs, and it is fueled by our jealousy of another’s success.

God calls us to honor all men for the simple fact that He chose to give them life. Jesus lived and died so sinful men could be saved. People are precious to the Father; they are as valuable to Him as His Son. Yes, today the person standing before you may be a sinner, but by showing honor you tell that person that he or she is important to the Almighty.

Some, we are called to honor for their attainments; others, we honor for their intrinsic worth to God. Yet, the call of God is to honor all. Not that you honor the actions of sinners, but the humanity of sinners. We are not to worship people, as those who swoon over celebrities; but we are to show all men honor.

You cannot lead someone to Christ whom you have dishonored. You cannot sincerely communicate the love of God if you do not respect the person to whom you are speaking. Our tradition of dishonoring people has not come from God. In fact, the kingdom of God emerges with a completely opposite spirit. The kingdom is a culture graced with honor and respect for the dignity of all people.

Consider: within the body of Christ we are commanded to honor every member, actually giving to the “unseemly parts” more abundant honor. As stated, we are also called to “Honor all men” and also “honor the king” (1 Peter 2:17). We are additionally required to honor the church elders (1 Timothy 5:17); and at work, we should honor and respect those who are our employers (1 Timothy 6:1). We are to honor widows (1 Timothy 5:3), spouses (1 Peter 3:7 & Ephesians 5:22), the unseemly (1 Corinthians 12:23-25) and the aged (Leviticus 19:32). In fact, when the gray-haired enter a room we are told to stop talking, stand, and acknowledge with reverence the entrance of an older individual. When was the last time that happened in America?

The Lord himself bestows honor on people: John 12:26 says, “If anyone serves Me, ... the Father will honor him.” And Psalm 91:14-15 say, “Because he has loved Me, ... I will rescue him, and honor him.” So if the Lord has no problem honoring people, considering His great glory, why are we so apt to dishonor each other?

The word “honor” in the Greek meant to fix valuation, esteem by implication and to revere. Picture a home where the children revere their parents and the husband and wife honor each other. We must esteem and fix value to each other. For honor creates a spiritual buffer against the enemy’s attacks, which otherwise erode the quality of our lives.

Moreover, honor releases the power of God while dishonor greatly hinders its expression. Jesus taught, “‘A prophet is not without honor except in his home town, and in his own household.’ And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:57-58). The people of Jesus’ hometown did not honor Him, and their lack of honor, Jesus called, “unbelief.” In other words, when we dishonor a man or woman of God, we shut down the power.

The Ability To Advance In Life: Paul reminds us of the fourth commandment. He writes, “Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), that it may be well with you...” (Eph 6:2-3).

Let’s return to the story about Noah. When Ham exposed his father, Noah cursed the son of Ham, Canaan. Why didn’t Noah curse Ham instead of Ham’s son? Noah knew that, as Ham had been to him, so Canaan would be to Ham. Noah’s curse was actually profound. He said Canaan would be “a servant of servants” (see Gen 9:25). Why? Because if you can’t honor an imperfect leader, you will never advance in life. You will always be a slave.

You see, there are no leaders other than imperfect leaders. Your boss, your pastor or teacher or mayor or father or mother are all imperfect. When we expose them to humiliation or dishonor by telling others of their weaknesses, it brings their curse upon us. We will never advance in life with such an attitude.

To be successful, you need to be able to submit to leaders who are imperfect without dishonoring them. You say, “If I do that, I will feel like a hypocrite, a ‘yes’ man.” If you don’t show honor, you are already a hypocrite. For a true Christian esteems and respects people; you don’t have to trust them, but you must honor and respect them.

Now this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have concerns when you see a problem. You may indeed have good advice or even a revelation to share that can help your leader. But don’t open the door to dishonoring leaders, especially in the church! If you see a problem, don’t follow Ham’s example. Don’t go telling your brothers; instead, cover the situation in love. Follow the procedure Jesus gives us in Matthew 18, remaining respectful and humble as you seek to bring an end to sin in a person’s life.

Perhaps you are poor and unable to advance in life. It is possible that you have a curse hindering you due to a dishonoring spirit you received from your parents. Today, that curse can be broken. Ask God to forgive you and your parents for not relating with honor to imperfect authority. Learn to pray for those over you, covering them with the blood of Christ, interceding that they will be protected from the enemy.

Remember, cursed is everyone who seeks to expose a leader’s flaws! The generations of Ham became slaves. How you relate to the imperfections of your superiors determines not only your future, but also the future of your children and your children’s children. Do they hear you complain about your boss? Do they listen when you criticize your pastor? Is a curse being passed on to them when they are forced by proximity to hear you bad mouth other leaders? Do you see this? You are actually teaching them how to NOT succeed in life. A dishonoring spirit will cause them to remain poor, frustrated and outside the realm of the blessed and prosperous.

Right now, your children are patterning their lives after you. From you they are learning how to deal with the imperfections of life. Will they become bitter and angry at life’s structure of authority? Or will they be free to relate to imperfect authorities over them, and do so with honor? Are you breeding generations of slaves or generations of free men and women?

If any man serve me, him will my Father honour. — John 12:26.

Have you ever heard of John Livingstone, brother of the famous missionary David Livingstone? John died one of the richest men in Ontario. The two boys grew up together in a simple Scottish home, and both were under the same instruction. The time came when both boys made decisions affecting their whole lives. John decided to make money; David decided to forsake all and follow Christ. John lived in luxury and died in wealth. David died in a miserable hut in Africa. When John died, a brief note was put in the newspapers telling that he was the brother of David Livingstone, the well known missionary to Africa.

Come away to Jesus; let illusive trifles go,

For everlasting blessing He is able to bestow.

On the night of June 10, 1804, Alexander Hamilton seated himself at his desk in his home in upper Manhattan to finish a letter explaining why the following morning would find him in Weehawken, New Jersey, pointing a flintlock pistol at Vice-President Aaron Burr. He began by listing five moral, religious, and practical objections to duelling, but ruefully concluded, seven paragraphs later, that “what men of the world denominate honor” made it impossible for him to “decline the call.” Burr had placed him in an untenable position. If Hamilton ignored the challenge, Burr would publish his refusal in the newspapers and his political career would effectively be ruined. The next morning, Hamilton had himself rowed across the Hudson. “If we were truly brave, we should not accept a challenge; but we are all cowards,” a friend of Hamilton’s said after his death.

Duelling began with the admirable goal of curbing impromptu sword fights that rose over challenges of honor. By the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, codes of duelling were written to regulate the practice. They assumed that, by classifying offenses and prescribing appropriate punishments, they would make men think twice about resorting to violence. The duel of honor was supposed to cut back on unchecked violence –– on the assassinations, vendettas, and unruly affrays (where dozens of men rushed at one another with broadswords and axes) that were rife in the Middle Ages.

The gentry, however, took honor so seriously that just about every offense became an offense against honor. Two Englishmen duelled because their dogs had fought. Two Italian gentlemen fell out over the respective merits of Tasso and Ariosto, an argument that ended when one combatant, mortally wounded, admitted that he had not read the poet he was championing.

Duelling also had a tradition of men called “seconds” who role was to reconcile potential opponents. It is impossible to know how many duels they averted, but a hint may be found in the words of an Italian fencing master: “It is not the sword or the pistol that kills, but the seconds.”

Thus, an institution devised as a way of regulating violence became a spur to violence. In France, during the reign of Henry IV, at least four thousand men died in private combat. Honor may have been the stated pretext for fighting, but some men, it seemed, just needed the action. Instead of arguments leading to a duel, the duel became a reason to have an argument. One French nobleman simply sent a card to his neighbors that read, “I have reduced your house to ashes, ravished your wife, and hanged your children. Your mortal enemy, Lagarde.”

A paradox snaked its way around the duelling codes: by classifying what constituted an offense, they multiplied the opportunities for men to kill each other. So, did the duel check insolence and incivility? Or did it simply give men license to indulge in aggressive behavior? It probably did both –– which is why reasonable men both defended and deplored it. Tolstoy underscored its ethical slipperiness when, late in life, he mused that he had “killed men in war, and challenged men to duels in order to kill them . . . yet people saw nothing amiss.”

One of the ironies of duelling is that honor itself, once capable of being described as “an instinct of incomparable beauty,” is unable to survive the uses to which men have put it. Honor? Honor is the leader of a street gang who won’t be dissed; it is a Mafia capo on “The Sopranos” who demands satisfaction when his fat wife is called fat; and, in the ultimate perversion, it is the slogan on the belt buckle of Himmler’s S.S. troops –– “My Honor Is Loyalty.”

The First World War effectively killed duelling. The enormous number of deaths, and the appalling waste and devastation, led to an abiding cynicism about the cultural values –– including honor -- that had characterized the pre-1914 moral landscape. That, and the fact that the war had wiped out an entire generation of honor-bound military officers in Europe.

It happens every year in May, and pastors anticipate it expectantly. Mother’s Day promises a high energy, high attendance Sunday, with a smiling, eager congregation. There’ll be extra guests galore -- sons, daughters and grandchildren attending worship services with their mother. There will be new mothers, pregnant moms, substitute moms, stepmothers, foster moms, grandmothers. What an opportunity!

No pressure, pastor, but how will this Mother’s Day be different from last year’s celebration? How can your church esteem mothers, yet point the worship service toward God? It’s time to get creative. Need a few fresh ideas?

MOM & ME VIDEO

Ask the tech team to interview children and prepare a montage of testimony clips explaining why “My Mom’s the Best!” Or invite the youth group to prepare a short video to honor their mothers. Or gather dozens of photos of church members with their mothers for a slide show set to music. Use the video for pre-service viewing or play it along with an appropriate music special.

HERE’S YOUR DAISY

If your church presents gifts on Mother’s Day, it’s a good idea to give one to each woman present. (Many childless women have been like a mother to other children.) Each year’s gift can be unique and meaningful, such as:

A single flower.

A book. A CD. A pin. A pen.

Multi-ribbon bookmarks for her Bible.

A corsage made by children in your church.

Laminated copy of an original Mother’s Day poem.

A scripture bookmark with original art by a church youth.

Recruit a different group of people to present the gift each year, i.e. teen boys, deacons, fifth-grade girls, new members, elderly men or church staff.

OLD WOMEN, PLEASE STAND

Not to be a fuddy-duddy, but pointing out the oldest, youngest and most prolific mothers during worship is not always flattering. As an alternative, consider recognizing mothers with a new baby since last year, great-grandmothers, mothers of teenagers or mothers of military. Then include all mothers in a thanksgiving prayer.

I WAS BORN

One pastor announced a special prayer time for mothers, asking everyone in the congregation who had been born to a mother to stand. That’s everyone!

PRESCHOOL PARADE

Prepare signs for all preschoolers, such as, “I thank God for my mom,” “Honor your mother and father,” or giant MOM letters. While worshippers sing a chorus, the joyful Mother’s Day parade of preschoolers marches in one door and exits another. Delightful!

SENIOR ADULT BYKTSS

If it fits your church, plan “Bring Your Kid to Sunday School” for senior adults. The oldest adult Bible class invites their adult offspring to join them for class, arriving early for snacks and studying God’s Word together.

CHILDREN’S SCRIPTURE SHOUT

Choose an appropriate Scripture to teach elementary age children. Kids march into worship during a congregational song, spread out around the worship center, then quote the Scripture in unison.

MOM’S BRUNCH

Youth can pamper their moms by planning and serving a lovely brunch. Guys carry a towel draped across their arm and wear an eyebrow-pencil-drawn curly mustache. Plan a program of poetry readings, serenading and prayers.

NO COOKING

How about a catered picnic for a church-wide Mother’s Day lunch at the local park? The pastor of a Filipino church in New Jersey excitedly told me about their top-secret plan for Mother’s Day. The men of the church have reserved an entire local restaurant for lunch, and they’ll surprise their mothers and families with a special meal. Don’t tell.

SENSE AND SENSITIVITY

Scripture instructs us to honor our fathers and mothers, but use discretion. Some in your congregation may dread Mother’s Day because of marital status, childlessness, death or problems with parents.

WORSHIP HIM, NOT HER

Many unchurched family members will attend worship with their moms. Tell them how Jesus can change their life! It’s a great day for a baptism, baby dedication or children’s choir song. Joyfully honor mom on Mother’s Day, but focus on the only One worthy of worship -- our God.

________

This column was adapted from the book, “Fresh Ideas: 1,000 Ways to Grow a Thriving & Energetic Church.”

Speedy Morris was the basketball coach at LaSalle and they were having a pretty good season. One morning he was shaving and the phone rang. His wife answered it and called out to him that Sports Illustrated wanted to talk to him. Coach Morris was excited that his team was apparently about to receive national recognition in this famous sports magazine. As a matter of fact, he was so excited that he cut himself with his razor. Covered with blood and shaving lather and running downstairs to the phone, he tripped and fell down the stairs. Finally, bleeding and bruised, he crawled to the phone and breathlessly said, “Hello?”

The voice on the other end asked, “Is your name Speedy Morris?”

“Yes,” he replied.

Then the voice continued, “Mr. Morris, for just seventy-five cents an issue, we can give you a one-year subscription to Sports Illustrated.”

________

Executive Speechwriter, Vol. 6, #4. Cited on The Pastor's Story File, July, 2004. Source: Weekend Encounter, by Dick Innes, Copyright (c) ACTS International, 2004, http://www.actsweb.org/subscribe.htm

*

Judge Baldwin, of Indiana, it is said, in giving his advice to lawyers upon one occasion, told them that the course to be pursued by a lawyer was first to get on, second to get honor, and third to get honest. A man who follows that policy, in my judgment, is not such a lawyer as should be let loose in politics. (Text.)

— GEORGE M. PALMER

Daniel Pipes PHILADELPHIA (BP)--Hours after the killing of 15 Israelis in a Jerusalem restaurant on Aug. 9, the brother of the 23-year-old suicide bomber delightedly announced that "This is a unique operation for its quality and success. ... Palestinians everywhere can now hold up their heads."

Likewise, after a 22-year-old suicide bomber two months earlier killed 21 Israelis at a Tel Aviv discotheque, his father announced, "I am very happy and proud of what my son did and, frankly, am a bit jealous. ... I wish I had done it myself."

And so it has been with nearly all suicide operations -- family members rejoicing at the "martyrdom" of their brothers and children. Some fathers even publicly announce a hope that their children will kill Israelis in suicide operations.

Puzzled by this apparent denial of the primal human urge to protect one's young, President Bush has commented, "I just can't understand this." He is hardly alone.

Two main factors account for this bizarre behavior. The first concerns the Palestinian Authority drumming into impressionable youth the glory of suicidal death while killing Israelis.

PA television harps constantly on this message. On the "Children's Club" (a "Sesame Street"-like children's program), a young boy sings, "When I wander into Jerusalem, I will become a suicide bomber." A repeatedly shown television clip calls on children to "Drop your toys. Pick up rocks." In another, the words to a children's song go: "How pleasant is the smell of martyrs, how pleasant the smell of land, the land enriched by the blood, the blood pouring out of a fresh body."

Ikrima Sabri, the PA's ranking religious leader, has said, "The younger the martyr, the greater and the more I respect him," while praising mothers who "willingly sacrifice their offspring for the sake of freedom." PA schools indoctrinate students on the virtues and joys of martyrdom, then honor and celebrate suicide killers. Four summer camps are currently training 8-to-12-year-olds for suicide bombings.

Organizations like Hamas promise to look after the financial needs of the killers' families.

In all, notes Meyrav Wurmser, a Hudson Institute specialist on the indoctrination of students, the PA has developed "a state-run ideology that pushes [children] to their death."

The second factor explains why this indoctrination works and why Palestinian families enthusiastically send their children to die. What pressure could overcome the human instinct to protect one's beloved?

That pressure is not hard to locate, for it pervades Middle Eastern life. It is an unrelenting, compulsive preoccupation with family honor. The power of this obligation goes far beyond anything Westerners encounter.

The fixation on family honor takes two main forms. The negative one, called "'ird" in Arabic, concerns the sexual purity of women and it accounts for the Middle Eastern custom of murdering female relatives for perceived offenses to the family. Such honor killings are intended to purify the family from its shame; thus do brothers kill sisters, cousins kill cousins, fathers kill daughters and even sons kill mothers.

These men do so not because they want to -- almost nothing could be more horrifying in the context of the tight-knit Middle Eastern family -- but because they feel obliged to. Allowing a dishonored woman to remain alive brings ridicule and disdain on the entire family. In such circumstances, mere love for a daughter or sister dwindles into insignificance; she must be killed.

Thus, after an Egyptian father strangled his unmarried but pregnant daughter, cut her corpse in eight parts, and threw those down the toilet, he explained his reasons: "Shame kept following me [before the murder] wherever I went. The village's people had no mercy on me. They were making jokes and mocking me. I couldn't bear it and decided to put an end to this."

The positive form of honor ("sharaf" in Arabic) involves efforts to enhance the family's status by taking steps to win it praise and renown; and nothing can win a family as much glory as its willing sacrifice of a family member for a noble cause. Thanks to PA propaganda, suicide bombing has become a highly honored act. Thus, the Tel Aviv bomber's father crowed about his son, "He has become a hero! Tell me, what more could a father ask?"

Combined, the monstrous social environment created by the Palestinian Authority and the families' preoccupation with social status goes far to explain why Palestinians glory in the destruction of their youth.

--30--

Pipes, director of the Philadelphia-based Middle East Forum, is author of numerous books on the troubled region. His website is DanielPipes.org.