Has Honor Now Become Old Fashioned and Obsolete in America?

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Written by Jimmie Burroughs Email this article to a friend

Nathan Hale was a young man of high honor and just 21 years of age when he volunteered for the extremely dangerous job of intelligence gathering for the Continental Army during the American Revolution War. He was later captured by the British and condemned to death by hanging. When asked if he had any last words, he replied, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.” Hale is honored as one of America’s great heroes; in 1985, he was declared the state hero of Connecticut. Of all the things that distinguish greatness, honor leads the list. The Bible says to “give honor to whom honor is due…” (Romans 13:7)

Honor is to be something given when deserved and not because of wealth or fame. Being a great musician, movie actor or sports hero is not grounds for honor, although it is the custom of the day. The truth is that some of the most honored today are minus character or honor. To patronize them in any way is a shameful way to bestow honor.  Honor is to be given to someone based on the kind of person they are and not how skilled they are at a certain thing or what they look like. 

Webster’s dictionary definition of honor: “… official dignity, repute, esteem – a keen sense of right and wrong – adherence to actions or principles considered right – integrity – to bring respect …. To show regard …”

Here is a list of those to whom honor is due according to the Bible: The Lord (Revelation 4:11); parents (Eph. 6:2); those who proclaim the word of God (1Timothy 5:17); the person who lives above reproach; (Proverbs 21:21); a gracious woman (Proverbs 11:16).

Honor means a strict conformity to what is considered morally right. There was a time when honor was quite common, but that no longer seems to be true. Quite to the contrary, honor is somewhat rare in today’s modern society. It is often missing in a marital relationship, at work and just about everywhere else.

Honor In the original languages of the Bible, both Hebrew and Greek, means something of value while, on the other hand, “without honor” means no value. In God’s sight, only that which is honorable is counted of any value and all else is worthless.

A simple way to describe a person of honor is that a person of honor is a person who is true to that which is right. In the New Age society, the definition of right and wrong has become a relative issue where there is no definite distinction between right and wrong. Higher education often regards there being no absolutes. When there are no absolutes, there is no right or wrong.

George Washington and others, the forefathers of our nation our nation, followed a code of honor. I do not set myself up as a judge of our present day politicians, but there is certainly much evidence that indicates that somewhere along the way those early codes of conduct were dropped at least for the most part.

Honor is based on virtues that include:

• Faith in God
•  Loyalty
•  Integrity
•  Sense of duty
•  Self-Discipline
•  Courage
•  Strength to carry on
•  Responsibility
•  Trustworthy

One of the greatest marks of honor is being true to one’s word. A person’s word in the early developing years of America was held in the highest of regard, and those who could not be trusted were counted as the lowest of society. To lie brought severe punishment among frontier Indian tribes.

The Judeo-Christian faith has long considered honesty as the foundation of the Christian experience, honesty toward God and toward fellow man: “Who despises a vile man but honor those who fear the Lord, who keeps his word even when it hurts.” (Psalm 15:4) The pressure today to sacrifice honor for gain is high. The evidence of it is everywhere around us: In the government; in commerce and e-commerce; in advertisement, and in the lifestyle of many.

You can be sure if you are determined to take the high road of honor in all things, you are going to be lonely and even counted as weird by some. Nevertheless, what God thinks is far more important than what man thinks, and the high road is the only way that God recognizes as acceptable and the only way he will reward.

About the author: Jimmie Burroughs is a motivational speaker and author who has been involved in teaching Christian Personal Development for more than 30 years. There are hundreds of articles to help you on this website (Website Contents) in your personal growth.

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