I observed in an earlier post that America cannot be great again if “We the People of the United States of America” fail to bind ourselves to the idea of “One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all”.
For a half-century, “We the People” have pursued a path of self-destruction and I fear we might be nearing the tipping point of no return. Should we continue defying God’s Laws, we cannot with a sincere conscience pray, “God bless, America.” Should we continue to sacrifice patriotism and love of country for partisan politics and political expediency, we will never be indivisible. Should we entertain the demand, “equality for all” (equal pay, equal reward), we do so at the sacrifice of the individual and our liberties as a free people. Should we make every man and woman a victim, we prejudice the judicial system and render justice for none.
How did America get to this sorry state? I believe Christians bear responsibility for this nation’s decline and its moral decay. We have failed God and our nation.
The founders of our nation aspired to the highest ideals of self-rule and gave us a Republic to inspire the noblest qualities in her citizenry. Should we desire our nation to become great again, we who call upon the LORD must dare embrace four mandates of Christian citizenship:
1 Peter 2:17 – “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
This is my second post on the first mandate, “Honour all men” (1 Peter 2:17a). “Honor” ascribes worth to an individual by one’s words and actions. I made the following observations in my earlier posts: 1) “Honor” is universal in scope and blind to race and ethnicity; 2) Honor is not without discretion; 3) Honor another does not negate the fact some are more deserving of honor than others; 4) Finally, the nature of virtue calls for honor.
That brings me to another consideration. While all men are to be honored, some are purposely and specifically honored. Consider three instances where the scriptures charge God’s people to honor others.
The first, children are to honor their parents. The fourth commandment reads, “Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORDthy God giveth thee” (Exodus 20:12; Deut. 5:15). Indeed, to honor one’s parents was so fundamental to Hebrew society that the penalty for dishonoring one’s parents was death (Mt. 15:4; Mark 7:10). The command to obey and honor one’s father and mother comes with a conditional promise, “That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth” (Ephesians 6:1-3).
Husbands are commanded to honor their wives. Men make much of the wives submitting to them; however, as much should be made of the husband’s duty to honor his wife. Peter instructed believers, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them [wives] according to knowledge [understanding], giving honourunto the wife, as unto the weaker [i.e. physical strength] vessel [because she is a complement to her husband]…” (1 Peter 3:7a). Wise is the husband who cherishes and honors his wife.
Thirdly, we are to honor our elders. Too many families warehouse their Senior citizens in institutions and make too little effort to oversee the care of their loved ones. The gray head (i.e. “hoary head”) saints are to be prized and valued. Paul instructed Timothy to give particular attention to widows, especially those who are “widows indeed” (meaning those having no children, grandchildren, or family).
The honor due “widows indeed” was personal, practical, and even sacrificial. In a day when there was no social welfare system, the cares and financial needs of the widows fell upon their families.
Another aspect of honoring one’s elders is the instruction to stand up in the presence of an elder. The children of Israel instructed their chidlren, “Thou shalt rise up [lit. stand up; i.e. indicating value] before [in the presence of] the hoary head[old, gray-haired], and honour [favor; respect; defer; value] the face presence] of the old man, and fear [be afraid; revere] thy God: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:32).
I close today’s challenge to “Honour all men” with a story from the life of George Washington, the commander of America’s revolutionary army, father of our nation, and first president of the United States of America.
One morning while riding his horse on his plantation in the company of the French General Lafayette, a slave approached Washington on foot and greeted him with “Morning, Sir.”
Washington, acknowledging the slave’s greeting, tipped his hat and said, “Good morning, my dear friend.”
Lafayette was astounded and asked, “Why is it that you, General and President George Washington would speak and tip your hat to a common slave?
Washington replied, “Why sir, I could not allow him to be the better man!”
What an inspiring outlook on life; to live in such a way you aspire to be the better man or woman.
With a shepherd’s heart,
Pastor Travis D. Smith