Honor is defined by my computer's on-line dictionary as "honesty, fairness, or integrity in one's beliefs and actions." The words used in this definition are words that are in conflict in our society. Have you observed much honesty and fairness in our culture? Also, how can one have integrity in one's beliefs and actions when they are constantly in flux? America (the people) finds itself identifying with Pilot when in John 18:38 he answered Jesus with "What is truth?" when Jesus told him that He bore witness to the truth and everyone that is of the truth heareth His voice. We are like Israel in Judges 21:25 but instead of "no king" it can be said of us that in these days there was no God in America: everyone did that which was right in their own eyes. If truth can not be identified and we do that which is right in our own eyes (and that can change day by day), then we do not have to stand for anything and can still feel good about ourselves. When we as individuals start to once more have shared recognized standards and incorporate them into our lives, there will be an impact on our society.
Where do we start? Let us start with the society of the Cretians. In Titus 1:12 it states, "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, the Cretians are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." Does this not sound like a society without Honor? This was a society that consisted of compulsive liars. That Lying was a vice that controlled them. This vice is incompatible with anyone who is to have a relationship with God. Hence, in Titus 1:13 Paul told Titus that, "This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;" No one can be a follower of Jesus when lying controls his life for John 14:6 states, "Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
Man feels that generally lying is not that bad. But how does God feel toward lying? God finds lying to be an abomination and hates it. God said in Proverbs 6:16-17, "These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood," and in Proverbs 19:5, "A false witness shall not be unpunished, And he that speaketh lies shall not escape." And least you think that is just the Old Testament, we can see in the New Testament in Revelation 21:8 John tells us, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." To lie is to be on the wrong side of the Judgement Day.
To find honor once again in our country and institutions it must begin with us as individuals in telling the truth (and knowing the truth). Additionally, we must hold those we associate with and vote for to this same standard. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful" (Psalm 1:1).
Charles Royal, Decatur, AL
