Communion With the Christ:: Honor One Another

St. Paul Writing to Christians in Rome two thousand Years and to All Christians throughout the ages, He instructs us to "Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; hold to that which is good. Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another;" Rom: 12:9-10

Honor toward one another is part of the Christian life, we are told to Honor One Another.

Highly Valued

The Greek word that St. Paul uses here is "tee-may" which means to attribute great value toward something or someone, to consider it precious, to reckon as having great worth. Realizing that a high price has been paid for it. This is how St. Paul instructed Christians to see one another. Christians should esteem and approach one another and deal with one another with this view in mind that others are highly valued. We are to honor one another.

A Great Price

Again, St. Paul was inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak of this great price of which we have been bought with.

"What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which you have of God, and you are not your own? For you are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." 1Cor:6:19-20

St. Luke, the author of the book of Acts tells us that the great price that had been paid for us is the very life of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. God has given the highest that could be given for us, shedding his own blood, that is pouring out is life for each of us.

"Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over those which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood."Acts:20:28

The Great God, in the person of his Son Holy Jesus, went to the cross and died for us and bought us. The cross shows us all just how far God would go to have us, to give us eternal life, He has gone to the point of death for us.

How Do We See One Another?

When we look at other Christians, or anyone for that matter, how do we view them? How do we see one another? Do we, by virtue of the value that God places upon humanity see them as the object of God's love? Do we "honor" them as St. Paul instructs? Do we see them as persons worthy of honor, as persons worthy of the price which they have been bought with?

Love into Honor

When our Lord Jesus came, he knew full well that none of us merited his death, yet, he still loved and honored us in spite of our flawed natures. Jesus loved and honored us with his death even when we still where in ignorance or indifference to what has been given for us, while we still lived out of that proper practical relationship that God has for us.

The Great God, the Holy Trinity's, eternal love for us circumvented our dis-honorable state and bestowed upon us the greatest honor that could be given, His very Son's life. Jesus, that One who alone is worthy of all honor, honors us and died for us. This is a great honor God has shown to us all.

Do we look at others this way? Do we see one another as the recipients of this great honor? We all are , and have been given the highest honor possible that can be conveyed, we have been given the life of the Son of God, his forgiveness and calling all through the blood of Jesus. We could nor earn it nor deserve it. It is ours by Grace alone through Christ alone.

He Dwells in Us.

Jesus, giving the Apostles, a view of what is accomplished by his death and coming of the Holy Spirit

" My Father will love him, and we will come to him, and dwell with him" Jhn:14:23c

Do we view others as the dwelling place of the Great God? Do we see others as bearing the presence of our Lord through the Holy Spirit and his glorified resurrected humanity? We are in union with Jesus.

God dwells in us, this speaks to us that when we dis-honor one another we are dis-honoring our Lord as well, this should awaken us to honor others , especially fellow Christians.

All A Part

St. Paul tells us again that God has made each of us a part of one another as one body, therefore if one is shown honor all are shown honor and, if we show dis-honor to one, then all are dis-honored.

"For as the body is one, and has many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

For the body is not one member, but many. If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body? If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?

But now has God set the members every one of them in the body, as it has pleased him. And if they were all one member, where were the body? But now are they many members, yet but one body.And the eye cannot say to the hand, I have no need of you: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.No, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

For our comely parts have no need: but God has tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked.That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.

Now you are the body of Christ, and members in particular".1Cor:12:12-27

Our Lord does not want us to see one other as separate persons from our own selves in the way we generally think of it. Jesus wants us to think of one another in the same way he thinks of the Father and the Holy Spirit and Himself, we see this in St. John's Gospel.

"Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that you have sent me" .Jhn:17:20-21

We all belong to Jesus and to one another.

Dis-Honor Among Christians

"if one is shown honor all are shown honor and, if we show dis-honor to one then all are dis-honored."

It is unfortunate, to my grief, that over the years as I have visited many churches representing many church cultures and traditions that I have witnessed Christians dis-honor one another, not accidentally but deliberately, even veiled attacks are, attacks, designed to tear down and diminish and harm or to manipulate another all to their dishonor.

The persons who conduct themselves in such a manner often cast themselves in the role of a victim when they are corrected or not agreed with.

I have witnessed incidents of posturing, politicking and attempts to force personal agendas, and even slanderous attacks against laity and clergy alike.

This should not be in the Church, which is body of Christ of which we all are apart, nor should this be found among us. How we treat one other shows us how we would treat our Lord Jesus.

Some persons have gone as far, within churches, to attempt to undermined their pastors, and or, other church leaders and caused division in the church, just so they can" get their way". I can speak out of experience and unfortunately so can other Church leaders.

St. Paul in Romans tells us the cause of division in the church, it is when someone is not getting what they want so they cause division. If we see this within our respective congregations or ministries, we need to recognize what lies behind it, such a person wants something and cannot legitimately have it.

Most of those who cause division do so under the pretense of just wanting truth or to right a wrong, these are phantom issues smoke- screens to hide their true intent, but in truth it is always about power and position. I have never once seen it different.

"Now I beseech you, brothers, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own desires; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple." Rom: 16:17-18

I ask all of you, in whatever fellowship in which God has placed you , to honor your pastors and church leaders and brethren, it is difficult enough to stand in the place of a minister and bear the burdens and to enter so deeply into the grief of so many of those, whom, our Lord has placed us, let alone without the distractions of dis-honor .

I call on all who read these words to stand with the leadership of your fellowship and one another and keep unity within your Churches or ministries.

When we reject those whom, our Lord has placed over the church then we are in truth rejecting our Lord. This is a serious problem to face. If you have a difficulty with the leadership(s) of your particular fellowship go to them privately and in faith and the spirit of the peace of God, and in an attitude of honor, speak to them regarding your issue and if the issue does not resolve the way you want it to understand that your church leader(s) are, as we all are, limited and face many things; and even if you do not understand their view you will find that the majority of them are acting out of the best good for all . Be patient and have faith, if you are right God will, in his time, make it clear.

When we are dis-honoring others we are dis-honoring our very selves.

" He that hears you hears Me; and he that rejects you rejects me; and he that rejects Me rejects Him that sent me" Lk: 10:16

Our Lord calls on all Christians to honor all others, but especially other Christians.

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" Philip: 2:3

How we honor others test whether we truly believe this or not and regardless of if we grasp it or not we are dis-honoring the great God. Show your honor toward the great God by Showing it to one another.

Benediction: May we each and all show honor that is befitting of Christians to each and all, today, tomorrow and forevermore. Amen