I once was arrested and put in jail!

Yes, it is true, I have been to jail. I don't remember the date or exactly the year but say about 1985. I was protesting an abortion clinic by participating in a sit-in. I was handcuffed and taken to jail. My friend, Tom, came and bailed me out. The Ohio Franklin County Assistant District Attorney dropped my case but some of the other 100+ lawbreakers were not so blessed.

At the time I truly believed the Lord spoke to me about going and participating in the civil disobedience act. It seemed like an honorable act but today I am not so sure it was. The Christian community gave me accolades on how brave I was. Was it really an act bravery or was I just to chicken to take a risk and get involved with helping with an unwed mothers ministry? Did it honor the Lord to basically have no affect on the life of an unborn child? No matter how evil you think an abortion doctor is, he truly thinks he is helping those children or adults that have become pregnant. A Christians believes no matter what mistake was made, no matter how inconvenient, abortion is the taking of a human life. So what do we do? The answer has to do with honor.

To give honor to someone or a group does not require that we agree with everything they do. We can abhor the acts of the abortion doctor but still give honor to the medical profession. I am not suggesting that a doctor that has chosen the abortion profession is worthy of honor for what he is doing but many times I have heard Christian speak poorly of our local hospital. Maybe it is time for us to give honor and speak Kingdom words over our local businesses and governments.

I am wondering how many Christians would open their extra bedroom to the expecting mother? How many would lend some of their savings account to help the unwed mother in distress? What would happen if all of us began to give honor and love to the point that it would cost us something? I am using an unwed mother for an example but there are many more ways we can bring honor to our community. Just get together and ask the question... what can we do for our community to bring honor?

What about your Pastor, do you honor him/her? I know your Pastor receives a salary but have you every given him an envelope with some money in it just to honor him/her with an extra blessing? Here at Bethel Church and in the school of ministry whenever someone steps up to the pulpit we all stand to our feet and applaud, whistle, and make a lot of noise in appreciation. We give honor because we are honorable. This is one of our core values. The speaker does not insist on this response but receives it as an honorable person would. As I am learning to honor something is happening in my spirit. I believe I am becoming more honorable. This gives honor to the Lord. Matthew 25 says that when you have done it to the least of these you have done it to me. This is a Kingdom principle that when we bless His people it blesses Him.

Do you give honor to the rich of your community? How about the successful businessman or businesswoman? They provide jobs. They build really big homes that cost millions of dollars. Does that seem wasteful? What does it take to build that home? Does it not employee carpenters, plumbers, electricians, painters, etc.? I guess we could tax the rich so they are not able to provide these jobs to the community. They can give their money to the government abyss instead of you. I wonder who came up with that idea? It does not seem to honor them very well for their hard work that has lead to their success.

I would like to suggest that we begin to speak words of honor over others. Tell them how awesome they are. Instead of expressing your needs like a child began to use understanding words to express your need and understand the needs of others. You do not need to preach to win souls. They will begin to hang around you just to hear those loving words one more time then you will be able to sow the Word of Life into the seed of their heart.