Honor: The Kingdom Principle the Western Church Has Forgotten

There is something the modern Western Church often struggles to understand: biblical honor.

In many places today, honor has been replaced with familiarity. We live in a culture that values independence, personal opinion, and being “eye to eye” with everyone. While equality before God is absolutely biblical, Western culture has slowly conditioned many believers to resist spiritual authority, correction, discipleship, and reverence.

As a result, many Christians want friendship without discipleship, access without humility, and encouragement without correction.

But throughout Scripture, honor is deeply connected to receiving from God.

Jesus and the Power of Honor

One of the most sobering passages in the Bible is found in the Gospel of Mark:

“But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honor except in his own country, among his own relatives, and in his own house.’ Now He could do no mighty work there…” — Mark 6:4–5 (NKJV)

Think about that for a moment.

Jesus did not suddenly lose His power. The issue was not His ability. The issue was the atmosphere of dishonor and unbelief surrounding Him.

The people of Nazareth became too familiar with Jesus. Instead of seeing the Son of God, they saw:

• the carpenter

• Mary’s son

• someone ordinary

• someone common

Familiarity blinded them to what God had placed within Him.

And we must ask ourselves an important question:

Has the modern Church become so casual that we no longer recognize what God is doing through people He has called?

Honor Creates an Atmosphere to Receive

Throughout Scripture, honor is often connected to receiving.

Elisha and Elijah

Elisha did not receive a double portion merely because he admired Elijah. He served him, followed him, listened to him, and remained faithful.

“Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.” — 2 Kings 2:9 (NKJV)

Elisha honored the calling and anointing God had placed on Elijah’s life. He did not compete with him. He did not try to diminish him. He positioned himself to receive.

Honor made room for impartation.

Joshua and Moses

Joshua stayed near Moses. He served faithfully. He learned quietly before leading publicly.

Timothy and Paul

Paul called Timothy a true son in the faith. Timothy received instruction, correction, encouragement, and spiritual formation through relationship and honor.

Biblical honor is not passive admiration. It is active humility.

Western Culture and the Loss of Honor

The Western world teaches people:

• “No one should speak into your life.”

• “You don’t need authority.”

• “Question everything.”

• “Protect your independence.”

• “Nobody is above you.”

While discernment is necessary and blind loyalty is dangerous, many believers have unknowingly carried a spirit of resistance into the Church.

Today, many Christians struggle to:

• receive correction

• submit to discipleship

• value spiritual fathers and mothers

• honor pastors and leaders

• sit under teaching with humility

• 
  

Instead, people often search for reasons to dismiss rather than reasons to learn.

But biblical honor does the opposite.

Honor seeks understanding.

Honor listens before reacting.

Honor values what God has placed inside others.

Honor serves without needing recognition.

Honor Is Not Idolizing People

This is important to understand clearly.

Biblical honor is not:

• celebrity worship

• manipulation

• creating untouchable leaders

• ignoring sin

• blind obedience

Scripture commands believers to test spirits, discern truth, and hold leaders accountable.

However, there is a difference between discernment and dishonor.

Dishonor looks for flaws in order to dismiss.

Honor recognizes that imperfect people can still carry something from God.

Even David honored Saul’s position while refusing to participate in Saul’s sin. Honor does not mean agreeing with everything someone does. It means recognizing God’s order and responding with humility rather than pride.

Familiarity Can Kill Reverence

One of the greatest enemies of honor is familiarity.

When people become overly familiar, they stop valuing what is in front of them.

This happened with Jesus.

Meanwhile, outsiders often received miracles because they approached Him differently.

The Centurion Understood Honor

In Matthew 8, a Roman centurion approached Jesus and said:

“Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” — Matthew 8:8 (NKJV)

Jesus marveled at his faith.

Why?

Because the centurion understood authority.

He recognized that Jesus carried divine authority, and he approached Him with humility and honor.

Faith and honor were connected.

Honor and Miracles

When we look around the world, we often hear testimonies of miracles, healings, radical salvations, and powerful moves of God happening in places where believers carry deep reverence for God and honor for spiritual authority.

Yet in much of the Western Church, many believers have become skeptical, casual, cynical, or overly familiar.

Could it be that dishonor and unbelief have created atmospheres where people struggle to receive?

This does not mean every claim of miracles is genuine, nor does it mean believers should stop using discernment. But Scripture repeatedly shows that humility, honor, reverence, and faith position people to receive from God.

The Kingdom Operates Differently

The Kingdom of God is not built on pride, self-promotion, or competition.

It is built on humility.

Jesus Himself washed feet.

The greatest became the servant of all.

Honor in the Kingdom is not about elevating man above God. It is about recognizing God’s work within people and responding with humility and gratitude.

“Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.” — Romans 12:10 (NKJV)

Imagine what the Church would look like if believers truly lived this way.

Imagine communities where:

• people valued one another

• correction was received with humility

• leaders served faithfully without seeking fame

• believers sought understanding before offense

• discipleship mattered again

• honor replaced cynicism

Honor does not weaken the Church.

True biblical honor strengthens unity, discipleship, humility, and spiritual growth.

Final Thoughts

Honor is not about creating spiritual celebrities.

Honor is about creating hearts that are humble enough to receive from God however He chooses to move.

The truth is, many people miss what God is doing because they are too focused on the humanity of the vessel instead of the God who chose to use it.

May we become believers who:

• honor God first

• honor one another

• remain teachable

• seek understanding

• value discipleship

• walk in humility

• and recognize what Heaven is doing around us.

Because throughout Scripture, those who honored what God was doing were often the ones who received the most from Him.

Pastor Scott