After one session, a participant approached me, visibly uncomfortable with the affirmations being shared. I was surprised, especially since our intention had been to glorify God in His work through these leaders, not elevate them. It made me realize how easily a distorted“ culture of honor”— marked by manipulation or abuse— can taint even genuine expressions of gratitude.
True honor, however, is a powerful, Kingdom-centered principle that brings life, not control. Romans 12:10 commands us,“ Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.”
Honor isn’ t flattery. It’ s not blind allegiance. It’ s about recognizing the image of God in every person and treating them accordingly. As Augustine said,“ The honor we give to others reflects the honor we have for the image of God in them.”
Culture Trumps Vision Your community’ s culture will determine who you attract, who stays, what kind of leaders you develop, and even the type of challenges you face. You may have big dreams, but if your environment isn’ t healthy, your vision will crumble.
Before joining Tikkun, I worked as one of the Human Resources Managers for JM Family Enterprises— the largest distributor of Toyota vehicles in the U. S. In my leadership roles there, I witnessed firsthand the power of a healthy organizational culture that honors one another. JM Family didn’ t call their people“ employees” but“ associates,” intentionally fostering a sense of value, belonging, and ownership. The founder, Jim Moran, was renowned not just for his bold vision, but for creating a legacy-worthy culture of honor— one that treated people with dignity and endured beyond his lifetime.
What Honor Is— And What It’ s Not Biblical honor is a heart posture of respect rooted in God’ s design. It begins with the understanding that every person carries intrinsic value because they bear the image of Avinu B’ Shamayim( Our Father in Heaven).
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