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Alison Hartman
Dr. Burke
English 111W-P
November 30, 2016
Paper #4 Research
Honor your father and motherwhich is the first commandment with a promise
so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth (New
International Version, Ephesians 6:12). This is one of the most controversial bible
verses of this generation because of the lack successful marriages and good parents.
The reservation for many young adults is how can we honor people and parents who
dont deserve to be honored? The definition of honor is: the evaluation of a persons
trustworthiness and social status based on that individuals integrity and character
(Honor). Many people attribute this definition to their parents as an example, however
many parents and people in our lives fail to show integrity and honesty and quite frankly
dont deserve honor. So what does honor really mean in the context of this generation?
Is honor something achieved or earned, or it something that should be given to people
of authority? There isnt a definite answer to this question, but there is certainly a
viewpoint that this generation should consider which is, maybe honor is something that
should be given to people out of respect. Honor means different things, but the key
discussion that is presented is whether honor is something that can be achieved based
on someones character, or it can be given to everyone regardless if they deserve it.
Someones integrity is often described on how someone acts when nobody else
is around. Integrity is an attribute of someones character that most people strive to

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achieve. When we think of an honorable person, we think of someone with good
character. Therefore, someones character can be changed based on how they act.
Honor is something that is based on character and the selfless acts that people do for
others. It is almost as an active of service. When people think of honorable people, they
most likely think of people in the military. This is due to the fact that they are constantly
doing selfless acts for people. Honor is often described as, to place value on those
around us in such a way that their value is above our own (Honor). This why many
people think of the military to be honorable people. However, the opposite of honor is
shame, so in order to be an honorable person, there shouldnt be any part of your life
that youre shameful of.
As described in the paragraph before, honor is based on character and therefore
can be achieved. So the question is, how someone can achieve the accomplishment of
honor and become an honorable person? A way that the Bible says is to gain honor is to
give honor. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if
revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor (New International
Version, Rom. 13:7). This example tells us that honor should be given to where honor is
due. Therefore, way that you treat someone could relate to whether or not others think
you are an honorable person. For example, if you were a loyal and reliable friend, then
people would consider you an honorable person. Also, to expand on the example of
being in the military, your acts of service can help you achieve honor. Not just in the
military, but your acts of service to others, and complete strangers can directly relate to
whether people think you are an honorable person. Its important to remember that

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honor isnt really something to that describes someone, but describes their actions
bases on their character.
The opposite direction that honor can be thought of is that is should be given to
everyone because of a mutual respect for everyone. If you have a respect for someone,
then you will honor him or her. It isnt based on their actions or character, but rather the
fact that they are human and deserve the same respect that we do. For example, a
prison inmate deserves the same respect that the President of the United States gets.
Respect is honoring the worth or dignity in a person (Respect). The definition is similar
to honor because it emphasizes the idea of putting someone elses needs or desires
above your honor and acknowledging their worth. Therefore, if we realize that everyone
is worthy of life and love, then we should show respect and honor to everyone. This
idea of giving people respect and honor shouldnt be dependent on whether or not they
were nice to you a certain day, but rather they are human and are worthy of love and
honor.
The Bible gives many examples of honor, respect, and love. However, the
overarching theme of these ideas is that honor and respect are actions given to people
based on the love that we have for them. In simple terms, honor is an action based on
love. If we love people and humans and understand that nobody is perfect and
everyone has good and bad days, then we should honor and respect everyone. If you
love someone, then you will honor him or her out of respect. Exodus 20:12 says, Honor
your father and mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving
you (New International Version). Parents and people throughout our lives wont
deserve to be respected or honored, but the fact that we love them, is the reason why

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we should always honor them. This is the differences between giving honor to people
that deserve it and honoring everyone, based on the idea that everyone is human and
deserves to be loved.
There are many different definitions of honor described and many different ways
that this generation sees honor. However, the most applicable and important thing to
remember about honor is that is isnt earned or achieved, but rather given freely to
people out of respect. Honor is an action based on love and respect for someone.
Throughout generations, the world has described and told everyone to only honor
people of character, honesty and integrity. However, the definition of honor is putting
someones needs above your own and thinking of them of high regard because you
have a love for them. The world is made up of love and loving other people, therefore
we should love and honor everyone, regardless of the way they treated us today. Its
important to remember that everyone makes mistakes and nobody is perfect, so we
should honor everyone based on that understanding that we love them regardless of
their flaws.

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Works Cited
"Honor." Virtue First Foundation 2007, virtuefirst.org/virtues/honor/. Accessed 29 Nov.
2016.
"Respect." Virtue First Foundation virtuefirst.org/virtues/respect/. Accessed 29 Nov.
2016.
The Holy Bible, New International Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan, Zondervan, 2011.