By Racheal Kiiza
Book: Culture of Honor
Subtitle: Sustaining A Supernatural Environment
Author: Danny Silk
Pages: 568
This book provides and calls for a culture of honor in the church, a culture that strips off the clothes of shame, fear and punishment culture in our churches today.
The book opens with a thrilling but scary story of two students caught in “sin”, like the woman caught in adultery with her accusers, expecting Jesus to condemn and punish her. The students had sex over summer break and they expected the pastor to shame them and throw them out of the congregation after finding out they were about to be parents, but what he did shocked them. He treated them with honor and deployed “kingdom confrontation.”
In Culture of Honor, Silk proposes that, “Honor is not an idea, but a practice, a practice of giving.’’ And “Honor is given on the basis of who people are-not what they have earned or, even what they need.’’ It’s centered on dealing with people the way Christ sees them, in their true identity. This empowers people, creates and protects relationships.
Kingdom confrontation is a process that respects the need for trust and honor. It yields an entirely different outcome because it allows people to be free from control, punishment and fear. Control, punishment and fear have been cultivated in church, people expect it and even plan how to defend themselves when they think they have sinned big time. The author notes that, “many of us think that sin, mistakes, and falling short are more powerful than God’s heart for us.’’
The author uses examples from his years of experience in running a church to show the practicality and authenticity of living out the culture of Honor.
This book shakes core foundational beliefs that have been the norm in the church, opening up a kingdom honouring way of dealing with each other in love. Conservatives will misinterpret this culture as one that allows sinners to go free, without punishment.
Respect and Honor are vital to our dealings with people in church, at the workplace, in public and in our homes.
This book is a must read.
A culture of honor should really be harnessed, God is love and his perfect love casts out all fear, he rebukes in love, molds us in love and its done in an honorable way.
I love the author. He is a cultural changing man. I’ve heard so much about the book. I think I will put it on my to read list. I recommend “Loving your kids on purpose” if you have kids or you are a leader.