What Happened to the Seven Promises?

The news that Promise Keepers invited men and women to A Time to Honor had some people wondering what’s gotten in to us. Rest assured, the vision, mission and Seven Promises are intact, even at this event, A Time to Honor.

In 2009, as Promise Keepers carries out its twentieth year of ministry, we move from simply issuing the call to integrity, to helping men apply their strength, integrity and gifting to restoring their communities. Promise Keepers is building warriors for restoration.

This event, A Time to Honor, is a response to the biblical call to honor three segments of our population: women, the poor, and the spiritual fathers of our faith – Jewish believers in Messiah Jesus (Yeshua). Paul wrote in Galatians 3:28: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

To the church at Corinth, Paul wrote:
…those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable… God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (I Corinthians 12:23-25)

Promise Keepers believes that the practice of honor can heal the tense, historical divides that weaken our church and communities: the gender divide, the class divide, and the faith divide (between Jewish and Gentile believers) in the Messiah Jesus Christ. Honor heals division.

Here’s how the Seven Promises are addressed in the three sessions at A Time to Honor:

I. Honor women
Proverbs 31:31 says Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works praise her at the city gate.

We’re looking forward to challenging men to become warriors who honor women. We will have the opportunity to honor women in purity (Promise 3 – … practicing spiritual, moral, ethical, and sexual purity.), and affirm our promises to the family (Promise 4 – … building strong marriages and families through love, protection and biblical values.)

II. Honor the poor and oppressed
Even during the disasters and recession of the 21st century, Christian witness to the poor has taken global strides, recalling a time 200 years earlier when, during the Second Great Awakening’s Benevolent Empire, the church was at the forefront of public service, charity, and humanitarianism.

In the Old Testament, you might be surprised at the prophet Ezekiel’s description of the sin of infamous Sodom. It wasn’t just sexual sin. Its iniquity was described as arrogance, abundant food and careless ease, but she did not help the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49)

Men who are active in a church’s mercy programs and economic development outreach can demonstrate Promise 5, supporting the mission of his church by honoring & praying for his pastor, and by actively giving his time & resources.

III. Honor the spiritual fathers of the faith – Messianic Jewish believers
Paul wrote to a church of Greeks (I Corinthians 4:15) that he became their father in the faith. As a guardian and tutor in the teachings of Christ and his Kingdom, Paul labored to see Jewish and non-Jewish (Gentile) believers in Jesus united in Christian practice.

Honoring the Jewish believers as the spiritual fathers of the faith will heal the oldest and deepest wound in the body of Christ (the schism between Jewish and Gentile believers), answering the prayer of Jesus in John 17 and facilitate the most powerful demonstration of God's Glory (Jn 17:22).

Demonstrating this core element of biblical unity advances Promise 6 – …reaching beyond any racial and denominational barriers to demonstrate the power of biblical unity.

Like all Promise Keepers events, worship, prayer and evangelism are central program elements (addressing Promise 1 – …honoring Jesus Christ through worship, prayer and obedience to God’s Word in the power of the Holy Spirit.) Of course, can anyone live the Christian life in isolation? Promise Keepers need each other (Promise 2 – …pursuing vital relationships with a few other men…). And the over-arching aim and ambition for A Time to Honor is the evangelism of our neighbors and the discipleship of believers (Promise 7 – influencing his world, being obedient to the Great Commandment, Mark 12:30-31, and Great Commission, Matthew 28:19-20.)

Honor heals division. And unity testifies to the whole world that Jesus is the Messiah.

The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one; I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me… (John 17:22-23)

Sincerely,

Dr. Raliegh B. Washington
President