Culture of Honor: Sustaining A Supernatural Environment Paperback – March 25, 2013

I've read a number of books from Bethel's senior leadership team including quite a few by Bill Johnson, one from Kris, and Danny's other book Loving Our Kids On Purpose. Of all of them, if I had to chose a favorite, CULTURE OF HONOR would be my choice. The reason is simple: this is the most profoundly impacting books I've read in my lifetime of reading Christian books of all varieties. What Danny lays out in its pages is a paradigm shift away from rules and towards relationship, away from life spent trying to control everyone and everything and towards honoring and loving one another as Christ modeled during His time on earth. Examining the scary implications of "Love always trusts," as well as laying out a common sense approach to how we can implement that into our daily lives, CULTURE OF HONOR will seriously mess with some of your preconceived ideas and perceptions about how God intends us to relate to each other.The concept of Christians being 'unpunishable' is just so offensive in many ways. God's grace can seem offensive through our human eyes and sense of justice. It isn't 'just' that we've been let off the hook, and even more so, called Sons and Daughters because of Christ our Lord. It's easier to understand why much of Christiandom has spent the last several centuries pursuing information and rules instead of relationship when you realize how hardwired many of us are to judge and punish and make more rules so we can judge and punish even more. Culture of Honor is the answer to that human brokenness. It's the Father's original plan with relationship and love being at the very center of our existence. This is a book straight from the Father's heart.The book is not particularly linear, because like most books from Bethel, it is derived from various teachings that were given over time. That said, Danny's books make this work better than others out of Bethel, perhaps because as Bill Johnson states in the introduction, "Danny has the best language..." for the Culture of Honor paradigm that Bethel is pursuing. Having heard Danny live in Valparaiso a year or so ago, it's pretty clear he lives-and-breathes this stuff and is passionate about seeing others implement honor into their lives, relationships, and churches.Danny also does a great job of laying out the Five-Fold Ministry model that Bethel teaches. My one complaint with the book is that the chapter that describes the Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Teacher, and Evangelist spends a fair amount of time discussing the pitfalls of Pastor and Teacher led churches (absent an Apostolic covering) but doesn't spend much time talking about what those roles look like when they are connected in a healthy way to an apostolic leader. I know that Bethel has good teaching on that topic as I've heard it elsewhere; it would have been ideal to have that laid out in this book as well. That said, this is a minor complaint with an otherwise excellent book.I've found that reading this book has once again pushed me to examine my heart and attitudes and evaluate how I choose to treat people. The discussion in the book about how we use rules and 'taking offense' as reasons to withhold love from people was very convicting. I recognized once again how much a product of my family and culture I am and how I let unhealthy ways of thinking impact my choices (and especially my choices of how to treat others). CULTURE OF HONOR is clear, concise, and convicting--I plan to purchase copies for a few friends. After reading the book, I want more than ever to see my relationships unhindered by old thinking and old rules--I want everyone I know to be pursuing honor and calling me on to 'the higher things.'One of the best that Bethel has produced. Highly recommended.

I had the joy and privilege to travel to Redding, CA to attend a conference held at Bethel church last Spring (2009). I had read many books by various Bethel staff (Bill Johnson, Kris Vallotton, & Beni Johnson) and I had watched services on ibethel.tv so I was extremely excited to actually be in the midst of all that is going on there. On my way down, I listened to a series of teachings by Danny and Sheri Silk and immediately fell in love! These people are a power couple for the Kingdom of God and they both minister with such love and wisdom. Being at Bethel, it took me a few days to pinpoint what was different at their church... it was the tangible Father's heart that you could FEEL and SEE... it was a Culture of Honor, in place and at work!So, I was excited to order Culture of Honor by Danny Silk and read through it with my small yet powerful group of Happy Intercessors. Our goal is to pull Heaven to earth and live out loud a Kingdom lifestyle in our city! This book is amazing; life changing - if you are bold enough. Danny has the incredible ability to put into words the feelings and thoughts that you secretly dare to hope can be true, but he does it with authority and assurance because simply put - he lives it! He has helped to cultivate and govern a culture of honor not only in his marriage and home, not only in his church, but also in his community and the Body at large! He stirs up excitement and hope and backs it up with testimony and experience. This CAN be done!As I read through (and underlined) each chapter - I thought, "This is great... how in the WORLD can we implement this?" I am blessed to have many of the things discussed in this book already in play in my own home, and in smaller groups of fellowship... I desire to see it on a larger scale and I desire to see my community change and experience freedom. Every chapter is powerful and full of revelation - but there is one chapter that pulled all the others together for me... it is a chapter that, if activated in your own life and your own relationships, will help all the other chapters fall into place. Because I want you to read the ENTIRE book - to drink it all in and begin to hope and prepare for change, I will not tell you what that chapter is. But you will know it when you get to it.This book will challenge you to operate in greater grace, deeper love, and more glory. It will cause you to hunger for Kingdom government, for Heaven on earth, and it will stir up faith to know and believe that it can be done!Cultivate a Culture of Honor in your home, your church, your city... it can start with you!