Queen's Birthday Honours

A couple of weeks ago the General of The Salvation Army, Linda Bond, speaking at the British Congress made an interesting comment, but not before telling the media not to quote her. She was critical of CEO's for receiving big bonuses just for doing their job. It drew significant applause because, I guess, she was prepared to say what most people were thinking. Nevertheless it's a bold thing for a world leader of an organisation such as The Salvation Army to say in a public forum.

Today, the Queen's Birthday honours have been announced in Australia and I found myself, not for the first time, asking whether we should be handing out these awards. After all, does the same thing apply to these honours as applies to CEO's and their bonuses? Should people receive honours for just doing their job? And not all people 'just doing their job' receive honours. The main honours were awarded to 4 politicians, 3 professors - one of whom advocates the right murder of children if they are born disabled, and 1 activist judge. I doubt whether I will ever receive an honour for giving announcements at church (!) but if I did I don't think I would accept it.

There are some wonderful people who receive honours in the lower categories and are most worthy. But the system suggests to me that we just don't understand what God wants to see in his society. We still give the greatest honours to those who have high profiles or the greatest education. I wouldn't begrudge anyone I know from receiving an honour. I would be genuinely pleased for them. But these awards, despite recognising some really great, down to earth people, and despite encouraging people who have achieved, in my opinion show how little we understand about God.

Until the top honours go to the people who spend countless hours, without pay, helping the underprivileged and our politicians miss out altogether because they have just been doing their job (and in the process quite often show what bad roles models they are too), I will continue to treat them with a degree of contempt.