Respect

Respect- You Don’t Deserve it (or so they say)

 

Respect, in today’s society, is misplaced, misused, and misrepresented. Respect is, quite frankly, misunderstood.

I believe that today’s unwritten definition of respect is conditionally based. Respect is often times given based on a person’s standing in their particular culture such as their business culture, their church culture, or their peer culture. Respect is generally shown to someone who is perceived to be wise, talented, or wealthy. Respect is given to those people who seem to have “made it” in life. While that respect is rightfully given, what happens to a person who loses their standing in their particular culture because of a bad decision? What happens to one who falls from grace because they decided to buck a societal norm? Do we then respect them? Societal outcomes of everyday life situations cause me to shout a resounding, “No!” Behaviors indicate that when someone offends us, falls from grace or makes us angry, respect is lost, which then testifies to the conditionality of respect.

As a Christian, I aspire to exhibit qualities and characteristics based on Christ’s example, which means putting aside the societal definition of respect and clinging to the Bible’s definition and example. “Now also we beseech you, brethren, get to know those who labor among you- recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all- your leaders who are over you in the Lord, and those who warned and kindly reprove and exhort you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12.

1 Peter 2:17 commands us to honor (or respect) All people, including kings (those modern day mayors, governors, president). We are to respect and honor them not because of laws they approve/disapprove of, or how much they make or what they say, but because God commands it. God also says that respect is to be given to husbands (Ephesians 5:33), the elderly (Leviticus 19:32), parents (Leviticus 19:3), employers and employees (Ephesians 6:5-6)

You may argue that you can’t give respect to a person who has hurt you, or to a leader who has mis-stepped, or misguided, but the Bible is very clear about the untruth of that belief. I Peter 2:18 plainly states that servants (and if a follower of Christ, you are considered a servant of Christ) are to be submissive to their master with All respect regardless of if their master is good and gentle or unreasonable, unjust, or overbearing.

The Lord created each person in our life. He created our parents, friends, siblings, and employers. He created the person who is going too slow in the fast lane. He created the drunk on the corner. He created the politician who opposes morality. The Lord doesn’t disrespect that which He creates. In fact, in Genesis 1:26,31, man (humankind) was created in God’s image and God looked upon His creation of man and saw that it was very good, suitable and pleasant. The amplified version even says that He approved of His creation. Therefore, if God approves of His creation and says it is good and pleasant and honorable, shouldn’t we then look on His creation (humankind) and respect it, no matter what?

As a Christ follower I am to first and foremost respect God (Malachi 1:6). Then, I am to carry that respect out to ALL His creation- not conditionally, but unconditionally.