respect continued . . .

Perhaps it’s a case of dealing with people in a respectful way.. . Respecting them as humans . . . we may or may not agree with them or their actions, but we can’t love them if we treat them like dirt.

They'll Know They Are Christians By Their Respect?

I read a nice article recently which can be found at http://www.christianitytoday.com/globalconversation/february2010/


Then I was thinking about the few things that I hold on to as some sort of understanding of the real real. These are simple things like, there is a God and I’m not God. And, all people are of value because we are all made in the image of God. That according to Romans 13:8 I’m not to owe anyone anything except the debt of love, therefore I owe love.


Then I was thinking that if I love someone, it would seem like part of that love is respect. In other words if I love someone I would also respect them. The scriptures teach us to love other believers as well as those who don’t believe. And since we’re also told to love our enemies it seems there is no left to ‘not’ love.


This brings me to a frustration I have with those who claim to be followers of Jesus when they make cheap jokes at whatever religious or political opponent that is not their own. Cheap jokes and rude comments show no sense of respect for that person and/or group of people. For instance if I decided that I didn’t like people who didn’t wear hats and made cheap comments and jokes about people who didn’t wear hats saying something like, ‘sure they’re stupid they don’t cover their head with a hat so they freeze their brain in the winter and cook it in the summer by letting the sun beat down on it.’ This shows neither love nor respect for people without hats.


People do this same type of cheap jokes about people in the political party that is not their own. The scriptures say that people will know those who follow Jesus by their love. If it’s true that love and respect go together, then it could also be said, “They’ll be known by their respect for others.” It’s too easy respecting only those that agree with you, because it’s little more than respecting yourself. If that’s all one is doing, it’s a sad thing.