FROM THE PASTOR’S HEART
OP / ED BY DR. ROBERT KENNEDY
It is hard for me to appreciate the level of disrespect occurring worldwide. Yet, I know that some individuals frame the attitudes on display in the halls of the American Congress, in classrooms, and on the streets of the nation as the fulfillment of the biblical prophecy that says, “But know this, that in the last days, perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.” (2 Timothy 3:1-4 NKJV)
I am sure such a prophecy is not intended to lead us to complacency or make us think that we should not be courteous and give honor to those around us.
Whenever I hear members of the US Congress “threatening” witnesses or using words like “liars” to departmental leaders or other persons invited to answer questions in investigations or oversight hearings, it grieves my spirit. I know someone might want to tell me that the attitudes of disrespect, discourtesy, incivility, contemptuousness, impoliteness, and coarseness that are issued in the insults and profanities on display are part of the gimmickry of contemporary politics. Yes, it might be part of the game, but it is clear that if what is on display is normalized, then we can be sure that we are on a sloop that will soon lead to the bottom of a pit where all of us will be in the most disgusting mess we have ever envisioned.
If I am talking politically or philosophically, let me be practical by reminding us that God does not desire us to live like wild animals attacking and tearing the flesh of each other but that we should live in civility and respect one another. When writing to the Christian community in Rome, the apostle Paul reminded them to “honor to one another.” (Romans 12:10lp). “Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.” (Romans 13:7 ESV).
Interestingly, Paul was giving such instructions to the Christians in Rome then. If he were around today, he would have given the same instruction with greater emphasis because of the many Christians caught up in the culture of disrespect practiced in Congress and other places across the land. While we might argue that those doing such things are not a majority of Christians, they are loud enough and prominent enough to give a negative face to all Christians.
Many people say that the brand they are bringing to Christians allows many in the secular world to think that Christianity is not something one should be associated with. Instead of uplifting others and honoring them as the Bible admonishes, these Christians, prompted by their instincts, are tearing them down.
The instructions concerning honoring others are not just good for Christians. As I have said, it is practical for the survival of the community in which we must live. Even if it is not considered suitable for politics, we must acknowledge and appreciate that our society will only last if we can respect and honor one another.
Our belief in individualism might make us think we can bruise and hurt one another without consequence. But that is like “going up fools hill.” We are responsible for each other and responsible to each other and God, and we cannot disrespect one another without consequence. Disrespect has consequences. Therefore, whatever we give, we will receive, and worst of all, our children will pay.
I want to pause to ask how we can give preferences to one another. How can we strive to be a blessing to those around us? How can we let them know that we care and that they are important to our existence? Here are seven suggestions:
- Learn to love. You cannot honor others if you do not know love.
- Watch your prejudices. One of the most significant stumbling blocks to honoring others is our prejudices.
- Learn humility. Honoring others demands humility.
- Learn forgiveness. If we harp on the wrongs done to us we will never learn respect for others.
- Learn patience. When we are always in a rush and have no patience, we cannot honor those who are about us.
- Cast aside fear. Fear is a huge tool that the devil has in his toolbox. It drives a wedge between people and does not allow us to know each other.
- Learn to listen: It is noted how much we are being taught to shout down each other these days instead of listening to each other. This is why we cannot understand each other.
Yes, we have many lessons to learn in honoring one another, but if we do not learn and practice them, we will all be destroyed. And it is not to be just a matter of mutual survival it is what God requires of us.
