“I get no respect!”
Some of you may remember one of the great comedians of all time, Rodney Dangerfield. One of Rodney’s favorite lines was, “I get no respect.” It seemed that no matter what this poor guy did, he just couldn’t find any respect. Aretha Franklin put it like this in her signature song, “All I want is a little respect.” We all want to be respected.
Sometimes treating people with respect is in short supply. We’ve witnessed boatloads of disrespect in recent months. This blemish on our society has reached epic proportions as election day approaches. In the next few days, about half the country will be elated, and the other half will be upset. Neither result is an acceptable excuse to treat one another disrespectfully. As such, it is good for us to adhere to specific standards of conduct. I’d like to share a handful of those qualities.
The first is perhaps the most important. We are to appreciate one another simply because, as human beings, we are created in the image of God. Yes, we all do a lot to deface that image, but we are, nevertheless, the brainchild of the God of the Universe. This fact alone makes everyone respect-worthy.
It is important to note that Jesus Christ encountered all kinds of people; good people and bad people, trustworthy chaps and shifty characters, people who liked Him, and people who hated him. He conversed with people of the entire spectrum. He was comfortable talking with prostitutes and embezzlers while also debating with those in powerful positions. Somehow, Jesus did not cross the line into the realm of treating others disrespectfully. Is it not incumbent upon followers of Jesus to act accordingly?
There is a second reason for respect. There is respect derived from position. For instance, wise Biblical writer, the Apostle Paul, instructed husbands and wives to respect one another and children to honor their parents. Jesus encountered Roman soldiers, whom many Jews of His day despised, yet, He treated the occupiers, those in authority, with civility. Even at His trial, Jesus reacted to His accusers with deference. Christians are instructed in the New Testament to give respect to those in authority. There is implied respect due to those in certain positions. All of us occupy some kind of situation for which consideration is due from others.
“Respect must be earned.” This is a true axiom. I’ve always expressed it, “if you want to be respected, then treat people respectfully.” It is indeed challenging to offer admiration towards liars, cheaters, and such. We’ve all witnessed instances of people we thought were worthy of high esteem, only to discover they were living inconsistent lives. They quickly lose our respect. But, unfortunately, we all walk in those shoes at times.
In times like these, it is possible and, perhaps common, to treat others disrespectfully for invalid reasons. For instance, differing opinions, opposite ends of the political spectrum, opposing parties, occupancy of states we don’t like, and different healthcare views are not valid reasons to treat others with contempt. We can find ourselves acting improperly towards friends, family members, and anyone we deem in need of an education. Even if we are speaking the truth, we should do it with love and respect.
It is easy to exaggerate and distort matters when trying to make a point. We can make “truthful” deductions, which we have no way of knowing the veracity of these claims. We can fill in uninformed gaps in knowledge with false assumptions. We can bowl over others because we feel strongly about an issue. Unkind words can erupt from our mouths. Comments that should be left unspoken or not even considered in the first place. Jesus’ brother, James, implored that the tongue is a restless evil. “6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6 NLT) It is a mark of wisdom and maturity to choose one’s words carefully.
Let’s set our “respect” standard high and treat others accordingly. Another of Jesus good friends, the Apostle Peter, exhorted us with these words “Show proper respect to everyone, . . .” None of us should have to lay claim to Rodney’s lament, “I get no respect.”
Now for the disclaimer: I have chosen to express my opinion on a very controversial subject. As such, I am in no way proposing we all disregard our firmly held convictions and beliefs about these matters. Nor am I discouraging robust debate. I am suggesting that we will never solve the issues that presently confront us if we cannot offer one another respect. For those of us who are followers of Christ, we are obliged to offer a high standard of conduct while engaging others, even when handling the most controversial issues.
