Kindness and Respect
As I begin this sermon, I would like to point out that neither kindness nor respect requires you to AGREE with one another. Kindness comes from within you and how you treat others. The Bible is very clear that we are to exhibit kindness in all situations. Respect is required in that you give others the right to their own feelings, traditions, and rights. We all have personal opinions and they matter to us!
Kindness: the quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate.
Respect: One definition and the definition this sermon will focus on is “due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.”
A second definition is a “feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.” In other words, you respect their attributes and achievements, often admiring them for your perception of who and what they are, even if they aren’t godly at all. Christians need to be especially careful about admiring people who do not have ethics and morals (see last sermon) but rather liking them for secular reasons. We are not of this world for a very good reason!
As we enter into the last two months before an election, we need to be very cognizant of kindness and respect for the feelings and opinions of others. As a country and world, we are very POLARIZED in our differing beliefs and desires, thus personal prejudice rather than facts are often at the forefront in our decision-making. This is not godly or righteous in God’s eye, therefore we walk a slippery slope when we resort to name-calling and judging others based on our value system rather than understanding that God respects everyone equally. Regardless of whether or not we feel offended, it is His example we are called to follow…
Let’s take a universal view of this concept. What if God only cared for and liked people who did exactly as He's examples and desires? Where would you fall in His expectations of you? What if you could only be permitted into heaven IF you follow every precept (order/requirement) in the Bible and agree with every action God has ever taken in your life and in history? What if God acted like humans and called His children names or judged them on their societal norms, beliefs, and actions that aren’t condoned in the Bible? What if He hadn’t provided you mercy and grace, giving His only Son for YOUR salvation? It would be a desperate and sad situation for mankind.
However, when you are called upon to behave in a manner that simply respects another person’s right to their own opinion yet refuses to treat each person with kindness, then you cannot possibly have the very basics of godly principles etched into your heart. If you cannot show mercy and grace, then why do you expect God to show it to you? The Bible tells us we will be judged as we judge others. Matthew 7:1-5:
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
As you can see God takes humans judging other humans very seriously. Regardless of our different experiences, beliefs, and perceptions, He expects us to be KIND and treat each other with RESPECT. We are supposed to try and understand each other with “due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.” Although we should definitely know the difference between RIGHT and WRONG, living our lives to do right in the sight of God, and disrespecting the beliefs of others just as a daily course of behavior is not right.
One example of where people have a difficult time showing respect and kindness is the highly emotional subject of abortion. Many people cannot separate themselves from God abhorring murder to understanding that humans are commanded to respect the rights of others and leave the judgment and punishment to God. However, we are called upon to stand on the RIGHT side of these situations while not judging others who are not.
God will judge all of us on our behavior, thoughts, and actions. Especially in regard to PROTECTING CHILDREN; in and out of the womb. We all must be very careful not to condone or support any group of people who believe murder is OK. For those who argue the existence of a soul in a fetus, remember this scripture:
Jeremiah 1:4-5 “The word of the LORD came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
Psalm 139:16 “You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.
Galatians 1:15 “But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased.”
God has a plan for every living being allowed into existence. He has consecrated many of us into His service before inception in our mother’s womb. I am one of those. Most people who knew my very secular and materialistic nature prior to God bringing me into His service understand how His plan comes to fruition if we give ourselves, in full trust to know what’s best for us, giving ourselves completely over to His will.
However, if we destroy the life within us or condone murdering fetuses before birth, then we cannot possibly be in the will of God. This is not to say He won’t forgive you if you commit such an act, but He would expect you to learn from it and never do it again.
Although I digress for a moment, my point is that God will judge each of us for our actions on earth. We are not called to judge each other because we will judge based on our own personal feelings and beliefs, not necessarily on God’s. Without the proper kindness and respect towards each other, we cannot possibly stay in the will of God, let alone be seen as giving God our free will so He can enact His plan for our lives!
If you notice, I back up every statement I make with Bible scripture taken in the context it was written. If I give you my opinion, I will state it as follows. We, as His children, cannot expect to reap all of His rewards if we go against His teachings and commandments. The very core of His desire is that we love each other as He has loved us (unconditionally). Let us build on this love by being kind and respectful to each other, not turning our back on our beliefs when doing so, but letting God be the judge of the “trespasses of others.” The Lord’s prayer requires us to ask that our trespasses be forgiven as we forgive the trespasses of others. That is a very telling verse, and we need to pay full attention to it.
Using the example I gave above about abortion, I will not condone abortion, but I will still treat with kindness and respect the right of others to break the commandments of God. Whether or not I choose to help you is not dependent upon you believing, acting, or behaving like me. That’s between you and God, however, God does expect us to treat each other with consideration, love, and care (kindness and respect) therefore it is your relationship with God at risk when you choose to disrespect and unkindness instead. Think before you act. Amen.
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