Opus 2011-260, Immortal Quotes: With All Due Respect

By this time in your life you have heard the joke about the judge threatening a mouthy defendant with holding him in contempt of court.  The man responds that he does have a lot of contempt for the court.  Funny.  Reflects reality.  We also hear people start an insulting comment with the words, “In all due respect...”  I did it myself recently.  Again.

Really, how much respect is due?

Our modern, or should I say, post-modern, culture makes a big deal about “respect.”  Of course they have polluted the meaning.  I tell the kids at school that respect is earned.  They have been taught that it is deserved.  They think children should be respected.  I tell them "Nonsense."  Children can often only be tolerated.  That is why the old saying is “Children should be seen and not heard.”  It is not “Children should be respected and listened to.”  Post-modern teaching is to respect the unrespectable.  Of course you would not want to spend much time around the children of these people, if they have any.

The Bible is big on patience, kindness and forgiveness.  It does refer to respect but not the way our current culture seems to do so.  Do people deserve to be the focus of the fruit of the Spirit in our lives?  Yes.  Do they deserve respect?  No.

Go ahead and use the cliche.  Everyone knows that when you say “With all due respect...” you really mean, “I spit on you.”  It is one of those strange things about human language.  But don’t let your life use the cliche.  Be patient.  Be kind.  Forgive.  How did Jesus put it?

(Matthew 5:39-41 KJV)  But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.  And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also.  And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.

That is not respect.  That is agape. 

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