R-E-S-P-E-C-T
I remembering growing up listening to Aretha Franklin’s song in the 60s.
For her it became her signature song.
It was a groundbreaking female empowerment anthem of the late 1960s.
She wanted her husband to simply show her the respect she deserved.
But I feel that the words can still speak to us some 60 years later about what is happening in America in a different context.
It seems that in the last four years our nation has lost respect.
Respect for what our nation has stood for over the years and respect of the individual’s rights to share their views openly and freely.
Social media perhaps has caused some of the lack of respect.
The many different forms have given people a platform where they think they can freely berate and argue with people who have differing opinions about social and political issues than themselves.
But what is respect?
Respect is defined as a way of treating or thinking about something or someone.
It conveys a sense of admiration for good or valuable qualities.
If you respect your teacher, you admire them and treat them with respect.
People often respect others who are impressive for any reason, such as being in authority like a teacher, police officer or being older like a grandparent.
I was raised in a world where we respected each other and believed laws and common decency were important for everyone.
We learned the basic social guidelines for respect as children.
As we were growing up our parents told us to play nice, share with others, say please, thank you, and you’re welcome.
For me these lay the foundation for respectful relationships.
These basics, combined with community consensus about respectful behavior, should define our standards to guide our interactions.
We actually believed it was wrong to burn buildings, loot, attack police and innocent people.
I’m trying to understand what happened over the past few months when people chose to express their feelings in this manner.
I suppose we were radicals for our day and time.
Imagine a society where people believed such crazy things.
Sure isn’t the world we live in now.
We must truly start treating everyone fairly and equally we must first learn to respect one another as human beings.
One should always show respect by being polite and kind.
What does the Scriptures say about respect?
The Apostle Peter wrote to the early church when there was division amongst them on issues.
“Show proper respect to everyone, love the family of believers, and fear God.” 1 Peter 2:17
The Apostle Paul wrote to the believers in Rome, “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Romans 12:9-11
But, what do other religions say about respect?
According to the Quran, respect begins with loving and obeying the commandments of God.
From this respect flows all the manners and high standards of morality that are inherent in Islam.
“And whosoever obeys God and His Messenger, fears God, and keeps his duty (to Him), such are the successful ones.” Quran 24:52
What does Buddhism say about respect?
Buddhism teaches respect for other people ahead of you on the path of life.
Secondly it teaches respect for one’s self.
Thus, requirements for respect must be considered from both a social and individual perspective.
All the major religions have some form of the Golden Rule.
The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others as you want to be treated.
Below are just a few.
Christianity: In everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you. For this sums up the law and the prophet.
Buddhism: Do not offend others as you would not want to be offended.
Islam: None of you are true believers until you love for your brother what you love for yourself.
Judaism: What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor. This is the whole Torah; all the rest is commentary.
Confucianism: Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you.
Thus if our nation is to heal and become one again, we must stop doing what both sides at doing which is dividing us and separating us.
We need to start practicing what we preach and start walking the walk and quit talking the talk.
As for me, I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and that is being respectful to people and kind as well agree to disagree and go to bed at night and be able to lay down and sleep knowing I did right regardless of what others may be doing.
Rev. Chlastak is a graduate of Northeast Louisiana University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and has served congregations of the Christian Church in Louisiana, Arkansas, Virginia, Oklahoma and Missouri. He believes that God’s love in Christ extends to all people, and that ours should also.