This lack of respect comes from the top of our government and trickles down to the governed. There’s a lack of respect for women, for people of color, for people from third world countries, for our allies, for our enemies, for the poor, for people with different ideas, and finally for the truth.
Yet the Bible makes it clear that stable societies are built around respect. The Bible commands us to;
Honor our parents,;
Exodus 20:12 (NLT2) “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
Respect civil authority,
1 Peter 2:13 (NLT2) For the Lord’s sake, respect all human authority—whether the king as head of state,
Respect church leaders;
Hebrews 13:17 (NLT2) Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.
Wives are called to respect husbands;
Ephesians 5:33 (NLT2) So again I say, each man must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Husbands are called to respect wives;
Ephesians 5:25 (NLT2) For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her
Just to make it clear that God leaves no one out, the Bible also tells us to “show proper respect to everyone”
1 Peter 2:17 (NLT2) Respect everyone, and love your Christian brothers and sisters. Fear God, and respect the king.
Everyone, regardless of beliefs, behaviors, gender or color is worthy of respect.
God made everyone.
Psalm 8:3-8 GNT When I look at the sky, which you have made, at the moon and the stars, which you set in their places— what are human beings, that you think of them; mere mortals, that you care for them? Yet you made them inferior only to yourself; you crowned them with glory and honor. You appointed them rulers over everything you made; you placed them over all creation: sheep and cattle, and the wild animals too; the birds and the fish and the creatures in the seas.(emphasis mine)
God doesn’t make mistakes, junk, or anything worthless. No one is worthless. People make wrong decisions, but they are still valuable to God. Even the most unlovable person in the world is loved by God.
Jesus died for everyone.
1 Peter 1:17-18 (NLT2)17 And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as “foreigners in the land.”18 For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver.
You may not place much value in certain people, but God does. In fact, he says every person you meet is worth dying for.
The Bible tells us that God is love. If you know God, you’ll fill your life with love. It shows you know God. It also says that if you don’t love, if your life is not filled with love that you don’t know God.
1 John 4:7-8 (NLT2)7 Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (emphasis mine)
You’ll get back whatever you give out. It’s the law of the harvest. Whatever goes around comes around. If you want to be respected, treat other people with respect.
Galatians 6:7 (GW) Make no mistake about this: You can never make a fool out of God. Whatever you plant is what you'll harvest.
When we love each other, we become “eager to show respect for each other (
Romans 12:10 (GW) Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other.