Reflection on RESPECT

By the Moderator, Rev Bruce Moore

Respect is a word that we throw around way too easy in life. If we are honest, I am sure we would all like to think that we have the respect of someone else.  But is respect something that we can intentionally create?   What causes us to have respect for someone else?

Times that stick out to me the most are when I have lost the respect for someone else, someone that I had looked up to, that I had really respected!  My experience is that when respect is broken or lost it undermines the basic principles of what makes relationships great.

I can recall a time when someone I knew was very outspoken about a particular matter and a position that we should all hold. What I experienced of them in person was that they lived a very different story and in fact quite the opposite to what they were espousing, very quickly undermining any respect that I had for them.

I can also recall another time when I witnessed a person unfairly and unjustly treating someone else, showing very little respect through strong prejudices they held and preconceived biases that quickly judged the person and situation. This very quickly caused me to lose any respect that I might have had for them.

Watching the Paris Olympics and recognising the huge sacrifice each of the athletes have had to make to represent their country fosters up all sorts of feelings and images of respect.  Particularly when you get an insight into some of their personal sacrifices and the huge commitment both they and their support networks have had to make in representing their country at this level.

A notable Australian story that sticks out in my mind takes me back to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.  Cathy Freeman, one of our First Nations Athletes.  Her victory in the 400m track event still stands as one of the greatest moments in Australian Olympic history. With the weight of expectations from the entire country, and a career where she experienced racism first-hand on a daily basis, Freeman still rose to the occasion to deliver a stunning victory, that still holds deep the respect of most Australians today.

The Biblical story that is captured in words of Peter during times of great persecution reminds us to “Show proper respect to everyone, show love for our family or those from our community of support, fear God, and give honour to those in authority”.  There is a fundamental life principle reflected here that all people are created in the image of God and therefore, carry intrinsic worth and respect. Showing proper respect to everyone, acknowledging that everyone matters to God and deserves to be given dignity.

This type of respect is not defined by status, background or beliefs, but demands that everyone deserves respect. This means that when we treat others with kindness, actively listening and seeking to understand their story, valuing their contributions and perspective, this is what gives respect.

Respect is about recognizing the worth and dignity of every individual. It involves valuing others’ opinions, feelings, and rights, even when they might differ from our own. Respect is not just about being courteous, it’s about genuinely appreciating the diversity, value and uniqueness of each person. Respect is essential for nurturing a harmonious and just world that we all desire to live in. The way God intended and created it to be.

We all want respect, but it starts with each of us showing respect for others. Jesus said, “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:35.) The way we love, demonstrates who we are. The way we live, is the first word we speak about the Gospel and the transformational power of what it means to live in relationship with our God, the way God intended it to be.  Let’s show Respect!