Respect.
I thought this ought to be a good lesson to talk to Christians about. We are saved by the blood of Jesus, yes, but we’re still humans. We still have that tendency to sin and backslide on many fronts. I heard a sermon a few days back on this topic, and it kinda dug at me, because I understood the implications of respecting men.
Christians, give too much thought as to what people think of us. We cave in to gain the approval of peers or random people alike, and the bible denounces this. God called you to rebuke sin regardless of how you feel towards the perpetrators.
But first, what is respect?
Dictionary definition states:
“A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by abilities, qualities or position in society”
Straight from the get go we see what respect means. It’s described as a sort of approval of someone, if we respect a person we sort of hold their opinions or actions in high regard. Even if the respected person does something that offends us, or goes against our creed we are more adept to give an ear to them or give them some leeway.
With that being said, who should a Christian respect? Who exactly are we to hold in high regard and obey? The bible says God. In fact, the bible goes further to illustrate that we are to fear him. Respect yes, but fear him. The problem is, we don’t , more often than not we substitute the instructions of God for the approval of men. Some of us even fear men, that in and of itself is foolish, the bible describes fearing men as entering a snare (Proverbs 29:25)
In Deuteronomy 16:19, we see how stern God is in his commandments to the judges he appointed in those days. He warns them not to distort justice, and not to show partiality to anyone. Obviously, we aren’t in those positions of power as they were in those days, but we are righteous, he has separated us from the world. We ought not to show a hint of partiality to anyone when denouncing sin, not even to a fellow Christian who calls the name of God, once sin is spotted you denounce it regardless of who the person is.
2 Chronicles 19:7
“Consider what you’re doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD who is with you when you render Judgement. Now let the fear of the LORD be upon you, be very careful what you do, for the LORD our God will have no part in unrighteousness or partiality”
According to the bible verse above we see that when we rebuke sin, God is with us. When we walk up to someone who is doing something wrong and we denounce whatever action is being committed at that time God is with you. If that person complains that you’re admonishing them, understand that is what God wants them to hear. Which is exactly why I laugh off people who tell me rebuking sin is driving people away from Christianity. God removes weeds from his garden, if someone rebukes your sin and you walk away from the faith feeling annoyed and spiteful, you’re part of the weeds he seeks to separate from his prize crop.
The second part the verse warns us, we ought to look at how that verse is structured. The first part instructs, the latter warns. It states “Let the fear of the Lord be upon you” which is essential because, without the fear of Lord, his punishment of sins is virtually non-existent in our minds. I really don’t believe Christians today fear God. I honestly can’t assume we do, due to the honest fact that we don’t rebuke sin. God doesn’t have a part in unrighteousness or iniquity, and that should tell any “Gay Christian” that they’re fooling themselves.
I was reading a Pastor’s article the other day and he claimed, Jesus would accept gay Christians. It was way too clear to me, that he valued people’s opinions and that he belittled God’s. I wasn’t surprised but I was concerned. If a pastor, who not only claims to be born-again but stands up to spread the word of God from the pulpit, claims that Christians can be gay, what else can he claimed that God allows?
Now I understand that nowadays if you dare to call out homosexuality for what it really is (God describes it as a sin against nature… I need not elaborate on the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah) you’ll be slammed with various terms and insults from men, but we choose to let that get to us. Don’t be a respecter of persons, concern yourself only with the word of God and you’ll find favour with him. (Proverbs 24:23-25)
Whether it’s our parents we see doing something wrong or that person you regard a close friend, you are not to hold back when reprimanding them, because God is with us at that moment it time. He can use that instance to see if truly you follow him or not. If you’re someone who retreats from sharp rebuke he’ll retreat from answering your prayers. He doesn’t favour cowards at all. If at all a Christian fears the words of men more than he/she fears the word of God, that person is better suited to follow the world. He is much better off in there than to fool himself that he is a follower of God.
Don’t be a respecter of persons.
christianminds 