“Respect is like air. As long as it’s present, nobody thinks about it. But if you take it away, it’s all that people can think about.” Kerry Patterson

No-one wants to be “dis”d (short for “disrespected”). When others disrespect us, it makes us feel a bunch of other “dis”s:

~Discouraged/disheartened—We lose hope or the will to try. Our hearts and minds tell us, “Why try?  Why continue?  Why do/say this good thing if it doesn’t even matter or help?”

~Disregarded—(logical outcome of the above) “Why bother if it doesn’t mean anything to them?”

~Distressed— anxious, sorrowful, hurt—disrespect from others really wounds us—which causes us to fear when and where the next “cut” will come from.

~Disappointed— we expected better but got let down—especially when a friend or loved one doesn’t respect us.

~Disabled—we lose confidence in our own skill and/or ability to accomplish anything important.

~Disenchanted—we become cynical about this and other relationships—“Why even invest in them if they’re not going to respect who I am or what I have to say?”

~Disenfranchised— left out; ostracized; isolated—especially in a group/team where other people’s ideas and opinions are heard and congratulated, while ours are ignored, as though we didn’t exist.

~Distasteful— like we’re unattractive and unworthy—“There must be something really wrong with me if the/no-one wants to listen to me!”

~Disdained—rejected— “Why offer this good thing/good words just to have someone ignore it, reject it, or even take it wrong?!” And since what we have to offer is part of US, WE feel personally rejected!

~Disgraced— ashamed, out of favor—“Have I offended this person/these people?  Have I transgressed or committed something taboo, so that they reject me and anything I have to say?”

~Disagreeable— bad-tempered and irritable—let’s face it, disrespect gets under our skin and makes us more prone to spreading our bad feelings like a contagious disease!

–>All for good reason! And this list could continue!

In the English language – “dis—“ is a negative prefix.  It turns anything positive into something negative…….  Disrespect, by its very nature, cannot produce good outcomes.

“But what about hardened criminals?  Cruel dictators?  Scum-of-the-earth individuals who inflict unspeakable evil on innocent people who can’t defend themselves?!”  How and why should we respect someone like that?! 

We can disagree with wrong ideas. We can disapprove of wrong attitudes and behavior. In fact, we should discern right from wrong, and call harmful thoughts, words, and actions what they are. 

And, wherever possible, we are called on to call out others on them. Scripture even warns us that if we see wrongdoing and don’t address it, we’ll be held accountable (Ezek. 3:18-19).

But HOW we do that matters. If we confront someone disrespectfully, or, worse yet, disrespect them from afar, they certainly aren’t going to be helped by it or feel any motivation to change!

If we treat them with respect, however, they’re more likely to receive our admonition and rebuke.  It’s not that we respect what they do or say.  We may only be able to respect them for the one reason that they were made in God’s image, like we were. That alone gives them enough value for us to treat their personhood with respect.

Keeping this in mind helps us to “speak the truth in love [part of which is respect]” (Eph. 4:15)

Plus, Rom. 12:18 exhorts us:  “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”  Disrespect directly sabotages living at peace—having good relationships—with others!  Remember that list above?  Would you have warm, fuzzy, peaceful, regard for anyone who made you feel that way?

Ultimately, Jesus commanded us to “treat one another as you want to be treated”.  Lk. 10:27 Let the Golden Rule rule our attitudes.

So, with “all due respect”, I’d say respect is due to all!

How can you show respect to someone today?