Respecting Those We Disagree With
Recently, Donald Trump created waves when he made some extremely critical remarks after the tragic murder of filmmaker Rob Reiner and his wife.
My intention is not to comment specifically on his comments, the views of Trump, or the politics of Reiner.
As unfortunate as that event was, it is also a challenge to all of us concerning how we treat others we disagree with. This was an extreme example but it is just a magnification of the struggle many people go through every day.
How do we treat people who we disagree with? Are we able to treat them with respect?
Some people fear that treating someone they disagree with in a respectful way could give the impression of condoning their views. It is felt that they only way to be true to one’s own convictions is to attack those with different convictions.
Jesus offers us a different path. Jesus calls us to love our enemies.
Some might point out examples of when Jesus took a firm stand against opponents and even called them names.
There is a big difference from what Jesus said and did and what we see from Christians online. Jesus got angry specifically with people who were responsible for injustice against others. There is a place for righteous anger.
What we don’t find with Jesus is him getting angry with others for simply having different convictions. Jesus did not see people as objects for attacks but as human beings to love.
What is the lesson for the church?
We must be aware that social media rewards outrage and extreme views. If you treat others with disrespect and hatred, you will most likely receive a lot of attention. You might even become a bit of celebrity. People might look at you as someone who refuses to compromise.
The question we have to ask is: What could be the benefit of treating others with respect?
Consider the example of Billy Graham. Graham was hated by some corners of the church. The reason? He treated others, including those he disagreed with, with respect. This opened doors for Graham for ministry, allowing him opportunities that would have been impossible if he treated others with contempt.
Rather than seeing others as people to attack, we should look for ways to treat people, all people, with respect. This does not diminish our own convictions nor is it weakness. The strongest people who are confident enough to be respectful to those we disagree with.
