"Do you think disrespect is an insult? It is not really. Don't ever take it personal. It is information."
Are we parents to thank an adult moron for this needed information?
That info given should tell you this brilliant impolite person in front of you has bery poor character, poor judgment, or deep insecurity. It tells you they are not really your people. Probably never was.
Just must move on. Shake the dust off your feet. Advance with rhe Lord to those who are open to truth.
Ever see a lion get angry when a sheep disapproves of its roar? It simply keeps walking. Be more like the lion of a tribe of Judah. Be yourself. Let your roar not go silent.
Treat rude unjust disrespect not as a wound, but as a compass that points you away from the wrong people.
What that old man said contains a measure of practical wisdom, but a Christian must filter every proverb through Scripture. The Bible does not teach prideful detachment, bitterness, or contempt for people. Yet it does teach discernment, endurance under mistreatment, and knowing when to step away from hardened rejection.
Jesus Himself was despised, rejected, mocked, falsely accused, betrayed, and dishonored. The apostles experienced the same. A mature believer learns not to be ruled by wounded pride, while also recognizing when someone’s behavior reveals the condition of their heart.
What speaks directly to this topic?:
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you.” — John 15:18 (NKJV)
“Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.” — Matthew 5:11
“A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you.” — John 15:20
“When He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously.” — 1 Peter 2:23
“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” — Romans 12:21
“As much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” — Romans 12:18
Doesn't mean you need to hang out like best friends when you have zero in common. When there's respect, you'd at least have rhe kids in common.
“Do not give (spiritual) dogs what is holy; and do not throw your pearls before (spiritual) swine..” — Matthew 7:6 #emph.mine
Jesus was not at all teaching hatred of people there, but discernment, hatred of evil thinking and behavior. There comes a point when truth is continually trampled over, mocked, and rejected. We aren't a cowtow
That connects with Christ’s instruction to His disciples from back in the day: Have you lived and shared the gospel?
“And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.” — Matthew 10:14
And The Apostle Paul eventually practiced this principle:
“Since you reject it.. and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.” — Acts 13:46
The believer’s response is not vengeance against pitiful lame brain people, self-pity, or I'm-the-boss kinda arrogance.. cuz we have one Top Boss. It is sorrow mixed with peace. You continue loving idiotic people as well as others who hold up the Palm, praying for them, speaking truth when appropriate and welcomed, but you never forcing yourself or his message on to anyone.. into places where Christ is continually despised and your witness is continually trampled on. I'm not saying anyone was pressuring or forcing anything.
Even within families, Jesus warned this type of tension and pain would happen:
“A man’s enemies will be those of his own household.” — Matthew 10:36
And:
“For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother..'” — Matthew 10:35
Not because Christ creates evil, but because truth exposes the condition of hearts.
What judgment begin with me judging my own heart and mind. Yes, at the same time, Scripture also warns us believers to examine ourselves humbly before God assuming all opposition is persecution for righteousness. Of course not all rejection and ill treatment is persecution:
“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.” — 1 Peter 4:15
Sometimes people reject us because we are zealous with a sense of urgency, or were harsh, proud, controlling, self-righteous, or lacked Christlike gentleness. A godly man asks the Lord honestly: “Is this rejection because of me or cuz of Christ, or because of something sinful or fleshly in me?”
If your conscience is totally clear before God, You might not have done anything wrong so then you just entrust the matter to Jesus. Doing my best, I commit the rest. That's all we do.
Need some relevant Christian edification on this subject:
From Charles Spurgeon:
“If to be hated by the world is to be like Christ, then count it no strange thing.”
From A. W. Tozer:
“The true follower of Christ will not ask, ‘If I embrace this truth, what will it cost me?’ Rather he will ask, ‘Can I afford to ignore this truth?’”
From Dietrich Bonhoeffer:
“Judging others makes us blind, whereas love is illuminating.”
That quote is important because reborn Christians must never drift into some stupid superiority complex (even if those surrounding you do). You know what I mean that better than thou attitude “lion versus sheep” mentality. Jesus is called the lion of the trube of Judah, not you. Scripture likens God’s people sheep too.. And those aren't the smartest animals around. The goal is not ego-strength but Christlikeness. As you obey the Lord, he will empower you to continue witnessing for him.
From Corrie ten Boom:
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”
And from Oswald Chambers:
“Whenever we are in the dark spiritually, it is because there is something in us which will not obey.”
That includes refusing to forgive.
So the biblical balance is this:
- Do not be stopped or crushed by disrespect.
- Do not idolize human approval.
- Do not retaliate in the flesh.
- Do not become cynical or proud.
- Continue loving, positively influencing, and praying.
- Exercise discernment about the hardened rejection of real heathen.
- Leave room for God to work.
- Sometimes the wisest thing is a quiet distance and peaceful entrusting of the matter to the Lord.
When your job of raising young ones is finished, consider it done. They are God's problem, not yours. Gracious Jesus was multiple times rejected by Spiritually blind fools, yet He continued on with his mission that the Father gave to him. He continued walking in truth, mercy, dignity, and obedience to the Father. That is the pattern for us believers.
In Scripture, honor is never treated as optional. God presents respect as something noble, righteous, and fitting, while disrespect reveals something dark within the human heart. To respect another person is to recognize the value, dignity, position, or wisdom God has allowed them to carry. It is closely tied to humility, gratitude, reverence, courtesy, and honor. Disrespect, by contrast, refuses to give proper honor where honor is due. It belittles, dismisses, mocks, or devalues people made in the image of God.
The Bible commands believers to “give honor to whom honor is due” (Romans 13:7). Respect is not merely a cultural custom; it is part of godly character. Throughout Scripture, four groups especially are to be treated with honor: elders, authority figures, the Lord Jesus Christ, and people in general.
Older people are to be respected because age often brings wisdom, experience, and perspective. God commanded His people, “You shall rise before the gray headed and honor the presence of an old man” (Leviticus 19:32). A society that mocks or discards its elderly reveals hardness of heart. Paul instructed young Timothy not to speak harshly to older men, but to appeal to them respectfully, as a son would speak to his father (1 Timothy 5:1). Respect for elders is, in many ways, respect for the wisdom God can give through years of life.
The Bible also teaches respect for authority. Civil leaders, parents, faithful church leaders, and others entrusted with responsibility are to be treated honorably. This does not mean authorities are perfect or beyond accountability, but God is a God of order, not rebellion. Even difficult authorities are not an excuse for sinful disrespect. Scripture says servants were to show respect not only to kind masters, but also to harsh ones (1 Peter 2:18). This reflects the heart of Christ, who remained righteous even when treated unjustly.
Above all, Jesus Christ deserves the highest honor from every human being. Yet when He came into the world, many responded to Him with contempt, rejection, and hatred. In His own hometown He was dishonored and dismissed. In the parable of the vineyard tenants, the beloved son sent by the owner represents Christ Himself. Rather than respecting him, the wicked tenants cast him out and killed him (Matthew 21:33–40). Humanity’s rejection of Christ was the greatest act of disrespect ever committed, and Scripture warns that those who harden themselves against God’s Son will answer to God Himself.
The Bible also teaches that every human being possesses dignity because mankind was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Even unbelievers are not to be treated with contempt. Christians are commanded to show kindness, gentleness, and honor toward all people. First Peter 2:17 summarizes this beautifully: “Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.” Respect should mark the believer’s speech, conduct, and attitude, even when sharing truth with those who disagree.
The problem of disrespect often becomes especially visible in the home. Disrespectful children are not born that way accidentally. Scripture teaches that foolishness is bound up in the human heart because of sin (Psalm 51:5; Romans 3:23). Children must therefore be lovingly trained, corrected, and guided toward wisdom. Parents are not merely called to manage behavior, but to shepherd hearts.
Under the Old Testament law, persistent rebellion and hardened dishonor toward parents were treated with terrifying seriousness (Deuteronomy 21:18–21). This shows how deeply God values order, obedience, and honor within the family. A rebellious household eventually weakens an entire society. Proverbs says, “A child left to himself brings shame to his mother” (Proverbs 29:15). Loving discipline, though painful at times, helps rescue children from the destructive path of selfishness and rebellion.
Children primarily learn respect in two ways: through loving correction and through example. Parents who speak respectfully, listen carefully, honor grandparents, and treat others with dignity are quietly teaching their children how to live. Hypocrisy destroys this lesson. A father who demands honor while acting dishonorably confuses the child. Respect must be modeled before it can truly be expected.
Wise parents also understand the importance of consistency. Empty threats, uncontrolled anger, and endless arguments weaken authority and create confusion. Children need loving boundaries, clear expectations, and dependable consequences. Discipline should not be cruel, explosive, or humiliating, but steady, truthful, and rooted in genuine care for the child’s soul.
At the same time, children should know they are heard and valued. Respectful parenting is not weakness. It means treating children as image-bearers of God while still maintaining God-given authority. When parents listen patiently and respond wisely, they teach children how respectful communication works.
Modern culture often celebrates self-expression without self-control and entitlement without humility. Many children are raised to believe life revolves around their feelings, preferences, and desires. Scripture teaches the opposite. Human beings exist for God’s glory, not for self-worship (Colossians 1:16). Philippians 2:3 commands believers to reject selfish ambition and instead humbly value others above themselves.
Respect ultimately grows out of humility. It requires us to acknowledge that we are not the center of the universe. It reminds us that other people matter, that authority matters, that truth matters, and above all, that God matters.
A respectful child is far more likely to become a respectful adult, but some never do. And a respectful adult is far more prepared to bow before His higher Authority, the Lord, with reverence, gratitude, obedience, and worship.
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