1 Timothy 6:1-2

Undefined words are useless for communication. To say that something is “cool” will mean nothing without a common understanding of what the word cool means, and the hippie said, “I am cool with that.” The statement, “Paul taught that a Christian is respectful to everyone” will result in misunderstanding if everyone uses a different definition of the word “respect.”

Respect as a noun can mean a feeling of deep admiration or regard. It can also carry the definition of due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others, and with this understanding is often used as a substitute for politeness or tact. When Paul told Timothy that slaves should respect their masters, he was not using the definition of deep admiration; he was using it in the context of politeness and due regard for the feeling of others. Paul could not have meant that Christians admire or hold everyone in esteem. Therefore, to say that a Christian is respectful to everyone means that a Christian is polite to and considerate of the feelings of everyone.

Paul’s truth that Christians are always respectful convicted me. Autism disconnects me emotionally from people, and I maintain relationships through the process of reason. When I get emotional, I struggle to apply reason and sometimes revert to treating people as things, and not persons. It is almost impossible to be respectful to others while at the same time emotionally experiencing them as objects. I cannot change my emotional wiring; that is what it means for me to be autistic. However, God has convicted me that I need to make greater efforts to control my emotions and the behavior that arises out of them. Jesus spoke of being angry and not sinning. It is not easy, but it is possible.

Being respectful as a Christian does not result in weakness. A Christian must be strong when standing up for what is right, while at the same time being considerate of the feelings of those they are opposing. When necessary, Christians respectfully say, “No!”