You Should Have More Respect For Your Elders!
- Thread starter JimJimmers
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N
I voted "other" (in case you couldn't tell). First of all, respect has to be earned, so to respect any and all persons older than you is probably not possible. And there are people in our lives aside from our churches who deserve and have earned our respect. However there are definitely elders who do not deserve respect. This does not mean we aren't to be polite and show common courtesy.
next?
next?
M
In my opinion the meaning could quite possible be "respect those who are older than yourself." Respect not necessarily meaning to follow and believe anything that an older person says, but to acknowledge that they have more experiences than you and in most cases more wisdom. I have dismissed advice from parents and other elders many times, only to discover in the fullness of time that there was more wisdom in the counsel than I had guessed.
Job 12:12 - "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"
Job 12:12 - "Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?"
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I love this post, what with verging on being old and all. To get an idea of just how old a person can be in relation to today's youth and young adults, allow me to share my experience some. As a child growing up in Southern California, I was taught to rise when any elder came into the room. When introduced to any adult I was to bow. Does that sound unlikely? Well it is true.
As for respecting all elders, I do not always expect it, and hardly ever feel I am getting any respect except with the family in Yeshua. Many do not repect elders in the site, but the sources considered, it is easy to overlook for much of the time it is not intentional, although I have been known to point out this privilege when some have gone beyond the pail.
All elders should be respected, though many seem to not deserve it. The pivotal word here is seem. We do not know the experience of others. We should never presume that an elder is wrong even when being rude to youngers, though they should not. I know many of the posts and ideas go through me heart and soul in the room here strictly because of my own experience, but understanding stops any commentary on the subject. It is best to stick to the general teachings of the Master than to try to enforce personal feelings.
Do everything for the Master, and there will be a lot less bumps in the way given you. I will try to do the same.
As for respecting all elders, I do not always expect it, and hardly ever feel I am getting any respect except with the family in Yeshua. Many do not repect elders in the site, but the sources considered, it is easy to overlook for much of the time it is not intentional, although I have been known to point out this privilege when some have gone beyond the pail.
All elders should be respected, though many seem to not deserve it. The pivotal word here is seem. We do not know the experience of others. We should never presume that an elder is wrong even when being rude to youngers, though they should not. I know many of the posts and ideas go through me heart and soul in the room here strictly because of my own experience, but understanding stops any commentary on the subject. It is best to stick to the general teachings of the Master than to try to enforce personal feelings.
Do everything for the Master, and there will be a lot less bumps in the way given you. I will try to do the same.
A
you should respect everyone old or young and treat them with love. However respect and love does not mean you have to agree with everything they say.
1 Peter 5
[h=3][/h][SUP]5 [/SUP]Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”[SUP][b][/SUP]
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, [SUP]7 [/SUP]casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
[h=3]Titus 2[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: [SUP]2 [/SUP]that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; [SUP]3 [/SUP]the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— [SUP]4 [/SUP]that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [SUP]5 [/SUP]to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, [SUP]7 [/SUP]in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[SUP][a][/SUP] [SUP]8 [/SUP]sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.[SUP][b][/SUP]
1 Peter 5
[h=3][/h][SUP]5 [/SUP]Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for
“God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”[SUP][b][/SUP]
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, [SUP]7 [/SUP]casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
[h=3]Titus 2[/h]New King James Version (NKJV)
2 But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: [SUP]2 [/SUP]that the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience; [SUP]3 [/SUP]the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— [SUP]4 [/SUP]that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [SUP]5 [/SUP]to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
[SUP]6 [/SUP]Likewise, exhort the young men to be sober-minded, [SUP]7 [/SUP]in all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,[SUP][a][/SUP] [SUP]8 [/SUP]sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.[SUP][b][/SUP]
P
This post is definitely a very sensible and important for me as well. The problem is when our decisions may contradict with elders which may create a disconnect, and mostly gets perceived as disrespect. I somehow always leave such situations in God's hands. Its tricky, considering we being young have chances of not realizing the gravity of issues at the same time we could also be right, and perhaps elders get too protective. Spirit's interference helps as It drives us towards right decisions while everybody is respected. Apart from these tricky situations I always find it really fruitful to respect my elders.
I agree with this, but I also think respect goes both ways. I had a boss one time who, since she was "older and wiser" and had "been there longer" than me (a Christian, mind you) that she could control everything and micro-manage me because I apparently didn't know any better and I couldn't understand the Holy Spirit as she does (her words, not mine). She had that attitude with any person who hadn't been there as long as her, which is technically everyone besides herself and her husband. It's hard for me to take advice from someone like that. I respect that she's older and does, in fact, have more experience. But I'm not going to respect your advice if you're going to treat me like that.
paulr also brings up a good point, that sometimes us younger folk have new/different perspectives and it's seen as a challenge, or disrespect. Not so. It's just that we grew up in different worlds. I'm part of a new church and there are some physical changes going on (putting in carpet, painting, etc) and one of the older women does not like it. You'd think we were changing it into a strip club the way she opposes all the changes. I didn't know carpet mattered that much. We aren't purposefully trying to disrespect her. We just want to update it and it's something she doesn't understand.
So, my conclusion is that it's a two way street and I'll respect that you're older and have more experiences, but I have to respect you as a person before I respect your advice. Despite my earlier stories, most of the older people in my life are ones who have proved to me that I can trust and respect them.
Just my take.
paulr also brings up a good point, that sometimes us younger folk have new/different perspectives and it's seen as a challenge, or disrespect. Not so. It's just that we grew up in different worlds. I'm part of a new church and there are some physical changes going on (putting in carpet, painting, etc) and one of the older women does not like it. You'd think we were changing it into a strip club the way she opposes all the changes. I didn't know carpet mattered that much. We aren't purposefully trying to disrespect her. We just want to update it and it's something she doesn't understand.
So, my conclusion is that it's a two way street and I'll respect that you're older and have more experiences, but I have to respect you as a person before I respect your advice. Despite my earlier stories, most of the older people in my life are ones who have proved to me that I can trust and respect them.
Just my take.
R
i wouldn't say respect has to be earned...i -would- say it can be forfeited...
the bible tells us clearly that reprobate people are to be treated 'as a gentile and a tax collector'...in other words as unclean outcasts...and there is nothing that says people older than you are exempt from this... if an older person is a reprobate then they are to be treated as reprobates...being older does not mean you get any extra moral latitude...
if an older person is being prideful for example...and in all fairness i have seen -lots- of prideful 'elders' who think their birth date makes them superior...then that is a sin and they are subject to being called out for it...
also the greater experience of an older person is only valid if it is relevant to the situation at hand...in some cases a person simply has not experienced anything even remotely like what you are experiencing...and in those cases their advice is no better than a wild guess...
an example i always think of is various aspects of the internet...unless you are 500 years old you are not 'elderly' enough to have experienced the last piece of technology that changed things as much as the internet did...
the bottom line is basically to repect your elders unless they have forfeited that respect...and to listen to their advice when it applies...
the bible tells us clearly that reprobate people are to be treated 'as a gentile and a tax collector'...in other words as unclean outcasts...and there is nothing that says people older than you are exempt from this... if an older person is a reprobate then they are to be treated as reprobates...being older does not mean you get any extra moral latitude...
if an older person is being prideful for example...and in all fairness i have seen -lots- of prideful 'elders' who think their birth date makes them superior...then that is a sin and they are subject to being called out for it...
also the greater experience of an older person is only valid if it is relevant to the situation at hand...in some cases a person simply has not experienced anything even remotely like what you are experiencing...and in those cases their advice is no better than a wild guess...
an example i always think of is various aspects of the internet...unless you are 500 years old you are not 'elderly' enough to have experienced the last piece of technology that changed things as much as the internet did...
the bottom line is basically to repect your elders unless they have forfeited that respect...and to listen to their advice when it applies...
N
It is a commandment to honor your father an mother. That does not mean they can Not be wrong, in that case you can still honor them for at least bringing you into the world. But if they are not reasonable people, then move far away from them and get married . ( to some one decent and good ) Or whatever. Respect is different also then blindly following some one off a cliff . We should all be smart enough not to follow some one to hell.
H
I didn't want to start a new post as this seems to be the place to ask my question...I understand that we are to honour our father and mother, it is a blessing to us. If we marry, we also need to honour his parents. What happens if we do not marry, and if our parents have been cruel and abusive to us as children. The 'child' is now an adult, unmarried and saved. The surviving parent is not saved. What would you advise ? Thank you, 
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J
1 Peter 5 has some things to say about this,
but it's in the context of the Church.
Isn't it all about humility, really?
but it's in the context of the Church.
Isn't it all about humility, really?
Comparative of πρέσβυς presbus (elderly); older; as noun, a senior; specifically an Israelite Sanhedrist (also figuratively, member of the celestial council) or Christian “presbyter”: - elder (-est), old.
Peter wrote this letter to an already established church for their sake in orderly conduct among the brethren.
But I also agree that it's a good thing to act kind and gentle to all men, let our light shine.
N
If we marry, we also need to honour his parents.
What happens if we do not marry, and if our parents have been cruel and abusive to us as children. The 'child' is now an adult, unmarried and saved. The surviving parent is not saved. What would you advise ? Thank you, <><
What happens if we do not marry, and if our parents have been cruel and abusive to us as children. The 'child' is now an adult, unmarried and saved. The surviving parent is not saved. What would you advise ? Thank you,
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