Church Bulletin Article for 11/10/2013 "Give Respect, Give Honor"

Living Lessons:  November 10^th, 2013  

Give Respect, Give Honor

“I’m almost pacifist.”  I’ve said these words for years.  Whether handling interpersonal conflict or handling large international national wars, I think the Way of the Christ is resolving conflict through peaceful means.  I think so many times our country, our lawmakers, our police, and even our church members, try to resolve conflict in angry outbursts and violence that creates more problems than it solves.  I think at times we have forgotten our Savior’s call. 

With that mindset, you might think that I practice like a portion of my pacifist friends who don’t honor national holidays such as Veterans Day or Memorial Day.  You might think wrong.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our veterans of the armed services for their devotion and sacrifice for my country, my family, and myself.  This Veterans Day I honor you Veterans and I appreciate you.  You have helped to preserve the freedom I have to pray in public. You have helped secure our borders so that my family hasn’t been victim of a terrorist acts.  You have acted as representatives of our country abroad.  And you’ve done all this without having the six figure or more pay of some of our nation’s leaders.  

I may disagree with the methods used, but I can recognize a sincere heart that has motivated our Veterans  to serve in the armed services.  In particular I want to take this moment to honor Heath and Jarrod Robinson who are now serving us, now protecting us, and now sacrificing for us.  I respect their heart and honor their commitment.  Why would I do such a thing?  Check out the following verse.

Paul tells the believers in Rome in the 13th chapter and 7th verse of his letter, "Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." 

If Paul can tell Jewish Christians to be honorable and respectful of the leaders of Rome, I think we can do it for our Veterans.  Who can you honor today?  Who can you give your respect to today?