Treat Everyone Respectfully

We Are All Human Beings

I have always felt a great importance in treating all people kindly, fairly and with respect. Those of us who are trying to follow the example of Jesus are to be known by our love, not only for one another but for all people.

Unfortunately, I do not see a lot of this sentiment in our Christian world today. So many of us would rather condemn, argue and stand our ground for our particular doctrine, interpretation or denomination.

When reading about the life of Jesus, I see a person who loved God and loved people. He went about treating all people with love and respect. When people were brought to him doing something questionable, he told them to go and sin no more, but he never condemned or made anyone feel like a person of lower degree. He never said because you have done this or that I want nothing to do with you. He loved them no matter what.

My chosen profession in life was firefighting. I absolutely loved the job, but now I am also loving retired life. When I think about this line of work, I see it as more like true Christianity should be.

As firefighters we treat all people the same. It makes no difference whether we are treating male or female, rich or poor, white or black, religious or atheist, gay or straight. We do not differentiate between Jew, Muslim, Hindu, Taoism or Christian. It makes no difference if you are American, European, African, Middle Eastern or Asian, and it makes no difference if you are Republican or Democrat. All people are treated the same no matter who they are, what they believe or how they live.

To me this is the way we Christian people should live each day. Treating others equally, respectfully, kindly and with the love of God. We will not always agree on things, but living this way will have more of a positive impact on others.

I often wonder how the church world can be so mean, how it can separate itself so much from those who see things differently. How can we, who profess to follow a loving God treat people with such disrespect? Why is it that most of the time, Christian people are known more for what they are against rather than for the love they are to show to all people.

I feel it is time that we Christian people take on a firefighter mentality in the way we treat others, showing love and respect to all people. Rather than fight and argue, it is time we accept, encourage and respect everyone we meet along this journey through life.