Looking up to worldly people

[Carico]

I have a Question: Should we as Christians condsider unbelieving people who have earned respect in the world through their talents and gifts, like doctors or lawyers, as superiot to others who have not had jobs that require that responsiblity? For example, a doctor who deals with life and death everyday has to be able to learn how to deal with issues that most of us don't encounter. In addition, he has the enormous responsibility for the fate of his patients. Yet, not beng a believer, what good does it do to gain the whole world and forfiet your soul? Even though he is doing his job for worldly reasons, shoud he be treated differently than, let's say, a housewife who does volunteer work but doesn't have the enormous responsibility that a doctor has?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I have a Question: Should we as Christians condsider unbelieving people who have earned respect in the world through their talents and gifts, like doctors or lawyers, as superiot to others who have not had jobs that require that responsiblity? For example, a doctor who deals with life and death everyday has to be able to learn how to deal with issues that most of us don't encounter. In addition, he has the enormous responsibility for the fate of his patients. Yet, not beng a believer, what good does it do to gain the whole world and forfiet your soul? Even though he is doing his job for worldly reasons, shoud he be treated differently than, let's say, a housewife who does volunteer work but doesn't have the enormous responsibility that a doctor has?

I think in many situations, the answer is yes.

Romans 13:7 Webster
7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor.

I think you are mixing apples and oranges. The doctor should be shown repect for his work which is a value to us all. But if he or the president or the pope comes in moma's house, they better be wiping their feet!.

 

[Carico]

I tend to agree, didaskalos. I think we need to respect their knowledge and ability to handle life and death situations. "To whom much is given, much is required." But if they are unbelievers, they need to be humbled before they can come to Christ. I once heard a pastor say, "I don't care what you've done in the world, or who you know. All I care about is if you've accepted Jesus. How, as believers, are we to treat people like doctors and lawyers who have earned their place in the world?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I tend to agree, didaskalos. I think we need to respect their knowledge and ability to handle life and death situations. "To whom much is given, much is required." But if they are unbelievers, they need to be humbled before they can come to Christ. I once heard a pastor say, "I don't care what you've done in the world, or who you know. All I care about is if you've accepted Jesus. How, as believers, are we to treat people like doctors and lawyers who have earned their place in the world?

Yes.
I think it is significant that in 1 Cor 12 it says:

1 Corinthians 12:23-25 Webster
23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.
24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked:
25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

I think this is designed so that the camel herder who receives miracles would be consided with the doctor who receives tongues. We are all considered equal in the body.

 

[Carico]

True. But doesn't than contradict your earlier post that doctors should be given more respect than others who have not been given the same gifts?

 

[secretdawn]

I think it is okay, even good to look up to people who are good and decent people...and I like to think of them as "non-believers....yet"...
For example, you can admire the qualities of someone, but still disagree with some of their beliefs or actions...
Honestly though, that woman who does volunteer work is a better example than the doctor, even if you don't count religion, because though the doctor does handle great stress every day, he is rewarded for it greatly...what does the woman get? Nothing accept the knowledge she is doing good...

 

[Carico]

Actually, SecretDawn, I wonder if it isn't the opposite. The President is a good example. I can only imagine the enormous responsibility he has for the fate of hundreds of millions of people and how his actions could not only hurt them, but the world as well. Yet we are so eager to criticze him and decide what we would do when we really have no idea what he faces everyday. A woman who does volunteer work, for example, will almost always receive praises for her donating her time for no reward. It's simply not the worldly fame that accompanies men who do work that requires more responsibility and accountability.

 

[SavedByGrace3]

True. But doesn't than contradict your earlier post that doctors should be given more respect than others who have not been given the same gifts?

I think the 1 Cor 12 refers to our relationship to each other in the body, or the church.
I still say yes sir and no sir to those ourside the church such as my employer, my doctor, the police, etc... This is what I mean by showing honor to whom honor is due.
In the end, I suppose as good Christians we should show everyone honor... I try to do this all the time. I try to address the cashier by what is on their nametag... same for anyone who is working and being honorable.
Just some thoughts.
Didy

 

[Carico]

It's a fuzzy line I think. I think that here in America we are way too casual and presumptuous when relating to each other. We hosted a student from Germany last year and he said that it is much more formal there. Children never address adults by their first names and of course, never address their teachers by thehir first names. This presumes an intimacy which hasn't been formed yet. In most luanguages, there are different forms of the word "you", one being casual, the other being formal. we don't have that in the English language. Myabe the best way to deal with it is to acknowledge that none of us is any better or worse than the next guy in God's eyes, but that everyone does deserve respect for what he has been throguh in life.