Let’s have a candid conversation today with regards to what’s currently happening around the globe. It seems like although we are based in different parts of the world, this is a recurrent thing. And its the issue of disrespecting authority. I have previously written on the topic of honour here but let’s revive the conversation.
New “Normal? Or not
These days its become the “in-thing” to see a public figure being insulted online for something they have said or a sharing of memes with the intention of ridiculing them because of something the person did. From the president of the USA to my own President, even your favourite celebrities no one has been spared.
Today, Kanye West is trending because of his outburst. Yet instead of sympathising and/or empathising with him we have mocked, insulted and laughed at him. But as I watched that video, I saw a man crying out for help. A man who instead of insults needs a support system to get him through this difficult time in his life. A man that needs our prayers.
Same thing with our world leaders. Instead of supporting them, we’ve been doing our best to crush their spirits.
I look at President Uhuru and I see a tired man. And I genuinely understand his frustrations. We have become like spoilt children who no matter what a parent does for them, they are never satisfied.
Our president seems tired and stressed. The truth of the matter is that running a country is never easy but we have made it even harder by being unsupportive and uncooperative citizens who are always looking for the slightest opportunity to ridicule him. While I understand that many are frustrated, we have become bullies. And it’s not helping him or our nation.
Where is the respect?
Now, I’m not saying that the President, Kanye or the numerous public figures that have been at the receiving end of insults have always been right. They have messed up, ALOT.
But if we were to be honest, so have you and I. The only difference between us and them is that our mistakes are not highlighted on the news for all to see but their mistakes are.
You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:36 NLT
I wonder, if our mistakes were to be displayed the way these people’s are for all to see, would we be able to withstand the fire that we put them through?
Disagreements are normal, but…
What we fail to to realize is that we can disagree with people without gossiping about them. We can disagree with our leaders and not turn them into a laughing stock by “memefying” (if such a word exists) them. We can disagree with them without cyber bullying them. Disapproving of another person’s actions doesn’t always have to be expressed through disrespect. Similarly, our frustration doesn’t have to turn into disrespect.
So how can we stop this?
Simply by expressing ourselves using language that is without insults. And if unable to do that, it’s best to be quiet. But if you really must speak about them, how about praying for them instead?
Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior,
1 Timothy 2:2-3 NLT
Talk to God about your President, King/Queen, PM, favourite celebrity, your enemy. Whoever it is, take it to the Lord.
We’re not helping by becoming cyber bullies. At the end of the day our leaders will never be perfect. They are human after all and as long as we are in this imperfect bodies we will make mistakes.
Let us put our trust in God instead and commit this people into His able hands instead of crushing the spirits of our leaders. They need our support, not our tearing them down.
