In this episode of Faith Boost, Pastor Andrew McLennan talks about why it’s important to honour and respect everyone, even if they don’t share our beliefs. Connections help us share the message of Jesus. Andrew uses the life of Abraham to show us how to do this. Abraham is known as the Father of Faith and he teaches us how to be humble and respectful.
In Genesis chapter 23, Abraham is looking for a place to bury his wife, Sarah, who has just died. Even though God promised him the land, Abraham doesn’t take advantage of the people who live there. Instead, he bows respectfully to them and negotiates a fair price for the burial site. Abraham’s actions encourage us all to treat others with respect, especially those who may not know God the same way we do.
‘I believe Abraham just waited for God to bring that word to pass,’ says Andrew. ‘He left it in God’s hands. He didn’t take it on himself. Here we have the father of faith, a friend of God, a man who stands on mountains with Him. But he bows himself down to the people of the land.’
Andrew points out that this respectful attitude is also seen in the story of Paul in the New Testament, specifically in Acts 17:33. When Paul visits Athens, a city full of smart and cultured people, he respects their beliefs. He connects with them by mentioning an altar they have that says to the unknown God, and even quotes one of their own poets instead of using scripture. Paul shows respect for their culture while still sharing his message about God. He didn’t change his beliefs, but he worked to understand and relate to the people he was speaking to.
Connections that help us share the message of Jesus
‘Paul was using their culture to point them towards the Lord,’ says Andrew. ‘And as Christians, we need to live like this. I’m not saying to bow down to the culture in our hearts and worship what the people of the land worship. But we do need to honour people. We need to respect people, and we need to love people.’
Jesus also did something similar. He spent time with those who were seen as sinners, dining and talking with them without judging. Engaging with others through love and respect is essential. As believers, we need to respect others, including their backgrounds and beliefs. By doing this, we can form meaningful connections that help us share the message of Jesus.
‘We see this in the life of Abraham,’ says Andrew. ‘We see it in the life of Paul and we see it in the life of Jesus. I’m praying that we may also learn to honour and respect people, and that God could use us to reach the people of the land in which we live.’
We can learn so much from Abraham, Paul, and Jesus about the importance of respecting others and meeting them where they are. Incorporating this kind of respect and honour into our daily lives is something we should continue to strive for.
Make sure you tune into Faith Boost and let your faith grow! It’s perfect for your busy schedule and available anytime on Vision’s website and app. Listen to Andrew’s full message below, and join us next time for another episode of Faith Boost!
