On Wednesday, I had the joy of taking a day off work and hanging out with Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Payton Manning, Dr. J, and Jimmie Johnson. Okay, my definition of "hanging out" may be a little loose. What I mean is that I got to see them at the Quail Hollow Golf Course in Charlotte, NC for a Pro-Am golf tournament. It was a blast watching this professional athletes play.
It was great seeing many of the athletes sign autographs, but it was also interesting to me to see 8 year old boys who were calling grown men by their first names. "Hey, Payton!" "Hey, Tiger!" "Hey, Phil." I heard one little boy yell, "Mr. Mickelson" and it made my heart leap. There was a respect that this little boy showed this man that some of the other little boys had never learned. The way to respect someone is not by having a child treat an adult as a peer, but by having a child treat an adult like an adult.
It is interesting in the very action of a child wanting an autograph, he is saying, "I respect you," but with his words, he has never been taught how to communicate this same affection effectively.
Is it a sin for a child to use a first name when they address an adult? I'm not sure that it always is, but I do think the biblical principle of showing respect for elders is appropriate. 1 Peter 5:5 says, "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." In the context of this verse it is speaking specifically of pastor/elders, but the idea of younger people respecting older people is a biblical concept. Wisdom is often associated with older age and foolishness with younger age.
I am thirty years old. I know the younger group doesn't want to claim me, but I also feel more like a college kid than a grown man sometimes. I understand the struggle to learn humility in this area. I know it is an area I continually need to cultivate because I am a young pastor that works with older pastors. I need to seek counsel and wisdom and stir gratefulness for these other men in my life.
It seems that young people (including myself) are tempted to think we know more than older people (i.e. pride). We can assume because we can use Twitter, Facebook, and Wii's that we have more wisdom. We are hip. We are "in the know." We are being foolish.
Let's be humble and seek the wisdom, counsel, and input of those who have been on this journey much longer than we have. Let's also seek to show our kids the need to respect others. Let's teach them that their is a difference between an adult and a child and that is okay...in fact it is biblical. Let's love our children enough to teach them to show a little respect...and honor.
It was great seeing many of the athletes sign autographs, but it was also interesting to me to see 8 year old boys who were calling grown men by their first names. "Hey, Payton!" "Hey, Tiger!" "Hey, Phil." I heard one little boy yell, "Mr. Mickelson" and it made my heart leap. There was a respect that this little boy showed this man that some of the other little boys had never learned. The way to respect someone is not by having a child treat an adult as a peer, but by having a child treat an adult like an adult.
It is interesting in the very action of a child wanting an autograph, he is saying, "I respect you," but with his words, he has never been taught how to communicate this same affection effectively.
Is it a sin for a child to use a first name when they address an adult? I'm not sure that it always is, but I do think the biblical principle of showing respect for elders is appropriate. 1 Peter 5:5 says, "Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." In the context of this verse it is speaking specifically of pastor/elders, but the idea of younger people respecting older people is a biblical concept. Wisdom is often associated with older age and foolishness with younger age.
I am thirty years old. I know the younger group doesn't want to claim me, but I also feel more like a college kid than a grown man sometimes. I understand the struggle to learn humility in this area. I know it is an area I continually need to cultivate because I am a young pastor that works with older pastors. I need to seek counsel and wisdom and stir gratefulness for these other men in my life.
It seems that young people (including myself) are tempted to think we know more than older people (i.e. pride). We can assume because we can use Twitter, Facebook, and Wii's that we have more wisdom. We are hip. We are "in the know." We are being foolish.
Let's be humble and seek the wisdom, counsel, and input of those who have been on this journey much longer than we have. Let's also seek to show our kids the need to respect others. Let's teach them that their is a difference between an adult and a child and that is okay...in fact it is biblical. Let's love our children enough to teach them to show a little respect...and honor.
1 comment:
When children respect adults...
When adults respect children...
When women and men respect each other as equals...
When those who the world views as powerful and privileged respect those who the world views as inferior and undesirable...
Then we will begin to get an inkling of how God sees his creatures.
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