TCND: Respect, Opinions, Authority, and Riding Baskets Down Stair (Three Cigars Per Year)

Hello, Neighbor!  The Peaches and the Pod Ninja are having a little marital dispute about smoking cigars in the middle of the kitchen.  Who's being the joy-killer here?

Next: If we had any respect for your opinion, we would adopt the opinion for ourselves... But we don't respect opinions we don't share. 

Boy-oh-boy, Pkarlgh, this statement really gave some people heartburn. What is it about the concept of "respecting opinions" that people are so willing to fight over it?   We think the phrasing is unclear, and we need to stop telling people we respect their opinion when we actual mean: "We respect your humanity no matter what opinions you hold."

We respect the individual who is created in God's image, despite the fact that he or she holds an opinion that we DON'T respect.  

And what about where Paul tells us (in 1 Corinthians) that some things aren't worth fighting about? Well, we share that opinion--and so we respect it.

Finally: This boils down to an authority issue.  Who do we trust, when we don't get the opinion we want from someone else?  Do we keep shopping around for different doctors or different judges or different pastors (or Gospel-writers) who we think will agree with us?    The more immature you are, the more Bosses you need to keep you safe... Just take this example from the McKinney children almost killing themselves. 

Write to the Comedian's family: [email protected]   Also, if you like being part of the conversations at the table, you should COME ON VACATION WITH US and a few of our Christian, comedian friends.  Details about Vacay with Comics can be found at johnbranyan.com