“He had no sense of his own dignity and no understanding of what we
owed the people.” Augustus Caesar (concerning Marc Antony)
Do dignity and responsibility go hand in hand? Is dignity part of our
character and exhibits itself in our actions and reactions to others?
Does the absence of responsibility mean an absence of dignity?
I believe the two go hand in glove. Dignity is a sense of who we are
within the world we live, move and work. Without personal dignity,
people do what they want to do, when they wish and to whom they want
to do it to. I read of horrific crimes being perpetuated on the
helpless, particularly women and children. There doesn’t seem to be
any sensibility in murdering anyone, especially young children.
Motives do not appear to be robbery or theft but rather people with
dignity and human decency taking what they want by force. It is this
lack of dignity and responsibility that breaks marriages and homes,
creates havoc in civic and political circles, spews excuses like a
broken sewer and hurts those who are in it for the long haul.
Christian character implies dignity and responsibility to all peoples.
Regarding of color, background, education, sophistication and social
position, Christians should welcome everyone into the fold of the
Shepherd. I know that many are reluctant to open themselves to others
but Christ Himself condemned those who had no compassion for people in
need (Matt 25). Being open also means being vulnerable but those in
need are already exposed and vulnerable, too.
Dignity is a rare virtue, especially in the modern world which
preaches that it is every man for himself. Dignity should be one of
our watchwords.
Ya think?
Steve
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