Alba 11-30-2025
LOVE IS NOT RUDE
I Corinthians 13:5
After spending 3 ½ hours at the Department of Motor Vehicles enduring the long lines, rude clerks and insane regulations, a man stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for his son. He brought his selection, a baseball bat, to the cash register. “Cash or charge?” the clerk asked. “Cash!” the man snapped. Then apologizing for his rudeness he explained, “I’ve spent the afternoon at the motor vehicle bureau.” The clerk sweetly asked, “Shall I gift wrap the bat, or are you going back there?” If we are not careful, it is easy to be rude.
Recently we were watching an old re-run on TV of Andy Griffith in Mayberry. The story centered around Andy's son Opie and a new kid in town. Opie was cleaning things out of the garage and told the other boy that by doing that he was earning a 25 cent allowance. The other boy made fun of Opie saying he should get an allowance without any work. And if he didn't get what he wanted to start crying or have a fit.
Opie thought he would try that, and went to Andy and said he didn't want to work for his allowance, and that he should be getting 75 cents because he knew that was what the other boy was getting. Andy said no. So Opie tried the tactics of the other boy and first held his breath. That didn't work. Then he started to act like he was crying. That didn't work either. So Opie went to the next level he had been taught by the other boy and started to stomp his feet. And when that didn't work he laid on the floor and started to kick and cry. Andy was confused by the way Opie was acting, but held fast and still refused to change the allowance and the work needed to receive it. As the show progresses, Andy learns that all this rude behavior that Opie was displaying came from the influence of this new boy in town. By the end of the show that boy's father, who had been giving in to his son's demands, realized the error of his ways and made some corrections. And Opie realized that his rude behavior was wrong and became obedient to Andy, and accepted his 25 cent allowance and the work that went with it.
But how would you feel, if as a parent, someone, anyone, were to encourage your child to become rude and disobedient. (You might say that your child could do that well enough on their own.) But, if someone else was egging your child on to act that way, rude and disobedient, I am sure you would not appreciate it.
That's what many feel has happened in the news lately. You may have seen that recently members of congress put a video together aimed at the CIA, FBI and the military telling them they do not have to obey illegal orders, implying that such orders have been given. But in interviews, those who were in the video admitted that they knew of no illegal orders. Reaction to this was swift, saying it was a call to disobedience in the ranks and bordered on sedition, and was even encouraging insurrection. Once again, the divide in our country's politics is on display.
When you watch these politicians on TV, rude remarks have gone both ways. But lately the language used has lowered civility. Many words need to be bleeped out when the news reports on what is being said. And what they call the “F-bomb” has become commonplace from some senators and congressmen. There is a rudeness that has not been there before. Pray for our country.
When looking in the Bible for examples of rudeness, my first thought was of the way some youths treated Elisha. In Second Kings chapter two it tells of how a chariot of fire appeared with horses of fire, and the prophet Elijah was taken up by a whirlwind into heaven. Elijah's mantle fell to Elisha who would follow in his footsteps.
But, as Jesus said in Matthew 13:57, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.” So Elisha didn't always receive the honor due him. In the New Living Translation in II Kings 2:23 it says, “Elisha left Jericho and went up to Bethel. As he was walking along the road, a group of boys from the town began mocking and making fun of him. 'Go away, baldy!' they chanted. 'Go away, baldy!'” You talk about rude! This gang of boys are at the top of the rude list. Other translations quote the taunt and mocking of the boys saying, “Go up, you baldhead! Go up, you baldhead!” That has been taken to mean that just as Elijah was taken up into heaven, if Elisha was as good as the prophet he followed, he should prove it by going to heaven the same way.
In either case, the boys' rudeness was on full display. And they were mocking a man of God. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Back in II Kings chapter two, verse 24 it tells us what happened next, “So he (Elisha) turned around and looked at them, and pronounced a curse on them in the name of the Lord. And two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the youths.” I think those boys learned a lesson.
There are other examples of rudeness in the Old Testament. Ishmael was rude and scoffing, making fun of Isaac. As a result he and his mother were thrown out of the camp (Genesis 21). And Goliath rudely “defied the armies of the living God”, but was taken down by a young shepherd boy named David who had a simple trust in God (I Samuel 17).
And when the Israelites returned from the Babylonian captivity and began to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, they received rude opposition. Nehemiah 2:19 records, “When Sanballat the Horonite, Tobiah the Ammonite official, and Geshem the Arab heard of it, they laughed at us and despised us.” The NIV says, “they mocked and ridiculed us.” But with determination and watchfulness, the wall was completed because the Israelites ignored the rude threats that came their way.
But the worst example of rude mocking is found in the New Testament. The night that Jesus was betrayed, arrested and taken before the chief priests, scribes and elders, He was interrogated, and in their minds He was found guilty. Mark 14:65 tells us how they treated Jesus. It says, “Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, 'Prophesy!' And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.” The Gospel of Luke 22:64 adds that when they said “prophesy”, they followed it up saying, “Who is the one who struck you?” He was blindfolded, so how could He know? Although, He was Jesus, He probably did know!
But the rude, hurtful things did not end there. After this, Jesus was taken to Pilate, the Roman governor who had been placed in authority over Israel. Even after examining Jesus, Pilate said, “I have found no fault” in Him (Luke 23:14). But then Mark 15:15-20 says, “So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified. Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.” Jesus knew this was going to happen. And He submitted Himself to every rude thing that was done to Him so that, by going to the cross, we could have forgiveness of our sins.
I am sure that you have had rude things happen to you, once, twice, probably many times. But neither you nor I have experienced what Jesus did for our salvation. I John 3:16 says, “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us.” I Corinthians 13:5 says that love, “is not rude”. In spite of the rude remarks, the rude treatment and the pain of the cross, the love Jesus has for us shines through it all.
That is reason enough for us to practice a love that is pure and not rude to others. The word “rude” means to act unbecomingly, dishonorably, or disgracefully. It refers to improper or indecent behavior, especially in social or relational interactions. We get sense of what is meant by this word “rude” when looking at translations other than the New King James Version. The current NIV says, “love…does not dishonor others.” The NASB says, “love…does not act disgracefully.” The KJV says, “love..doth not behave itself unseemingly.” The Modern English Bible says, “love…does not behave itself improperly.” The Message says, “love…doesn’t force itself on others.”
So we learn from this that love does not act rudely in a way that would embarrass, shame, or dishonor someone.
Instead, love promotes dignity, courtesy, and respect in all relationships. That should especially be true of the way we treat people in our own families. What would be the purpose of rude, hurtful remarks said about a spouse or one's children? It certainly would not build good relationships.
But as Christians, we have an obligation to act toward all people in ways that are not rude. That is because what we do and what we say is either a testimony for or against the faith we say we have. In relation to the unbeliever real love, agape love, makes the Christian care what other people think, and not so much about ourselves, but about the Christ we claim to love and follow. If we are rude and impolite, and in any way unethical in our behavior, it is Christ who suffers.
How many servers in restaurants who are working on Sundays have made the comment that they hate waiting on Christians? Far too many, I'm afraid. It's because those they serve are people who have “supposedly” just left worshiping God, but in the restaurant are rude, demanding, critical, leaving huge messes and small tips. I know we try to be frugal, but we should also think of our testimony.
The New Century Version in Colossians 4:5-6 tells us to, “Be wise in the way you act with people who are not believers, making the most of every opportunity. When you talk, you should always be kind and pleasant so you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should.”
A Christian who is filled with the fruit of the Spirit will not be offensive because of bad behavior. There are people who may find our faith offensive to them, but our attitudes and manners are to be above reproach if we are to be a true channel of God's agape love.
Rudeness is insensitive and does not care whether or not other people are offended. Rudeness says “I have something that I am going to express, and if it hurts others, that's tough”. It is a form of pride that says, “All that matters is how I feel, how others feel is no concern of mine”.
Yet, as Christians, we must realize that our lives are to be lived decently and in order, and not just during a church service. No Christian ever has the right to be disrespectful, vulgar, or embarrassing to either a brother or sister in Christ, or to an unbeliever.
Why would any of us want to treat others using the same rude attitude as those who led Jesus to the cross?
CLOSE:
Ultimately, being crude and rude brings trouble on ourselves, because we do reap what we sow. Did you hear about a waitress that brought a man the coffee and donut he ordered?
The man looked at the donut, and it was not pretty. The man asked the waitress, “Why is my donut smashed?” The waitress replied, “I only did what you said, ‘Bring me a cup of coffee and a donut, and step on it.’”
It never pays to be rude, but treating others with loving, common courtesy pays great dividends. May God help us to have a love that is not rude; a love that always behaves itself.
Scripture tells us that Jesus is not rude. He doesn't barge into our lives. He wants to come in, but He stands at the door and knocks. We must open the door, and let Him have His way with our lives.
