In Defence of Deference
Our Bible is full of instances where deference is praised. “Let each consider others better than themselves”.. “Fear God; honour the king.” “Blessed are the meek”. Humility is one of the great and specifically Christian virtues.
To go along with this does not mean that we ought to return to some of the degrading customs of past years, when “the lower classes” knew their place, which was of course at the bottom of the pile. That kind of deference teaches people that they’re not worth much and certainly that other people are their superiors in every way.
Another of the lessons of the New Testament is that because God is father of all the human race, we are all brothers and sisters, equally loved by Him. Every one of us is precious in his sight.
What proper humility fights is the idea widely held by people who think that the world revolves around themselves and their desires; or that if it doesn’t at least it ought to. In a liberal democracy such as ours it seems to me clear that we should defer to people who are exercising their lawful authority such as police in uniform, judges in court or line managers at work. Equally I believe we should pay due reverence to the monarch, not because of her royal blood but simply because she is our Head of State. Personally I am a monarchist: not because I think monarchy a perfect system of government any more than democracy, but having an elected Head of State is usually a lot less satisfactory. Incidentally what we have is not really a monarchy at all, for the Queen reigns but does not rule over us.
To believe that other people should defer to us is dangerous but to be willing to act towards others on the assumption that they are better than we are is not.
–Peter Graham
peter.graham[at]bucklandnewton.com
“the powers that be are ordained of God”..?
Those egoists who tend to think of themselves as superior are often in precisely those positions of power & earthly authority – eg police, judges & line managers. There is of course a pragmatic argument for recognising power in these Offices!! I have tried very hard to choose words carefully before judges. But if you’re asking me to be “meek” and defer to such Office holders – recognising their superior judgement – I won’t. The damage done by many of them is hugely corrosive – and needs to be challenged.
Love Tony
Personally I am a monarchist: not because I think monarchy a perfect system of government any more than democracy, but having an elected Head of State is usually a lot less satisfactory.
Split the difference, and move to the Star wars planet of Naboo. There, they elect queens from a pool of teenage girls.