I would dare say that most of us have experienced the loss of dignity in one arena or another. For some, it's moments, while for others it's a season(s) too long. Webster's defines dignity in part, as "the quality of being worthy of honor and respect." Without thinking too deeply, each of us could probably come up with people whom we would immediately deem as worthy of honor and respect. I wonder though, if Jesus sees differently.
In Psalm 3 David was running for his life. He wasn't sitting on a throne in power and control: "Many are saying of me, 'God will not deliver him.' But you are a shield around me, O Lord; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." It is a beautiful image, isn't it? Imagine the Lord tucking his finger underneath David's chin and gently lifting his face to meet His gaze - dignity for the broken king in crisis.
In John 8 Jesus becomes the Defender of the woman caught in adultery. The hypocritical Pharisees were ready to stone her to death when Jesus stepped in, returned them to sanity, and allowed them to walk away with dignity. He then turned to the woman who must have wanted to weep in relief and die in shame. But she too, was not condemned and told to leave her broken life of sin. Dignity for the broken perpetrator and victim.
In Luke 23 we see the thief on the cross. Absolutely nothing speaks to this man as being worthy of respect and honor. He was a good for nothing criminal. Yet, in the midst of Jesus's unimaginable agony, He hears this man: Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Within seconds, the man who was a thief hanging naked and bloodied on the cross, was given dignity.
Man, do we in milliseconds, promote our good selves as we lower others believing them hardly worthy of our prayers. In fact, it comes quite naturally. We focus effortlessly on the crap of others while planting flowers and putting a white picket fence in front of our own storehouses of crap in an effort to block the smell.
We decide that today we are going to be gracious, kind, and compassionate and before our feet have even hit the floor we have already put a slew of people in their place below us. We sneer on the inside (because we are too clever to actually show it) at those who sin differently than we do. What we can't understand about another must have some explanation that only fits into our mindset and perception.
We get a little puffed up as we hang out in our homes or office discussing people like they are cases and projects. We talk about boundaries and enabling and it makes us feel smart and healthy. We are psychology king and queens and theologians of the greatest kind. False humilities gather in baskets like centerpieces. It feels good to be good! Shoot, how we love the sound of our gratuitous compassion!
It is humbling when we see how much Jesus gave dignity to victims AND perpetrators. You and I. It is hard for me to fathom such love and grace. I can hardly wrap my head around "Forgive them for they know not what they do." It is so very contrary to who we are. We want to get back at people. We want to put others in their place. We have to let people know they are wrong. We will scramble, trip, and fall in an effort to cover our own stuff. We condemn others and without even realizing it we are condemning ourselves, living in shame, and pointing fingers in hope that maybe it will erase our own sad secrets.
Yet, the whole lot of us are loved. The red carpet is rolled out for us. We can dare take a step and lift our chins up to meet the gaze of Christ because of who He made us to be in Him. He brings us out and up. He lays His hand upon the crown of our head and bestows us with honor and dignity. No discrimination. It is the place of greatest authentic intimacy with Jesus.
I believe the Lord has empowered the body of believers to do this for each other. I believe He has called us to live in such a community where safety is the norm and dignity can thrive; where deficits are filled with love.
In 1st Corinthians 12: 25 -26 Paul has wise words for the church about what this could look like: "The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance."
Those are beautiful words and describe the kind of culture where dignity is bestowed and can thrive. It is a place where leveling discontinues. It is a place where everyone has a voice and every heart matters. It is a place where sadness and rejoicing are shared. No one is left or discarded. No one is given up on. And, the greatest (to me) is that everyone is involved in the healing. Glory hallelujah! Can you picture that? ALL THE PARTS ARE INVOLVED IN THE HEALING! This is how dignity gets restored in individuals, marriages, families, churches, and communities. We are imperfect people dependent on each other to be led down the red carpet. It's a model for living. It's a picture of Christ with His kids. Dignity is available for all. May it be so in the name of Jesus.
Dee M. Kostelyk
