Can a Man be Respected after He Sins?

I’m sick of hearing the old saying, “Hate the sin, but love the sinner.” It seems to be a one sided platitude to encourage woman who missed the mark. If it were for men as well, the phrase would state, “Hate the sin, but respect the sinner.” (Did you feel a flinch in your gut?)

Men need respect like they need air, but generally speaking, society encourages woman to disrespect men. This is especially true when a man sins. Over the years I’ve found that many women (certainly not all) attach their views of respect to temporal activities rather than the person. If a man does something inappropriate, I’ve found that the women surrounding him quickly write him off. However, those same women quickly surround a fallen woman to encourage her back to spiritual health.

Giving special attention or regard to a man who has sinned, helps him to quickly step up to a higher level of living. Dale Carnegie noted in his friendship book that if you give a man something to live up to, he would do it. The opposite is also true, if you label the fallen man by a sin he committed, he will most likely continue in it.

I’d encourage you the next time you come across a man who has stumbled, to show him respect as a child of God and give him something wonderful to live up to. In other words love him as you would a fallen woman, but by showing him respect – His form of love.

Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Galatians 6:1 (NIV)