Redefining Irreverence: Why it is a Quality We Should All Aspire to Have
The title of this piece may be confusing to some people, and even a little controversial. The idea of being irreverent often has a negative connotation attached to it, and it is not typically something that many people aspire to. However, I feel that this is something that should be reexamined and redefined.
The idea of irreverence is a new concept to me, and I love it — but not in the way that people may think. I came across an article that was published on LinkedIn, and it really got me thinking.
According to the Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, irreverence can be defined as
“a lack of respect shown to somebody/something that other people usually respect.”
Like I said — this will likely come across as controversial and rebellious. Just hear me out.
I am coming to realize in this stage of my life that respect really is something that is earned. Now, that does not mean I think that we should just walk around being blatantly disrespectful to people. That is not what I am saying.
In this context, I am thinking about respect in relation to submission. You can treat someone respectfully and engage in a dignified, civil manner, but that does not mean you necessarily have to submit to that person or conform to their standards or demands, especially if they go against what you believe. At what point does being respectful and submissive turn you into a doormat?
Our society is built on a hierarchy. As a whole, we are conditioned to believe that those who are higher in status or rank are more deserving of respect than those who are not. That those who are highly accomplished or have achieved a great deal are somehow more valuable than those who are deemed as “average,” or, even worse, as “failures.” And unfortunately, oftentimes, these people of high status feel as though they are off limits — that they are above accountability and they can treat people however they want, without a care in the world for how their actions negatively impact people around them.
I am reminded of a quote from Tom Hardy: “I was raised to treat the janitor with the same respect as the CEO.”
I like the concept of this — however, sometimes, I do not even believe this to be true. Should the people who are at the top of our societal hierarchy automatically be treated with the same respect as those who fall “below” them? Does money, status, or power immediately make people entitled to respect, even if they treat people badly?
CEOs, elected officials, deans, religious leaders… At what point is irreverence acceptable, and sometimes even necessary, when dealing with people in positions of power? Why are we so afraid to challenge these people?
I think that being irreverent, when done correctly, can actually be a virtue — and one that can create meaningful, and sometimes necessary, change.
In fact, Jesus was irreverent — and this is one of my favorite things about Him.
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There are many examples of this in the Bible. During Jesus’ time, the Pharisees, religious leaders, and government officials were among the most revered, and most feared, members of society. Challenging these people was not advised… but Jesus did it anyway. This is because He did not fear man — He feared God.
During His public ministry, Jesus challenged authority many times. In fact, the Pharisees and religious leaders were the only people that He ever publicly rebuked. He was not blatantly rude or disrespectful to them, but He did not back down, either. He did not submit to them or passively do as He was told. By no means did He follow the status quo. He did not fit into the box, and this severely challenged the hierarchy of the times. He asked a lot of questions, provided alternate perspectives, and challenged the narrative that everyone else blindly followed. Even when the religious leaders and government officials tried to set Him up and get Him to incriminate Himself, He did not fall for it — but He still did not give in, either. He was irreverent.
Over time, the people came to love Jesus. He was different. He stood out. He was loving and kind to those who would have otherwise been overlooked and ignored. They respected Him and His teachings, and this made the authority figures livid. They were losing control of the masses, and they loathed it. They feared it.
“Who is this man?” the people asked themselves. They were infatuated and intrigued, while at the same time perplexed, intimidated, and even a little bit threatened. These leaders did not respect Jesus, yet, they felt entitled to His respect. In fact, they mocked Him. They belittled Him. They slandered Him. And when He still refused to conform, sacrifice His morals, and deviate away from what the Father had sent Him to do, they crucified Him.
One of my favorite stories about Jesus is when He chased away those who were disrespecting a sacred space. This is when He went into the Temple in Jerusalem, only to find people using it as a marketplace. This infuriated Him, and in His righteous anger, He overturned their tables and chased them all out with a whip. Here, Jesus “cleaned house” — something I think really needs to be done in our society today.
This is referenced in the Book of Matthew:
“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers’” (Matthew 21:12–13, NIV).
In the Book of John, another account of this is given:
“So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15, NIV).
I just love this visual — don't you?
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During His time, Jesus showed the authority figures respect — but He did not respect them. I feel like it is important to understand the difference between the two. If we can truly come to grasp these concepts and ideas, I feel like it can make us better leaders and authority figures ourselves. I would go as far as saying it can make us better human beings.
To me, this is what being irreverent is all about. In some instances, being irreverent can actually be a form of love.
It’s about standing up for what is right, even if you stand alone. It’s about refusing to go against what you believe, regardless of who likes you or approves of you. It is refusing to walk blindly in a sheep mentality and start thinking for yourself. It is about standing up for yourself, and for others. It is about asking difficult questions, challenging faulty thinking, and encouraging other people to do the same. Jesus was persecuted for speaking the truth and going against the grain, and that is why the Bible says that we can expect the same when we choose to follow Him — really follow Him.
I believe that a level of healthy irreverence is a quality that we should all aspire to have. People who are irreverent are different. They are creative. They are innovative. They are insightful. They are curious. They are intuitive. They are tough, but they are also fiercely loyal. They are kind, but they are also not weak. They push the boundaries and the narrative, but they are sincere and genuine in doing so.
Just because something has been done the same way for a long time, does not necessarily mean that it should continue. Just because something is deemed to be acceptable, does not mean that it is — and vice versa. I believe that it is the people who possess this healthy level of irreverence that can really make a change in this cold, cruel, ugly world.
We need to stop trying to sit at tables that Jesus would have flipped over. In fact, I think it’s about time we start flipping some tables ourselves — and, in some cases, burning them to the ground.
Works Cited:
“Bible Gateway Passage: Matthew 21:12–13, Mark 11:15–18 — New International Version.” Bible Gateway, www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+21%3A12-13%2CMark+11%3A15-18&version=NIV. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“Irreverence Noun — Definition, Pictures, Pronunciation and Usage Notes …” Oxford Learner’s Dictionary, www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/us/definition/english/irreverence. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
“John 2 NIV.” Bible Hub, biblehub.com/niv/john/2.htm. Accessed 18 Oct. 2023.
