Can one admire a man who is wrong?

[MikeinAR]

I think admire may be to strong of a word, IMO, for someone that you vehemently disagree with on something major. I'm no linguist and maybe this gets to heavy into semantics, but I can respect someone that I disagree with for what he or she has accomplished, but if there views are so contradictory to mine at some point respect is as far as it could go. Admire, as Webster defined it, is a little too strong for someone I have core belief disagreements with.

For years, I've respected what Bobby Knight accomplished on the basketball court. He has reached milestones and achievements in his profession in life that few will ever achieve. When it comes to Bobby Knight the person, however, I find him deplorable and lacking common courtesy. For example the man once threw a flower pot at his elderly secretary and choked one of his players.

Now I have a healthy respect for Knight the coach, but I find Knight the man repulsive. Therefore I respect him, but I certainly don't admire him. That's sorta the way I see it.

[Pro31:28]

I wanted to put my two cents in here...
I took my children (14 and 10) out to lunch the other day and just off the cuff, I asked them who was the greatest Christian that they knew of. My children attend Christian school, and so they have studied Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, Nate Saint;in fact my fourteen year-old had a particular affection for studying the Martyrs. I didn't really know what to expect, but without hesitation they both looked looked up and said, "Dad".
They see my husband every day, they have seen him lose his temper and occasionally (ok VERY rarely), see him make a mistake. Yet this is the man whom they feel best represents Jesus Christ in their lives.
I asked them why, and they answered differently, My son son said, "because he prays and he knows the Bible better than anybody" . He also said "Cause Dad never lies"
My daughter said it was because Dad always opens the Bible to answer my questions about God, or tells me how to go find it". (the other day they spent about an hour and a half looking at a passage in Matthew).
As his wife, I see who he really is, I see the daily things, and yet I still have to agree with my kids, My husband is the greatest Christian I know.
Is he ever wrong?
yeah, but his character and relationship with God go beyond his minor failings. But he has never taught something that was diametrically opposed to scripture in order to stir up a crowd.
He's transparent, and He's real, which is everything the kids and I admire about him

[steve p]

Originally Posted by James Griffin

Worship is of course saved for Christ alone, but there are many men who have traits I admire, and wish to emulate. But to date outside the Son of Man I have yet to find one perfect in every way.



And since I have never met a man who was never wrong about something, then I would have you say the answer to your question is yes.

I concur!

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I wanted to put my two cents in here...
I took my children (14 and 10) out to lunch the other day and just off the cuff, I asked them who was the greatest Christian that they knew of. My children attend Christian school, and so they have studied Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, Nate Saint;in fact my fourteen year-old had a particular affection for studying the Martyrs. I didn't really know what to expect, but without hesitation they both looked looked up and said, "Dad".
They see my husband every day, they have seen him lose his temper and occasionally (ok VERY rarely), see him make a mistake. Yet this is the man whom they feel best represents Jesus Christ in their lives.
I asked them why, and they answered differently, My son son said, "because he prays and he knows the Bible better than anybody" . He also said "Cause Dad never lies"
My daughter said it was because Dad always opens the Bible to answer my questions about God, or tells me how to go find it". (the other day they spent about an hour and a half looking at a passage in Matthew).
As his wife, I see who he really is, I see the daily things, and yet I still have to agree with my kids, My husband is the greatest Christian I know.
Is he ever wrong?
yeah, but his character and relationship with God go beyond his minor failings. But he has never taught something that was diametrically opposed to scripture in order to stir up a crowd.
He's transparent, and He's real, which is everything the kids and I admire about him

Great story! It reinforces the fact that the strongest Christians are often the "silent ones", meaning they are strong because of their character and God -not needing the constant validation of adoring, cheering, praising, crowds.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I wanted to put my two cents in here...
I took my children (14 and 10) out to lunch the other day and just off the cuff, I asked them who was the greatest Christian that they knew of. My children attend Christian school, and so they have studied Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, Nate Saint;in fact my fourteen year-old had a particular affection for studying the Martyrs. I didn't really know what to expect, but without hesitation they both looked looked up and said, "Dad".
They see my husband every day, they have seen him lose his temper and occasionally (ok VERY rarely), see him make a mistake. Yet this is the man whom they feel best represents Jesus Christ in their lives.
I asked them why, and they answered differently, My son son said, "because he prays and he knows the Bible better than anybody" . He also said "Cause Dad never lies"
My daughter said it was because Dad always opens the Bible to answer my questions about God, or tells me how to go find it". (the other day they spent about an hour and a half looking at a passage in Matthew).
As his wife, I see who he really is, I see the daily things, and yet I still have to agree with my kids, My husband is the greatest Christian I know.
Is he ever wrong?
yeah, but his character and relationship with God go beyond his minor failings. But he has never taught something that was diametrically opposed to scripture in order to stir up a crowd.
He's transparent, and He's real, which is everything the kids and I admire about him

Very good. What a great testimony!


I too can say my own father was one of the finest Christians I have known. He was always busy in the work of the kingdom. While many would see that he was not a "preacher" nor "in the ministry" I witnessed him often in intentional ministry.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” (James 1:27)

[ReformedDave]

We are all idol makers so the key is we can admire the achievements but when they take that inordinate place in our lives they've become something we worship. ALL men have clay feet.

[StillStanding]

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I wanted to put my two cents in here...
I took my children (14 and 10) out to lunch the other day and just off the cuff, I asked them who was the greatest Christian that they knew of. My children attend Christian school, and so they have studied Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, Nate Saint;in fact my fourteen year-old had a particular affection for studying the Martyrs. I didn't really know what to expect, but without hesitation they both looked looked up and said, "Dad".
They see my husband every day, they have seen him lose his temper and occasionally (ok VERY rarely), see him make a mistake. Yet this is the man whom they feel best represents Jesus Christ in their lives.
I asked them why, and they answered differently, My son son said, "because he prays and he knows the Bible better than anybody" . He also said "Cause Dad never lies"
My daughter said it was because Dad always opens the Bible to answer my questions about God, or tells me how to go find it". (the other day they spent about an hour and a half looking at a passage in Matthew).
As his wife, I see who he really is, I see the daily things, and yet I still have to agree with my kids, My husband is the greatest Christian I know.
Is he ever wrong?
yeah, but his character and relationship with God go beyond his minor failings. But he has never taught something that was diametrically opposed to scripture in order to stir up a crowd.
He's transparent, and He's real, which is everything the kids and I admire about him

That's awesome!

I hope my children and grandchildren think this way about me. My father was my hero too!

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Pro31:28

I wanted to put my two cents in here...
I took my children (14 and 10) out to lunch the other day and just off the cuff, I asked them who was the greatest Christian that they knew of. My children attend Christian school, and so they have studied Charles Finney, Billy Sunday, Nate Saint;in fact my fourteen year-old had a particular affection for studying the Martyrs. I didn't really know what to expect, but without hesitation they both looked looked up and said, "Dad".
They see my husband every day, they have seen him lose his temper and occasionally (ok VERY rarely), see him make a mistake. Yet this is the man whom they feel best represents Jesus Christ in their lives.
I asked them why, and they answered differently, My son son said, "because he prays and he knows the Bible better than anybody" . He also said "Cause Dad never lies"
My daughter said it was because Dad always opens the Bible to answer my questions about God, or tells me how to go find it". (the other day they spent about an hour and a half looking at a passage in Matthew).
As his wife, I see who he really is, I see the daily things, and yet I still have to agree with my kids, My husband is the greatest Christian I know.
Is he ever wrong?
yeah, but his character and relationship with God go beyond his minor failings. But he has never taught something that was diametrically opposed to scripture in order to stir up a crowd.
He's transparent, and He's real, which is everything the kids and I admire about him

That is awesome. It is tremendous that your kids feel that way.
I think it speaks very highly of your husband!

[Bro-Larry]

Originally Posted by TRFrance

I admire Winston Churchill as being one of the greatest leaders ever, even though it seems unlilkely that he was saved.

Sir Winston, is a cousin of mine. May I share in his admiration? LOL



My dad was the most truthful man I ever knew, I admire that character trait.

[ReddMann24]

if were talking about just everyday people steve irwin comes to mind for me. he was a huge into wildlife conservation. a major oponent of hunting ..which happens to be a big deal to me seeing that hunting is a tradition and basicly a way of life down here. now even though he would have ruined that for me if he could have i still admire his passion. he put everything he had into conservation it was his way of life he involved his whole family and alot of his friends just as we do in hunting. i have seem him cry over alligators bieng killed in fla. he so passionite about wildlife and totally commited to his cause and i admire that.