The principles of selflessness and humility can help guide us in difficult conversations. The New Testament tells us,
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV).
Similarly, Romans 12:3 says, "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: “Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you” (Romans 12:3).
It can be easy to think more highly of our own opinions than of the value of the human sitting next to us (or behind the other computer screen). However, the Bible emphasizes that people are of the utmost value and we are to look out for each other.
Jesus modeled this, demonstrating the ultimate example of the biblical definition of respect. He ate dinners with people who had been left behind by society. He washed dirty feet, the actual job of a servant. He died a criminal’s death on a cross to pay for our sin. He put us first. He did not adopt the beliefs of everyone he served, but he valued them and served them.