How thin is the line between respect and worship?

I respect people who respect me. I'm always calling them out on what I feel is wrong or disagree with. I feel that is fair for respect. To challenge someone's actions is not disrespectful. I feel for someone who worships another's word as law the idea of "respectively" questioning actions is seen as an attack. I've found myself in such a perdictement. Where every respectively worded question I pose seems to be perceived as a slap in the face to the person I'm talking to. Those around him become enraged at my questions.