The Golden Rule
As I watched some of the Kavanaugh hearings yesterday, I couldn’t help but think about the words of Jesus to the accusers of the woman caught in adultery, “You, without sin, cast the first stone.” As I type this post for today, Judge Kavanaugh’s words resonate with me: “I ask you to judge me by the standard that you would want applied to your father. Your husband. Your brother. Or your son.”
As a kid in “public” grade school, I remember that “The Golden Rule” was taught, and emphatically brought to our remembrance when one of us needed discipline. It set the tone for our respect and appreciation for each other. Our teachers would quote it to a kid who was a bully (yes, there were bullies back in those days, too) or to a kid who was disrespectful to their teachers or peers.
Oh. My. Goodness. Why isn’t “The Golden Rule” more prominent in our schools, workplaces, homes, politics – literally, EVERYWHERE, today? Whatever our religious or faith persuasions might be, what a difference it would make if we lived our lives with adhering to those beautiful words from Matthew 7:12 “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.” If we made those words the absolute non-negotiable in our lives, this world would be such a better place.
This Rule points us in a clear direction of treating everyone with dignity, honor, respect, and kindness which is the way we want to be treated. What if we sought out for others the same potential and possibilities which we seek for ourselves? What if we helped others as we would like to be helped ourselves?
If we want love, let us give love; if we want kindness, let us give kindness; if we want respect, let us give respect; if we want “innocent until proven guilty”, let us judge others as “innocent until proven guilty”. If we desire to not be judged, may we not judge others. The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.
“The Golden Rule,” is indeed a biblical principle. Luke 6:31 also records Jesus saying, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” This statement is in the context of a lesson from Jesus about loving our enemies. Jesus led by example — He treated people that way. Rather than doing to others what they have done to us or giving them what they may deserve, we are to treat them the way we want them to treat us.
If we lived by “The Golden Rule, just maybe we would be a conduit of living out Jesus’ words as we treat others the way we want to be treated. “The Golden Rule” will be the best “rule of measure” we use daily to spread love and peace in our world.