In Matthews 5-7 Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him, and he opened his mouth and taught them the Sermon on the Mount. In this sermon, Jesus taught his followers the Lord’s Prayer, the Golden Rule, and several parables. Jesus is giving his listeners the main theme of Christian discipleship. As far as anyone knows this is the first time that Jesus has collected the twelve disciples together to hear him, talk to them, and teach. It should not be surprising that he chooses to talk about how we should treat each other and how to respect each other. The golden rule is a true value which means that you should treat others the way you want to be treated yourself. If you would like people to treat you with respect, then you should make sure to treat them with respect too. In other words, a person should expect to get what you give to others. This could be disappointing to some folks that do not show much respect but it is their choice.
Most people think that the “Golden Rule” is exclusive to the Christian religion but it is found in religions all over the world. Buddha tells his followers to “hurt not other with what pains you.” Chinese philosophy state to “never impose on others what you would not choose for yourself.”
Hinduism tells its followers, “This is the sum of duty; do naught unto others what you would not have them do unto you.” Islam says: “O’ my child, make yourself the measure (for dealings) between you and others.” The “Golden Rule” has been around for a very long time and is not unique to Christianity. Five centuries before Christ, Confucius set forth his own Golden Rule, “Do not impose on others what you do not wish for yourself.” About the same time, Plato wrote, “may I be of sound mind, and do to others as I would that they should do to me. And then Plato is credited as saying, “Do not do to others that which angers you when they do it to you.” Jesus knew a good thing and was able to spread this idea worldwide where others before Him could not.
The “Golden Rule” has been a wonderful tool to live by, but has it become obsolete? With all the political correctness, new age thinking, and total lack of respect in today’s society is the “Golden Rule” antiquated? Unfortunately, in today’s world, a lot of things have become more important than relationships with other humans. Many could care less how another person feels as long as their world is not affected or if they have the upper hand in the, quote “relationship.”
People actually think that the “Golden Rule” is wrong when business relationships are involved, customer satisfaction is an issue, and how people’s experiences are developed. It does not matter what has been done, the client is only concerned with what they would have done unto themselves. In today’s world the “Golden Rule” works well if the other person is available for us to ask them just how do they expect to be treated and then only if we are willing to treat them that way. In other words, the “Golden Rule” works great until it doesn’t. Another problem we may encounter is other people might not want to be treated the same way as you want to be treated. Philippians 2:4 Reminds us to, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.” Everyone is not the same.
So how do we deal with the new attitude toward a very old “Rule”. “The new Golden Rule now has divisions – it has changed from the original principle. So, let’s deal with the three divisions according to Effectiviology. This new outlook on the Golden Rule formulates it three ways. – (1) Positive/directive form – Aligns with the original concept, treat others the way you want to be treated yourself. – (2) Negative/prohibitive form – You should not treat others in ways you would not want to be treated yourself. – (3) Empathic/responsive form – When you wish something upon others, you also wish it upon yourself.” (Livingston, 2020) “Everybody, for the most part, benefits from the positive form because each receives fair treatment regardless of whether he or she wanted it or not. Very seldom will a person yell at you for doing something overwhelmingly nice for them? The positive form is the Golden Rule. The negative prohibitive form is, if you don’t want people to say mean things to you, then you shouldn’t say mean things to them. This is the other side of the positive form. Stay away from ugly remarks, and you’re safe. The empathic form is whatever you wish upon someone else, you are wishing it upon yourself. If we wish evil on an old friend, we are wishing that same evil upon ourselves.” (Livingston, 2020) One of the most serious problems we face is the fact that cultures around the world are different from each other and have no desire to change. Even within our own country, there is pluralism exists. “It seems clear there is some similarity in the various intuitions about the moral responsibility that people have had in various times and places around the world. But what could the elusive universal ‘core’ of the many diverse moralities be? For over a century now, the chief candidate has been the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule, whether articulated as ‘Treat others as you would wish to be treated, or ‘Do unto others as you would have them do unto you, or in any of the other several ways in which it has been stated, is by far the most oft-cited formulation of universal morality. Policymakers declare it. The media repeats it. School textbooks promote it. Many ordinary folks simply believe it. It is generally believed that not only does it appear in all major cultures and religions, but that it can be detected in some submerged form even in moralities that seem only dubiously compatible with it.” (Anderson, 2009)
Now we have to ask ourselves if the “Golden Rule” still works or should we try to conform to the new worldliness that wants to change many things? John 13:34-35 instructs us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this, all people will know that you are my disciples if you have a love for one another.” The Bible is full of examples telling us to respect each other and to show compassion. Ephesians tell us to be kind, Hebrews tell us to encourage each other, and Colossians tell us to forgive each other. It makes sense that the “Golden Rule” should still be front and center of our daily lives.
Anderson, S. (2009). Philosophy Now. Retrieved from The Golden Rule: Not So Golden Anymore: https://philosophynow.org/issues/74/The_Golden_Rule_Not_So_Golden_Anymore
Livingston, S. (2020, 10 7). The Sumter Item. Retrieved from Opinion: Golden Rule Is Still Relevant: https://www.theitem.com/stories/opinion-golden-rule-is-still-relevant,352579