Holy God, we thank you today
for the knowledge that we are all included in the good news of the Gospel. Help us to spread this knowledge far and
wide. Let us remember the words that
Jesus taught while he walked upon this earth.
Spur us on to give of what we have received. May my words be from you and our thoughts
give glory to you alone. Amen and amen.
Now, you’d think that the so-called “Golden Rule” would
make for easy sermon reflection. Alas,
it did not. So, I went back to
basics—let’s think for a
moment about the way we would teach a child the “Golden Rule”. It seems a good thing to do because if we
cannot break it down enough for a child to understand, we probably don’t
understand it very well ourselves. So,
pretend just for a moment, that I am talking to a child of, say, seven or
so.
David
(well, I didn’t say it wasn’t my child) comes home from Sunday school with all
kinds of questions about the “Golden Rule”.
We need to find a way to answer those questions so that he can really
understand the impact of the words on his young life. We might say something like this: the Golden Rule is a great way to measure
whether or not you are living your life the way Jesus lived his life. We know that it is important when we look at
the way Jesus loved people. You know how
mom is always saying “Don’t do this” and “Don’t do that”? Well, this rule is not about don’ts, it’s
about do’s. First, we have to love
ourselves and that can be hard to do sometimes.
Then we need to love everyone else the same way. This rule tells us to DO something. It tells us to get out there and love other
people before they even have the chance to love us first. It tells us to be on the alert for places
where we can reach out and help someone before they ask for help. Does that make sense, David?” And so we wait with bated breath, hoping that
Freddie understands what we mean.
Oh,
Great! David has a question or two! “What about people I don’t like, do I have to
be nice to them?” I try again: “Well, yes, it does mean that. It means that if we really experience God’s
love for us that we will want everyone to experience that same love. The only way we can do that is to be more
kind and caring than anyone can possibly expect us to be.” Freddie is not so sure about this part of the
Golden Rule because kids at school are sometimes not very nice to him, but,
bless his heart, he is trying to get it.
And
what about those of us who are adults?
Why is it so hard for us to hear and understand the Golden Rule for
ourselves? We certainly have heard
enough sermons, sat through enough Sunday School classes, and listened to
enough lectures from our parents or grandparents to think we understand it. But sometimes the simplest to hear is the most
difficult to understand. So, how would
you describe the Golden Rule? Try this
one written by Joseph L. Gross in 1915 on for size. Gross says:
“The Golden Rule [is] the throbbing heart and center around which
revolve all the duties every [person] toward every one of [his/her] [fellow
persons]. It contains two vital
truths--to think of all others in the realm of their needs as one an equality
with ourselves, and then to treat them from the standpoint of the unselfish
love with which we would be treated. As we think of others from the standpoint
of our own needs, our hearts will be more tender toward their frailties and we
will be ready to go with them the other mile….
When [people] open their hearts to beat in unison with this living
truth, coming from the throbbing heart of Christ, then will the hurt of the
world be healed, and not till then.”
“Equality
with ourselves—to me this says that everyone’s—from the smallest child in the
orphanage in Uganda to the great powers that be, with us somewhere in between,
are all equal. Think of the change that
would come if we truly believed this—if we truly believed that it is as
important for children in other lands to have healthy good food as it is for
our grandchildren or children. Would we
not then as a people work harder to make sure that resources are shared
equitably? And, think of it this way—if
our leaders and politicians treasured the safety of all people the way they
treasure our safety—would we be as apt to start and continue wars and battles
in other lands? In MCC, we believe that
the right of the LGBT or straight person in every country has the same right to
know God’s acceptance and grace as we do.
That will naturally cause us to look outward and not inward. As we look outward, we see a myriad of needs
in communities and countries far beyond our quiet suburban life. Looking outward also invites us to utilize
our great resources to ensure that all within our smaller community know that
we are here and stand ready to invite them into this place with us no matter
what their need. Our God is a great God
and, as we share, we ourselves learn more and more of this divine grace and
peace.
Now,
take a look at this definition, written in 1945 by James V. Defoe: “The Golden Rule is golden indeed. It is not
the whole gospel of Christ, but our devotion to the gospel is mere pretense
unless we practice the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule itself needs a
criterion–such as standards of right and wrong that are valid in the sight of
God rather than what custom, or the status quo, or our own ignorance, says is
right. ... If the Golden Rule were practiced, heaven would begin on earth. Try
it for one day and see what a difference it makes.” Mr. Defoe calls us to account for the way we
practice the “whole gospel of Christ”.
If we do not practice the Golden Rule, than our devotion to Christ or to
spreading the Gospel is for naught. I
believe that every ounce of discrimination, hatred, and bigotry comes from this
simple truth. A religious belief that
singles out people to hate is not consistent with Christianity itself. Many
ask me what I believe about heaven. I
share Mr. Defoe’s suggestion that heaven can begin while we are still on this
earth; and that in terms of loving and being as Christians, it is more
important to work to bring about justice and compassion for all, than it is to
focus on the promise of eternal life.
This is not to say that I do not value eternal life, but it is a gift
given to us from God, our creator.
Creating a world where heavenly justice and grace is real changes the
world for hundreds of thousands of people is a call which we must answer if we
are to live the “Golden Rule”.
F.R.
Boston suggests that “The golden rule is the criterion of character. By it we
can test ourselves as to our right relation with God and by it our [brothers
and sisters] can judge of our relations to God. ... When we are lacking in
brotherly [and sisterly] feeling and conduct, it is a positive evidence that we
are lacking in the spirit of [being a child of] God.” Right relationship—how many times before have
we talked about right relationship? Some
of you have asked me how you know if you are in right relationship. The rule of loving others as you love
yourself is certainly a worthy measurement.
I am specifically drawn to the last sentence in the quote above—“when we
are lacking in brotherly and sisterly feeling and conduct, it is positive
evidence that we are lacking in the spirit of being a child of God.” I don’t know about you, but this one cuts to
the core of all my beliefs. If I am not
loving like a brother or sister to all without distinction or exception, I am
not experiencing the spirit of being a child of God. Now that will cause us to stop and
think. In MCC we equate this spirit of
being a child of God with the will and way to reach out to others who do not
know or believe that they can have this same spirit of being a child of God. The famous orator, William Jennings Bryan,
said in 1910 regarding the Golden Rule, “It is not negative harmlessness, but
aggressive and positive helpfulness.”
“Aggressive
and positive helpfulness” spells out the call to work for justice and to spread
the compassion we have received from God and from other children of God in our
lives. It calls us to be the one person
who makes a difference in the life of a desperately scared adolescent. It calls us to be a community of children of
God working together to create a space—an MCC space—where all can come without
regard for social or economic status, or race, or ethnicity, or any other
challenge they may be facing. It calls
us to be a community of the Golden Rule and to live out that equal compassion
and love amongst ourselves; and, as we are able to do that with more and more
equity and encouragement, we will be able to reach out at the same time to be a
living Golden Rule community.
Do you remember that when the two men who brutally attacked and
murdered Matthew Shepherd, they should have received the death penalty in the
state of Wyoming. But Matthew’s mother
was there and she asked the judge to spare their lives. Can we ever understand what she must have
gone through living with the memories of what had happened to her son? I know I can’t. What greater example of ‘loving your enemies
and treating others with reciprocal respect can be found? The next time I think of the Golden Rule I
will think of Mathew Shepherd’s mother and hold her in my heart as a woman who
loved with a love that can change the world.
And to that we need only say, Amen
and amen.
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