"Do into others and you have them do to you" Matthew 7:12.
Even before Jesus spoke these words, this law of reciprocity had been held by other religions and philosophies. And through the centuries this "Golden Rule" so called in the 17th or 18th century has become a universal ethical norm. Yet taken out of context, this rule is quickly tarnished of its guiding light.
Perhaps watching too many episodes of Criminal Minds has allowed me to over analyze the darker side of the human will, yet a clear understanding of the context of the Golden Rule is necessary in an ever increasing morally relativisitc society.
Case in point, what if the way I like to be treated is not good? What if a person tends to treat himself or herself in an abusive way, and doesn't realize it? What if a person has habitually formed a poor self-image? Would we really want that person to treat others in the same manner?
Taken in context, Jesus taught that the way we are to treat ourselves is to love ourselves as he has loved us. This is how we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. So before I am to do to others, I must love myself as God loves me.
How does God love? He loved us so much he sent his only Son for the salvation of the world. God's love is a self-abandonment of sacrificial giving. This kind of love is not difficult to find at any time, including today; however, this kind of love is not often celebrated publicly. In fact what is often celebrated in the public eye today is quite the opposite.
When you are treating others, do you have the mind of Christ or that of a criminal? So beware of how the Golden Rule can be tarnished out of context. And remember the Jewish parable of long spoons--be sure your spoon is feeding your neighbor.
Even before Jesus spoke these words, this law of reciprocity had been held by other religions and philosophies. And through the centuries this "Golden Rule" so called in the 17th or 18th century has become a universal ethical norm. Yet taken out of context, this rule is quickly tarnished of its guiding light.
Perhaps watching too many episodes of Criminal Minds has allowed me to over analyze the darker side of the human will, yet a clear understanding of the context of the Golden Rule is necessary in an ever increasing morally relativisitc society.
Case in point, what if the way I like to be treated is not good? What if a person tends to treat himself or herself in an abusive way, and doesn't realize it? What if a person has habitually formed a poor self-image? Would we really want that person to treat others in the same manner?
Taken in context, Jesus taught that the way we are to treat ourselves is to love ourselves as he has loved us. This is how we are to love our neighbors as ourselves. So before I am to do to others, I must love myself as God loves me.
How does God love? He loved us so much he sent his only Son for the salvation of the world. God's love is a self-abandonment of sacrificial giving. This kind of love is not difficult to find at any time, including today; however, this kind of love is not often celebrated publicly. In fact what is often celebrated in the public eye today is quite the opposite.
When you are treating others, do you have the mind of Christ or that of a criminal? So beware of how the Golden Rule can be tarnished out of context. And remember the Jewish parable of long spoons--be sure your spoon is feeding your neighbor.
