Embodying the Golden Rule: A Call to Action

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The Golden Rule is active, urging us to "do" rather than merely avoid harm. You may know there is another kind of version of it sometimes called the Silver Rule, which is the negative version of this. The Silver Rule teaches us what not to do, and that's a real good thing, but you could actually follow the Silver Rule and never do anything good for anybody. [00:01:43]

The story of the Good Samaritan illustrates these principles: the robbers follow the Iron Rule, the priest and Levite adhere to the Silver Rule, and the Samaritan exemplifies the Golden Rule by actively helping the injured man. The Good Samaritan does the Golden Rule; he does to that man what he would want somebody to do if that was him. That's the act of the Golden Rule; it's something that we do. [00:02:30]

Jesus demonstrated the Golden Rule by touching lepers, valuing children, and treating marginalized individuals with dignity. His life was a testament to the Golden Rule, even in his death, as he offered grace to the thief on the cross. He taught a golden rule message, lived a golden rule life, died a golden rule death, and then he began a golden rule community. [00:04:02]

The Golden Rule is universal, applying to all people, regardless of their background or beliefs. Jesus says, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you." This has application to the entire human race. It's active, it's great because it's universal, and then it's proven. [00:03:13]

The simplicity of the Golden Rule is its beauty; it requires no wealth, status, or special skills, making it accessible to everyone. How much money do you need to do that? You don't need any money. What title do you need? What degree do you need? What networks do you need? What gifts? No, you just do that. It is available to absolutely anybody. [00:05:39]

Living by the Golden Rule is deeply rewarding, as exemplified by Dorcas in Acts 9, whose life of kindness and service made her indispensable to her community. People who live by this rule are cherished and missed, unlike those who may have wealth or power but lack genuine relationships. [00:06:12]

The Golden Rule inspires a vision for a better world, where marriages, families, businesses, and governments operate on principles of mutual respect and care. Just imagine for a moment if every marriage was a golden rule marriage. There would be no more betrayals, no more divorce, no more screaming, no more infidelity. [00:07:21]

Historically, the Golden Rule has been a catalyst for social change, such as the abolition of slavery, where it was a key text for those fighting for freedom and equality. Abraham Lincoln's definition of democracy was rooted in this principle, emphasizing the dignity and worth of every human being. [00:09:01]

The Golden Rule is golden because there is nothing like it, and this next moment is an opportunity for you to put the Golden Rule into practice. So go to it, make it a golden rule day, live a golden rule life, die a golden rule death, and people will not let you go. [00:09:50]

The Golden Rule is deeply inspiring. One commentator who's writing about the Sermon on the Mount says that it could even be called the Golden Vision because it's a way of looking at life and a way of looking at my life so that instead of focusing on what happened to me today, the question becomes, "How could I live this kind of life for the sake of other people?" [00:08:02]

The Golden Rule is golden because it's unstoppable. Even at the very end, when Jesus is on the cross, there's a thief on the cross. Remember me when you came into your kingdom, and he doesn't respond, "How dare you?" No, he says, "I got it. This day you'll be with me." [00:05:28]

The Golden Rule is golden because it is deeply inspiring. It challenges us to envision and work towards a world where justice, equality, and dignity are upheld for all people. It is a principle that anyone can adopt, making it a powerful tool for personal and communal transformation. [00:09:01]

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