A Fresh Look at the Golden Rule

Matthew 7:12 (NIV)
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

William Barclay calls this passage “the Everest of all ethical teaching”.  Not only is Christ’s teaching the paramount lesson in social behavior, it is also unique.  Barclay says, “This is something which had never been said before.  It is new teaching, and a new view of life and of life’s obligations.”  Those are strong statements!  I invite you to join me in taking a fresh look at the Golden Rule.

Unique

The Golden Rule is unique in Christ’s positive presentation of the command.  The negative form of Christ’s command would look something like this:  “Don’t do anything to anyone that you wouldn’t want him or her to do to you.”  This negative form has been presented throughout history in a variety of forms.  But never before had the world heard this positive form of the command.

Negative -> Inaction

In the (negative) form of the command adherence is not very challenging.  That is, all I have to do is to check my behavior and make sure that it is something I’d be willing to receive.  In following the negative form, I will simply avoid certain actions, so they don’t come back and bite me.  The natural response to this negative form of the Golden Rule is, in effect, inaction.

Positive -> Action

But that’s not the form in which Jesus gives this command.  Instead, He taught it in the positive.  In doing so Jesus calls, not for inaction, but for action.  In order to live out the positive form of Christ’s command I must (first) determine how I would like to be acted upon and then (second) perform that action to others.  The guide for my action is my sense of how the world ought to treat me.  That part is actually pretty easy.  I have a very clear idea of how I want the world to treat me.  The challenge comes when I have to actually act that way to others!  Christ’s teaching is about action! 

A Note About Reciprocity

By the way, this isn’t about reciprocity.  In other words, I don’t act toward others the way I want to be treated to get something in return.  Nope.  The command is to act for the other person’s good, and that’s the end of the story.  The New Oxford Annotated Bible states it this way, “…the positive form here requires active contribution to the welfare and happiness of others.”  No reciprocity there, just my action for the other person’s benefit.

Application

The next time you see someone acting sad and lonely, think about the Golden Rule.  Christ directs us to two actions.  First, ask yourself this question. “When I am sad and feeling lonely, how do I want to be treated?” Second, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly.  Take that action for the other person’s benefit.

The next time you see someone acting angry and misunderstood, think about the Golden Rule.  Then, ask yourself this question. “When I am feeling angry and misunderstood, how do I want to be treated?” Then, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly.  Take that action for the other person’s benefit.

The next time you see someone who is completely wrong, think about the Golden Rule.  Then, ask yourself this question. “When I am completely wrong, how do I want to be treated?” Then, Jesus teaches us to treat that person accordingly.  Take that action for the other person’s benefit.

Do you get it?  The Golden Rule is a revolutionary teaching!  Can you imagine the impact we could have on the world if we lived by this command from Jesus?  I don’t think it is an exaggeration to suggest that it would literally change the world!

Go change the world today; live by the Golden Rule.

Lon Alderman
@leaderlifter

Forward to the Dawn

I ran across this in today's sermon preparation:

Luke 9:61-62
Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-by to my family."

Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

Here are William Barclay's thoughts on this passage...

[Jesus'] words to the third man state a truth which no one can deny. No ploughman ever ploughed a straight furrow looking back over his shoulder. There are some whose hearts are in the past. They walk forever looking backwards and thinking wistfully of the good old days.

Watkinson, the great preacher, tells how once at the seaside, when he was with his little grandson, he met an old minister. The old man was very disgruntled and, to add to all his troubles, he had a slight touch of sunstroke. The little boy had been listening but had not picked it up quite correctly; and when they left the grumbling complaints of the old man, he turned to Watkinson and said, “Granddad, I hope you never suffer from a sunset!”

The Christian marches on, not to the sunset, but to the dawn. The watchword of the kingdom is not, “Backwards!” but “Forwards!” To this man Jesus did not say either, “Follow!” or “Return!” he said, “I accept no lukewarm service,” and left the man to make his own decision.

Need I say more?

By the way, you can listen to my weekly sermons and find out where I'm preaching by clicking on the following links:

Weekly Sermons
Preaching Schedule

Forward to the dawn!
Lon Alderman
www.AcornMinistries.com

Plow Now, by Lon Alderman

Today's Build UP is inspired by my friend Mark Sturgell. His blog post today really hit me between the eyes. You can check out his post through this link:

The Intersection of Purpose and Now

Mark teaches...

Time is linear. We have no control over time. Each of us has 24 hours in each day. That will not change. There is no such thing as time management. We have the moment – this moment - to work with. We have Now. That’s all we own, all we are given true stewardship over. We cannot travel into the past or the future, even for a moment. This one is all we have.

My purpose is to build up the body of Christ, the Church. I do this by encouraging and equipping church leaders. Today, after reading Mark's blog, I realized that the most purposeful use of my "now" was to construct a Build UP. So...

I opened up my blog page and started keyboarding. The next thing I knew the blog was written! My hope is that you will be encouraged by this post. If you are, then my purpose is achieved!

Proverbs 20:4
A sluggard does not plow in season;
so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.

Plow now!
Lon
www.AcornMinistries.com

Adventure II, by Lon Alderman

Most churches have lost their sense of adventure! Instead of striding forward into the fray, our primary effort has become more defensive, leaning more toward fortification.

Should we really stay in the temporary safety of the "fort"?

Or, should we boldly risk a "charge"?

Luke 14:25-27 (The Message)
One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, "Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one's own self!—can't be my disciple. Anyone who won't shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can't be my disciple.

Oswald Chambers
This verse teaches us that the only men and women our Lord will use in His building enterprises are those who love Him personally, passionately, and with great devotion— those who have a love for Him that goes far beyond any of the closest relationships on earth. The conditions are strict, but they are glorious.

That's an incredibly poignant statement for the Church, particularly since "letting go" is not very culturally acceptable these days. Rather, we hear the church responding to the challenges in the world with statements like: "save for a rainy day" and "batten down the hatches"! Many churches are taking up defensive positions, and hoping to out last the the tough times, just when action is needed most!

The New Oxford American Dictionary on "adventure":
Ad - denoting motion or direction
Venture - dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant

In order to be disciples of Jesus we must move! In order to be disciples of Jesus we must "dare to do something or go somewhere that may be dangerous or unpleasant"! Jesus demands that we let it all go and follow Him!

Discipleship is an adventure!
Lon

Lifter or Leaner

Are you a lifter or a leaner?
Submitted by Pastor Jason Woolever
[originally posted on July 10, 2007]

1Thessalonians 5:11
"...encourage one another and build each other up..."

Check out this old poem by Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

There are two kinds of people on earth today,
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.
Not the good and the bad, for 'tis well understood
That the good are half-bad and the bad are half-good.
No! The two kinds of people on earth I mean
Are the people who lift and the people who lean.

Are you a person who lifts the loads of others with your attitude, words, and actions? Or are you the type who makes people's loads feel heavier than they were before you entered the room? What would your family/co-workers say?


To read more from Pastor Jason, check out his blog at:
http://post-methodist.blogspot.com

Irrevocable Step, by Lon Alderman

Matthew 9:9
As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector's booth. "Follow me," he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him.

Twice in the last week I have felt God call me to action and twice I responded with a step I could not retract. They were not huge earth-shattering, walk-on-the-moon steps. In fact, these "steps" were very simple and consisted of two short emails. One asked for help and the other offered encouragement from scripture. The main thing these simple steps have in common is that I believe God called me to make them.

In each case, the step I took has developed some inertia. For example, I heard God lead me to ask a friend to help me get a project moving that I have been dreaming about for six years. I wrote a simple email and took the irrevocable step of sending it. I believe God has blessed that effort, because my friend has chosen to help me.

The lesson I'm learning is to listen to God's leading and then act upon it. Jesus put it this way, "Follow Me."

Listen ~ Act
Lon

Build UP: The Right Time

The Right Time

Mark 6:50b
Immediately [Jesus] spoke to them and said, "Take courage! It is I. don't be afraid."

You probably noticed that it has been a long time since you've seen a Build UP in your in box. There are LOTS of reasons for this delay, but the one that I need to focus on tonight is what I'm calling "waiting for the right time".

I remember being around people that were going through difficult times. I kept waiting for the perfect moment to offer some assistance, but that time never materialized. I wonder what their would be like if I had acted immediately.

I remember wanting to apologize to friends. I kept waiting for just the right moment, but that time never happened. I wonder what their life would be like if I had apologized immediately.

I remember thinking about getting a Build UP written. I kept waiting for a time when I wasn't so busy, but that time never happened. I wonder who might have been encouraged if I had started posting these immediately.

Jesus often acted "immediately". A need arose and He responded. It appears that the "right time" for Jesus was often right now. Tonight isn't really any different than any of the previous 30 nights. The difference is that I'm choosing that now is the right time.

Thank you to Carol, Terry, and Rachel for helping me remember that these Build UPs meet a need!

Now is the right time!
Lon

Acorn Build Up: Fanning the Flames

Fanning the Flames

2Timothy 1:6-7
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.

One of my favorite things about camping is the campfire. In order to keep the flames going, I must tend the fire. I add wood, rearrange the placement of the logs, and, if needed, I blow air onto the embers to keep the fire going. If I leave the fire alone too long, the flames will die out and eventually the fire will die.

Our faith, like a campfire, takes effort to keep it "burning". We have to tend our faith or, it too, will lose its flame and eventually die out. Here are a few of the many ways to fan the flames of our faith:

* prayer - there's no better way to build a relationship than to talk with the Lord throughout the day
* scripture - read the Bible every day
* study - sit with others and discover God through His Holy Word
* worship - join with others in the presence of the Lord to lift our praises

Fanning is intentional participation in activities that add fuel, heat, and air to our faith. God gave us this awesome gift, now it is our responsibility to care for and feed it.

Happy fanning!
Lon

Acorn Build Up: Leadings

Leadings

Luke 9:59-60
[Jesus] said to another man, "Follow me."
But the man replied, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father."
Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God."

I've always thought Jesus' response to the man was unreasonably harsh. It seems to lack the compassion that I associate with the Lord. William Barclay provides a different perspective:

In all probability the man's father was not dead, and not even near dead. His saying most likely meant, "I will follow you after my father has died."

The point Jesus was making is that in everything there is a crucial moment; if that moment is missed the thing most likely will never be done at all. The man in the story had stirrings in his heart to get out of his spiritually dead surroundings; if he missed the moment he would never get out.

If we put off until to-morrow, it will in all likelihood never be [done]. Jesus urges us to act at once when our hearts are stirred.

The Spirit is constantly at work guiding and encouraging us to follow God's will. The moment we become aware of God's leading is the very moment to do something about it. The more we respond, the more sensitive we become to subsequent leadings. The more we respond, the more truly useful we become for the Lord's purposes.

Listen and act.
Lon