The Golden Rule

             Ever notice how some of the most beautiful passages in the Bible are also some of the hardest?? For example—I’m paraphrasing— “Don’t worry about tomorrow, what you’ll eat, what you’ll wear… Consider the birds of the air… the lilies of the field… God provides for them and God knows you need these things. Seek first the kingdom of God… So therefore, sell what you have…” (Luke 12:22-34; Matt. 6:25-34). That text was the Gospel at our wedding. It is beautiful! But there have been times in our life where it’s been very hard to believe or live out. Do I really believe God will provide if I trust him? What about…? 

           This Sunday’s Gospel is also beautiful but hard. “Do to others as you would have them do to you” Luke 6:31. I think pretty much everyone knows that text—and would agree with it! But what about the context?  Do you want your enemies to forgive you when you’re not repentant? We pray in the Lord’s Prayer that God would “forgive us just like we forgive others.” So, this Sunday Jesus also says, “But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you…” (6:27, 35). Yes. Jesus says that. He says it twice in case we want to argue with him. The fact that it comes from Jesus keeps it from being soul-crushing. That’s the context for the Golden Rule. It’s a beautiful sentiment. But it’s not just a sentiment—it’s a promise and a command. 

           And that’s not all. The second time he says to love our enemies, expecting nothing in return, he follows it up with: “…for the Most High is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful” 6:35-36. Really!? God is kind to the ungrateful and wicked?! Yes. That’s what the text says. One ancient tradition includes the phrase that God “despairs of no one.” That includes our enemies. That includes us. In Christ’s resurrection God was reconciling the whole world to God’s Self—even unrepentant sinners. So do good.

Peace,

Pr. Christian