You are here » Home» Churchgoers» Interfaith» Understanding Each Other
The Golden Rule 2012
Do to others as you would have them do to you
(Luke 6:31)
THE GOLDEN RULE - a paper in view of volunteering at the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
A WORLD UNITED
The world is coming to this country and we can contribute to the experience of a lifetime. Scripture can guide Christians in all we do. 'This is how the person dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work' (2 Tim. 3:16).Christian spirituality can underpin our volunteering and service to people during the 2012 Games.
Designed by Joelle Mosselmans
mossjoelle@gmail.com
SOLIDARITY
Our world is in urgent need of an injection of solidarity, mutual respect, and love. This involves recognising and affirming all that is good in others, not least in other religions. The love of God is inclusive, for all his children. Christian scriptures and leaders have always affirmed that all people are equal before God and each person is a unique and precious child of God. To love our neighbour with the love of Christ and see in them a brother or sister with whom we can build a sense of family gives us freedom.
GO FOR GOLD!
We are likely to meet and work with people of all faiths and none. So it helps to know that we can walk on common ground. The GOLDEN RULE is a norm or code of conduct found in the scriptures of all major religions, and in Christian scripture reads 'Always treat others as you would have them treat you' (Luke 6:31), see also Matthew 7:12. It is also accepted by people without a formal faith but who share values of honesty, solidarity, equality, peace and justice. If the Golden Rule were lived out it would transform relationships: in the family, in society and even among states. The Golden Rule is not a summary of Christian faith, and does not exhaust all that can be said about love of neighbour. Nonetheless, it can be put into practice and in this way allow God's love to shine out more in our lives.
WITNESS TO JESUS
We can witness to Jesus by the constant re-evangelisation of our lives and our service to others. We must also speak about our faith when appropriate: 'Always be ready to make your defence to anyone who demands from you an account of the hope that is in you' (1 Pet 3:15). We trust that the Holy Spirit may guide us as to what to say and when. Respect is key to every dialogue, involving a willingness to listen and to learn. People of other faiths can be very sensitive to poorly hidden agendas regarding hoped for conversion to Christ. They welcome however, Christian sharing on what we believe.
Whilst being ready to 'make disciples of all nations' (cf Matt 28:19) we know that Christian faith is a gift from God, the work of the Holy Spirit, and that mission is not measured by visible results. It is true too that 'God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him' (Acts 10:34- 35). 'Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last' (Luke 13: 28-29).
This does not mean diminishing our faith in Jesus as Lord and Saviour or being blind to practices and teachings not in accordance with the Gospel. Dialogue requires us first to establish friendly relations - seeking what unites. Then we can speak about 'difficult issues' while being ready to face our own. Nonetheless, the most important feature of witness today, is mutual love among Christians of different traditions 'By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another'(John 13:35)
HUMAN DIGNITY - is given by God
Human dignity is derived from the fact that every human person is created by a loving God out of love, and has been endowed with the gifts of reason and free will, and therefore enabled to love God and others. On the firm basis of these principles, the person requires the respect of his or her original dignity and his or her human vocation.
(Catholic/Muslim Forum Statement, November 2008)
WHAT IT MEANS TO LOVE
Christian scriptures give an insight into how God's love reaches all people and how we can imitate that style of loving.
- Owe no one anything, except to love one another: for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law (Rom 13:8). This means our love should be universal, for all. Symbols courtesy of Focolare
- Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and that is God's proof of his love towards us (Romans 5:8).This invites us to take the initiative.
- Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:31). Loving as ourselves is truly a challenge!
- I have become all things to all people, so that I might by any means save some (1 Cor 9:22). This is an invitation to take on board joys and concerns.
Religious scriptures and leaders have highlighted the importance of love, for example:
'All things work together for good for those who love God' (Rom 8:28).
- 'A word full of love is worth more than a gift given without warmth' (Qur'an)
- 'I cannot hurt you without harming myself' (Gandhi)
PEACE
Let's remember that religions are an authentic source of peace and reconciliation - despite the distortion of religion by some. A leader in inter religious dialogue has said: 'Believers are prophets of hope. They know that, gifted by God with a heart and intelligence... they can, with His help, change the course of history... to make of humanity an authentic family of which each one of us is a member'. (Jean-Louis Tauran, President PCID).
RESOURCES AND WEBSITES:
"Friendship and Exchange with People of Other Faiths: a context for witness and dialogue" by Celia Blackden, Grove Books EV91 £3.95 www.grovebooks.co.uk
Churches Together in England www.cte.org.uk and www.cte.org.uk/goldenrule2012 and
Churches Together in Britain and Ireland www.ctbi.org.uk
Inter Faith Network for the United Kingdom www.interfaith.org.uk
A Year of Service: http://ayearofservice.org.uk/
Great Christian orators and writers down the centuries have emphasised the importance of living the Word so as to form Christ in his disciples. They affirm that just as a person who does not know the few letters of the alphabet and a few rules of grammar remains illiterate, so too a person who does not put into practice the words of Scripture remains an underdeveloped Christian. For example St Bonaventure says 'The disciples of Christ must study holy Scripture like children learning their ABC, ... who later begin to read one-syllable words, and then to read, and later still to connect the meaning of phrases.'
Our society is in urgent need of an injection of solidarity, mutual respect, and love. This involves recognising and affirming all that is good in others, not least in other religions. The Golden Rule is a norm or code of conduct found in the scriptures of all major religions, and it invites believers to treat others as they would like to be treated. In the Gospels it is found in Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31. If this norm were lived by all believers, and indeed by those who do not have a formal faith, it would bring about a transformation in relationships: in the family, in society and even among states.
The Golden Rule is not a summary of Christian faith, nor does it exhaust all that can be said about love of neighbour. Nonetheless, as a Word of God, it can be lived and in this way allow God's love to shine out more in our lives.
Graham Kent - a colleague in Christian unity and inter faith relations told me his story:
"When I was a small boy we lived on an estate in Wetherby. Our house was on a crescent and one day we saw a stranger knocking at the doors along our road. He was carrying a bag with items to sell. The man was dark skinned and wore a turban. In those days people from other countries were hardly ever seen. He was a stranger and at door after door he was turned away, or the door did not open. "When he reached our house my mother invited him in and offered him a cup of tea and they talked for a while. She looked at the household goods he had to sell: dishcloths, tea towels and the like, and bought one. He then left and my mother turned to my younger sister and I, two small children aged 7 and 5, and said: 'Remember we are all children of God whatever the colour of our skin'. For me those words were some of the most important I ever heard. They have remained with me throughout my life, guided my choices and actions, and are the basis of my commitment to racial justice."
Questions for discussion:
- What opportunities can you identify to apply the Golden Rule in your circumstances?
- What other Bible texts underpin the Golden Rule and extend its meaning?
- What can your church / group do to meet people of other faiths and seek to put the Golden Rule into practice with them?
What the faiths believe:
BAHÁ'Í
Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself. Baha'u'llah, Gleanings 128
BUDDHISM
Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful. Udana-Varga 5.18
CHRISTIANITY
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Luke 6:31
HINDUISM
This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.
Mahabharata 5:1517
ISLAM
Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.
An-Nawawi's Forty Hadith, 13
JAINISM
One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated
Mahavira, Sutrakritanga
JUDAISM
What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour. This is the whole law: the rest is mere commentary. Talmud, Shabbat 31a
SIKHISM
I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all
Sri Guru Granth Sahib, pg. 1299
ZOROASTRIANISM
That nature only is good when it shall not do to another whatever is not good for its own self.
Dadistan-I-Dinik 94.5