Have We Forgotten the Golden Rule?

The words of Jesus to his disciples on the night of his arrest haunt me. Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples, a humble act that turned the social order of his day on its head. A teacher washing the feet of his students? No way! That was a job not even for the students, but for a slave.

This setting aside of the hierarchical social order was only the beginning of his message though, for Jesus then said to his disciples, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

What is curious about this passage is that this commandment is not so new. Our Jewish siblings received this teaching in Leviticus, the third book of the Torah, “You shall not hate in your heart anyone… but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”

People of faith, whether Jewish or Christian and I imagine other faith traditions as well are taught to love their neighbors. We have all heard of the golden rule, which is not only found in the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, but also widely recognized as an ethical principal across numerous faith traditions and philosophies, “Treat others as you want to be treated.”

The Golden Rule

What haunts me and breaks my heart these days is that in our nation, which many claim to be founded as a Christian nation, is currently known more for our ill treatment rather than our love for our neighbors. It seems that we have forgotten that we are to treat others the way we want to be treated.

But you might ask me, “Is this really happening?” I would simply respond by saying, “Have you been watching the news or reading the headlines lately?

The Jewish and Christian scriptures explicitly teach us to care for – the poor, the marginalized, and the strangers, which today are called immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. This care of the poor, marginalized, and strangers is also considered a fundamental aspect, even a moral obligation, of not only Christianity but many other religious and ethical systems.

So, what is wrong with us today? Have we forgotten who we are called to be as people of faith in this country? Doesn’t the Statute of Liberty read, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free?”

As Jesus began his public ministry according to the Gospel of Luke, he read from the prophet Isaiah, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free.” He concluded his reading by saying, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” This is the love by which Christians, or a Christian nation is to be known. To love others as Jesus loved.

Let us reclaim who we are as God’s people. Let us be known not by exclusion or hate or revenge, but by this love which recognizes the dignity of every human soul. As Pope Leo XIV said, “Jesus doesn’t ask us to rank our love for others.” We are simply to humbly love one another as Jesus loved us. Let’s get to work loving each other, for it is needed desperately these days.  

Published May 24, 2025 The Redlands Daily Facts