Dear Caldwell,
I would like to start a conversation about the Golden Rule.
Beginning this Sunday, our worship on Sundays will be considered in the context of this most basic of ethical construct for community – do unto others as you would have them do unto you. I’ll get us started this Sunday. Then we will have the chance to worship with our Latino neighbors and our Bread of Life neighbors on the next two successive Sundays.
In mid-November, we will circle back to the Golden Rule in sermons in November. This will not only frame our continued thinking about discipleship, but it will lead us up to Advent, the season in which we prepare for the coming of Kingdom of God in Christ.
Along the way, I’d love to hear from you – starting today. What does the Golden Rule mean to you personally? How should it take shape and be applied in our pluralistic, 21st century context? Do you have questions about what it really means and asks of us? Do you have a favorite quote, essay or sermon on the topic that you would like to share?
You can join in by responding below. Let’s get the conversation started and see where it takes us.
Yours in Christ,
John
I have a great puzzle — Norman Rockwell’s depiction of The Golden Rule. An inclusive montage of faces, an array of many cultures, races and religions in classic Norman Rockwell style. Could be put out on a table to be constructed over the course of the next month or so. Glad to share with Caldwell family and our neighbors…
Katy
The term “Golden Rule is not as meaningful in today’s society as it was centuries ago. Today, many people have a variety of gold objects and jewelry, but ownership of gold in times past was far more limited. And Rule? Again, I think a rule was considered more important than it is today. In fact, I think many view a Rule as something to be challenged or worked around.
So what would we call the Golden Rule if we were naming it today?