I’m sure most of you are familiar with the Golden Rule: “Do unto others, as you would have them do unto you.” But, where did this Golden Rule come from? Is it in the Bible?
Well, yes, Jesus tells us in Matthew 12:31 to “love your neighbor as yourself.”
But, you know, Jesus wasn’t the first person to give us the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is also to be found in the Sacred Scripture and Holy Books of other faith traditions, some of them centuries older than Christianity.
For example: In Hinduism, it says: “Do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.”
In Buddhism, it says: “Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful.”
In Judaism, it says: “What is hateful to you do not do to your neighbor.”
And in Islam, it says: “Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.”
I find it truly remarkable that this one teaching appears in all the Holy Books, even though they were written on different continents, in different centuries, in different languages, and from different religious traditions.
Our teacher, Jesus, however, takes it one step further than the other religions. Which is why, I believe, Christianity is hardest religion to follow.
As we just heard in our gospel reading from today’s lectionary for the 7th Sunday after Epiphany, Jesus continues his famous Sermon on the Mount by giving us the Golden Rule, but then he goes further than that.
He says we’re not only to love our neighbor, but we’re to love our enemies; to forgive those who have wronged us; to bless those who have persecuted us.
That sounds crazy, right? You mean, if someone has hurt my child, disrespected my spouse, betrayed my trust, that I have to love and forgive them?
Yup! If you say you’re a follower of Jesus, then ‘yes’ you do!
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus also says: “If someone steals your coat, give them your shirt, too.”
Oh, come on, now! Really? You mean, if someone on the street robs me of my watch, I’m supposed to go, “Oh, wait, don’t forget my wallet, too!”? Crazy!
And, then Jesus says something really insane, it seems. He says: “If someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn and offer them your left cheek.”
Wait a minute, now? Let me get this right. Someone punches me, and I’m not supposed to punch back, but rather allow them to punch me again?
Yup! That’s what it means to be Christian. That’s why Christianity is the hardest religion to follow, because it not only goes against all of our human instincts, but it seems utterly impossible to put into practice.
Maybe that’s why Christianity has evolved into a religion that simply worships Jesus, but doesn’t really follow his teachings…doesn’t really put them into practice.
We’ve become fans of Jesus, but not really followers of his Way, because, let’s face it, it’s much easier to worship and praise the one guy who was all-loving and all-forgiving, rather than follow in his footsteps.
Now, some of you may think: “Well, Pastor Sal, Jesus was just holding up ideals – as goals for us to aspire to. He doesn’t actually expect us to reach them.”
Well, in John 14:12, Jesus says, “All of the things that I have done, you can do.” And, then he adds, “These things and greater!”
Jesus was saying, “I’m not the great exception. I’m the great example. Follow my Way. Do as I did.”
You may say: “Well, I do nice things for my family, my friends, my church.”
But Jesus says in today’s gospel reading: “It’s easy to show love for those who love you. It’s easy to do good for those who have done good to you. Anybody can do that. Even sinners do that,” he says.
But, if you want to be a Christian, you have to take it a step further…and most of us, my friends, are unwilling to take that step.
Now, let me be clear: When Jesus said to “forgive one another,” he’s not condoning bad behavior. And, when says, “turn the other cheek,” he wasn’t saying that we should allow others to abuse us.
A victim of domestic violence, for example, shouldn’t stay in the relationship because they want to be a ‘good Christian.’
As we heard in our Words of Integration & Guidance this morning, Jesus wasn’t a doormat…and he doesn’t want us to be doormats, either.
Turning the other cheek is not an act of weakness or submissiveness, but an act of defiance…of resistance.
Think of Rosa Parks, for example, refusing to move to the back of the bus.
A non-violent response is not passive or weak. Resistance is activism, and it requires great strength.
Right now, the #1 book on the New York Times best-seller list, is entitled, “LET THEM.”
It is written by self-help guru, Mel Robbins, who has one of the most listened podcasts in the world. She’s been on Oprah and the Today Show.
“LET THEM” has become so popular, in fact, that people are actually getting the words “Let Them” tattooed on their bodies.
The “Let Them” theory is this: People will be rude. Let them. People will cut you off in traffic. Let them. People will judge you. Let them.
Again, it’s not about being a doormat. It’s about holding on to your power. Because if you allow the behavior of others to change you, you’ve given over your power to them.
That’s exactly what Jesus was getting at (2,000 years ago) with “Turn the Other Cheek.”
You may also remember in the Bible, when Jesus sends his disciples out two-by-two to preach in neighboring towns, and he says to them, “If they do not accept your message, share the dust off your feet and move on.”
In other words, LET THEM.
Our human EGOS, however, are fragile. Our egos tell us that to “love the enemy” and to “turn the other cheek” is weakness…but Jesus tells us that it is our greatest strength…one that will heal the world.
The whole point of Christianity, my friends, is to deny the commands of the ego (which are based in fear) and allow ourselves to be led more fully by the commands of the Spirit (which are based in love).
That’s why when we follow the Way of Jesus (when we really put his teachings of love and forgiveness into practice) we experience new life in the Spirit and a peace which surpasses all understanding.
As we close out Black History Month this week, I want to share the words of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, who (as a follower of Jesus) also practiced non-violence.
He said, “I am convinced that love is the most durable power in the world. It is not an expression of impractical idealism; but of practical realism. Far from being the pious injunction of a Utopian dreamer, love is an absolute necessity for the survival of our civilization. To return hate for hate does nothing but intensify the existence of evil in the universe. Someone must have sense enough and religion enough to cut off the chain of hate and evil, and this can only be done through love. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. The aftermath of the “fight fire with fire” method is bitterness and chaos; the aftermath of the love method is reconciliation and the creation of the beloved community.”
That Beloved Community of which Dr. King spoke is the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth of which Jesus spoke.
Building this Community (this Kingdom) is not for the faint of heart. It will require great courage…but, thankfully, we have the Power of God and the support of one another.
So, together, let us continue the follow in the Way of Jesus, building the Beloved Community and bringing about the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth…a world of peace, love, and justice for all people.
May it be so.