THE GOLDEN RULE

Norman Rockwell, the name is synonymous with the Americana of yesteryear. For over 50 years he created art for magazines, books and ads, a true illustrator by name who told stories through 4,000 original works of art depicting the everyday whimsy of American life. His art reflected the ideals of a vibrant and optimistic and bright United States, having illustrated the famous painting of Rosie the Riveter and all the covers for the Saturday Evening Post.

In 1959, Mr. Rockwell created a painting titled, “The Golden Rule”, an artwork which when simply broken down spoke to the ethical and fundamental principle of treating others with the same concern that we ourselves would be treated. For 1959 it was a diverse refection overall of humanity rarely represented in media of the day. For Rockwell a man of faith himself had been studying comparative religions and noticed the same underlying thread of this rule weaving through many of them. In the lower half of the painting there is text resting above the scene, a verse from the book of Matthew 7:12. Here, Christ has come to the end of His teaching on the Sermon on the Mount when in closing He begins to give a summation of the Law.

“So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Intriguingly, Hillel the Elder an influential Rabbi in A.D. 20 just overlapping Jesus’ years outlined that law himself when challenged by a gentile for the summation of the law in brief when he said, “What is hateful to you, do not do to anyone else.” On that mount, Jesus took this very idea, turned it on its head and implied an action of doing good toward others. The Rabbi’s words were only to not harm, Jewish custom towards the world was to stay unsullied and separate from those not like themselves. Here, Christ’s command is active, broad and vastly inclusionary.

When one looks out across the landscape of our country this day and we look upon the world we see a heavy lack of this care. For some, the ends often justify the means to those who ignore this rule. It only serves to slow their progress and shackles plans. Absolute power begets iron rule and iron rule begets subjugation of the lesser.

The words that Jesus spoke to the crowds on that mount weren’t meant solely for His followers in that day. And those words today are not meant to apply only to those of us of within the same halls of faith. These words of life set down upon scrolls long ago and bundled into bibles of various translations, both well worn by loving use and those stacked on dusty bookshelves hold truth and life. In all of its stark simplicity, if we were to take that call seriously and if we would treat others the way we would want to be treated, the natural outcome would be an obeisance to all the law which would sing vibrant about our relationships with others.

If we are truly about the life as we say we are then we must challenge ourselves and our preconceptions. Doing unto others is an act of love. Not in the sugared and anemic way media portrays it. But it is a love that works within the hard and rough avenues of the world.

Do unto others not like yourself. Do unto others who hold a different faith as you. Do unto others who hold different views from you, do unto others of different lifestyles then you. Do unto others who are from different countries seeking relief, despite what threats and dangers the rulers tell us they pose. Do unto others with dignity because they are the image bearers of the God we say we love and follow. They are made in His image. Made by His hand. They hold value and worth in His eyes. Do unto others as you would have others do unto you because you are called to do so. Listen and do. This is the sum of all the law and the prophets. We have wonderful opportunities to practice this in our own spheres of influence and even outside those spheres. Be that healing balm another so desperately needs today.

“Oh, that all men acted on it, and there would be no slavery, no war, no swearing, no striking, no lying, no robbing; but all would be justice and love! What a kingdom is this which has such a law!” - Charles Spurgeon