Golden rule: Love with or without mental reservation?

[alitaptap]

Do unto others as you would have them do to you

Is the message concerned with action with positive effort on behalf of the others, or action with “mental reservation”? What I meant by mental reservation is you simply avoid doing harm to others because you do not wish them to do to you in return.

Please comment.

 

[adv1sor]

I’m no expert but, looking at the person who gave us this rule, I would have to say that it is concerned with action with positive effort on behalf of the others.

 

[chaunceygardner]

Although the emphasis is on the positive action, I think the rule applies to everything. Do not harm others (as you would not want to be harmed), help someone in need (as you would want to be helped), treat others fairly, respectfully and equitably (as you would want to be treated), forgive others (as you want to be forgiven).

We must also not take the Golden Rule as a separate philosophy or commandment without considering the entire message of which it is a part. Other religions have “golden rules”, so it is not unique. The importance of it for Christians is that it is part of the whole core message of Jesus, and is one aspect of the focus on Love of God and Love of Neighbor. It really is a subset of the second commandment, and is one of many examples He gave us of how those commandments should be applied, if we are to be truly Christian.

 

[JRKH]

Although the emphasis is on the positive action, I think the rule applies to everything. Do not harm others (as you would not want to be harmed), help someone in need (as you would want to be helped), treat others fairly, respectfully and equitably (as you would want to be treated), forgive others (as you want to be forgiven).

We must also not take the Golden Rule as a separate philosophy or commandment without considering the entire message of which it is a part. Other religions have “golden rules”, so it is not unique. The importance of it for Christians is that it is part of the whole core message of Jesus, and is one aspect of the focus on Love of God and Love of Neighbor. It really is a subset of the second commandment, and is one of many examples He gave us of how those commandments should be applied, if we are to be truly Christian.

Nailed it.

The statement is purely positive as is everything given to us by Our Lear Lord.
Do (an action you must peform)
unto others (where the action is directed)
as you would have them do unto you (type of action)

If you wish good, do good. - All positive.

This of course does not preclude looking at the same issue from the negative side.
don’t do unto others that which you don’t want done to you.

Peace
James

 

[sinnerdexter]

Nailed it.

The statement is purely positive as is everything given to us by Our Lear Lord.
Do (an action you must peform)
unto others (where the action is directed)
as you would have them do unto you (type of action)

If you wish good, do good. - All positive.

This of course does not preclude looking at the same issue from the negative side.
don’t do unto others that which you don’t want done to you.

Peace
James

Can you help me think of at least 3 implications (both negative and positive) of a morality based on* “avoid doing to others what you do not want them to do to you”* and “treat others the way you would have them treat you”? Just try to think if there is any.

 

[JRKH]

Can you help me think of at least 3 implications (both negative and positive) of a morality based on* “avoid doing to others what you do not want them to do to you”* and “treat others the way you would have them treat you”? Just try to think if there is any.

I don’t play “practical jokes” on people because I don’t like them played on me.
I do offer to help others when needed, because I like to be helped when needed.
I don’t cut people off in traffic because I don’t want to be cut off myself.
I do allow people to go or turn in front of me because I like it when others allow me to.
I don’t keep the money if someone accidentally gives me the wrong, extra, change.
I do return that money so that they are not short on their register.

These are little examples - Is this what you mean??

Or would you want larger examples like -
If you are the leader of an oil company drilling in another country - respect their customs and traditions because you would want them to respect yours in your country.
If you have a treaty with another country, faithfully fulfill all aspects of the treaty you’ve signed.

I’m sure we could come up with many applications of the Golden rule.

Peace
James

 

[sinnerdexter]

I don’t play “practical jokes” on people because I don’t like them played on me.
I do offer to help others when needed, because I like to be helped when needed.
I don’t cut people off in traffic because I don’t want to be cut off myself.
I do allow people to go or turn in front of me because I like it when others allow me to.
I don’t keep the money if someone accidentally gives me the wrong, extra, change.
I do return that money so that they are not short on their register.

These are little examples - Is this what you mean??

Or would you want larger examples like -
If you are the leader of an oil company drilling in another country - respect their customs and traditions because you would want them to respect yours in your country.
If you have a treaty with another country, faithfully fulfill all aspects of the treaty you’ve signed.

I’m sure we could come up with many applications of the Golden rule.

Peace
James

Thank you for your response.
This

treat others the way you would have them treat you.

and these

I do offer to help others when needed, because I like to be helped when needed.
I do allow people to go or turn in front of me because I like it when others allow me to.
I do return that money so that they are not short on their register.
If you are the leader of an oil company drilling in another country - respect their customs and traditions because you would want them to respect yours in your country.
If you have a treaty with another country, faithfully fulfill all aspects of the treaty you’ve signed.

seems to me to get involved. What do you think?

While
this

avoid doing to others what you do not want them to do to you.

and these

I don’t play “practical jokes” on people because I don’t like them played on me.
I don’t cut people off in traffic because I don’t want to be cut off myself.
I don’t keep the money if someone accidentally gives me the wrong, extra, change.

seems to me merely to keep from harming others. What do you think?

I think Jesus wants us to act, not to react.

 

[JRKH]

Thank you for your response.
This

and these

seems to me to get involved. What do you think?

While
this

and these

seems to me merely to keep from harming others. What do you think?

I think Jesus wants us to act, not to react.

I think both are necessary.

Since every “action” has has “reaction” we must be prepared to answer unchristian actions with christian (rather than “gut”) reactions.
When the centurian asked Jesus to cure his servant was Jesus acting or reacting?
Seems to me that Jesus “reacted” with an “action”. - If that makes sense.

Peace
James

 

[DanteAlighieri]

I think Jesus wants us to act, not to react.

It seems to me that, very often, reacting is an action. One must choose to master one’s will in certain situations – for example, when one is tempted to react in anger or to give in to lustful urges. While one may appear not to be acting by choosing an appropriate reaction to these temptation, that choice is an act in and of itself.

With regards to the golden rule, a previous post mentioned forgiving others – and I think this is the key to the rule, along with loving one’s neighbor. One of the “greatest commandments”, in Christ’s words, is to love one’s neighbor as oneself. This is the origin of the golden rule.

Peace,
Dante

 

[alitaptap]

I think both are necessary.

Since every “action” has has “reaction” we must be prepared to answer unchristian actions with christian (rather than “gut”) reactions.
When the centurian asked Jesus to cure his servant was Jesus acting or reacting?
Seems to me that Jesus “reacted” with an “action”. - If that makes sense.

Yes, it makes sense.

I don’t play “practical jokes” on people because I don’t like them played on me.
I don’t cut people off in traffic because I don’t want to be cut off myself.
I don’t keep the money if someone accidentally gives me the wrong, extra, change.

Are these actions free from “mental reservation”? I think the answer will vary from person to person.

 

[JRKH]

Are these actions free from “mental reservation”? I think the answer will vary from person to person.

It might depend on your definition of “mental reservation” I suppose.
I know that my actions are not free of possible sin.
For instance, I might sometime (and have) get angry and cut someone off in traffic.
Sin of Anger -

Even If i were able to overcome many of the “mental reservations”, failings and other limitations I would still have to deal with controlling “pride” in accomplishing the others.
If you see what I mean.

Peace
James