Weekly Opinion Editorial
MISUSE OF THE GOLDEN RULE!
by Steve Fair
Last week, the
U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution condemning President Donald
Trump for his Twitter remarks directed toward four Democrat congresswomen,
calling the remarks, ‘racist.’ The floor
vote to approve was 240-187. All four
GOP congressmen in Oklahoma voted against the resolution. Fifth district Congresswoman Kendra Horn,
(D-OKC), voted with the majority. In a
press release Horn said: “Growing up, my
parents taught me the importance of the golden rule. Of treating everyone, no matter who they are,
with dignity and respect. That’s what
today’s vote was about. I’m troubled on
many levels by the tone and tenor of our discourse. And I’m troubled by the remarks of the
President, which are below the dignity of the office he holds.”
The Golden Rule is the principle of treating others
as you would wish to be treated. It is a precept found in many religions and
cultures. It has such universal appeal that in 1993, 143 leaders of the
world’s major religions endorsed the Golden Rule as part of the ‘Declaration
toward a Global Ethic.’ Most young
children, no matter their cultural or spiritual background, are taught a form
of the Golden Rule. John
Piper says this about the Golden Rule: “If we will put God back in the
Golden Rule, we will see that it is not a bland bit of moral counsel intended
to improve us slightly. It is a radical way of living that can be followed only
by those who daily experience the infinitely great generosity of God in their
own lives.”
Two observations:
First, Horn didn’t follow the Golden Rule. Invoking higher ethics as justification for her
vote and ignoring remarks of her four Democrat colleagues’ hateful rhetoric in
this battle of mud exposes Horn’s ignorance of the Golden Rule. The Rule is about justice. Horn didn’t treat Trump as she wished to be
treated- she judged, she condemned- the exact opposite of what the Rule
teaches. John Calvin said about Christ’s
command in Matt. 7:12: “We are
here informed, that the only reason why so many quarrels exist in the world,
and why men inflict so many mutual injuries on each other, is, that they
knowingly and willingly trample justice under their feet, while every man
rigidly demands that it shall be maintained towards himself.”
Second, President Trump didn’t follow the
Golden Rule. While attacked first, Trump
struck back twice as hard. In what has
become a pattern, his attackers then transformed to victims and the cycle of balderdash
escalated. Both parties used sensationalism
and puffery to gain publicity for their position. Neither party took the high road in their
actions and it is important that Christians do not excuse misbehavior, no
matter who is committing it.
Alistair Begg
teaches the Christian Golden Rule is believers directing their love toward
their enemies and giving to those who offer nothing in return. The Golden Rule is certainly not a tool of vindication
to be used to justify a vote in Congress.
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