The Golden Rule - a podcast by Lewis Marsh

reTHINK #10

The Golden Rule

By Louie Marsh 11-7-2021

 

12  “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. 13  “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14  For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Matthew 7:12-14 (ESV)

 

Where did it come from?

 

“What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others.” – Confucius 500 BC

 

“Do not do to your neighbor what you would take ill from him.” Pittacus, 600 BC (Gk. Philosopher)

 

“One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Other behavior is due to selfish desires.” -  Mahabharata, 150 BC (Hindu holy book)

 

“None of you [truly] believes until he wishes for his brother what he wishes for himself.” - Hadith, 632 AD (Islamic collection or oral traditions from the life of Mohammad.

 

The Golden Rule – Princeton University Website:

 

The Golden Rule or ethic or reciprocity is a maxim, an ethical code, or a morality, that essentially states the following:

 

The Golden Rule is arguably the most essential basis for the modern concept of human rights, in which each individual has a right to just treatment, and a reciprocal responsibility to ensure justice for others. A key element of the Golden Rule is that a person attempting to live by this rule treats all people with consideration, not just members of his or her in-group. The Golden Rule has its roots in a wide range of world cultures, and is a standard that different cultures use to resolve conflicts.”

 

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia:

 

“Many single sayings like the Golden Rule and the lovely word about a cup of cold water given in the name of Christ (Matt. 10:42) are revolutionary in the ethical experience of mankind.”

 

The Golden Rule = Evangelism

 

1) The Golden Rule is both ETHICAL & EVANGELISTIC.

 

• It tells me WHAT to do.

 

44  and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:44-45 (ESV)

 

• It tells me WHY I should do it.

 

5  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6  Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:5-6 (ESV)

 

Barna says there are 180 to 190 million people in America who are born-again Christians.  The Superdome seats about 72,000 people, you could fill it 2,638 times with all the lost people in America.

 

Every year in America about 7000 churches close their doors for the last time.

 

2) The Golden Rule is both ACTIONS & WORDS.

 

23  And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. 24  So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them…1  Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. Matthew 4:23-24; 5:1 (ESV)

 

3) What does the Golden Rule teach me?

 

• That Evangelism is loving people

 

“16By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” (1 John 3:16, ESV)

 

Relationships

 

Relationships are the key to reaching lost people. Someone has defined evangelism as, “an intentional relationship through which someone is introduced to Jesus.”

 

A few years ago the survey was taken of 10,000 people, they were asked what was most responsible for your coming to Christ and your church?  79% said a friend or relative invited me.

 

• The relationship is authentic, but it’s also INTENTIONAL & focused on

 

“16In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

 

“I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there’s a heaven and a hell, and people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life, and you think that it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward ... how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? ... I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.” -  Penn Jilette

 

• It doesn’t take a lot of

 

Geoff Suratt asked this question: Which of the following would influence you to consider converting to Islam?

 

Clever, graphically appealing Islamic mailers sent to you?

 

A great coffee shop in the local mosque?

 

Amazing rock band playing during prayers at the mosque?

 

A persuasive, relatable Iman teaching from the Koran?

 

Great children’s ministry at the mosque?

 

Islamic neighbors handing out water bottles and fliers at your child’s soccer match?

 

Great youth group at the mosque?

 

Islamic services broadcast on cable?

 

Islamic neighbors knocking on your door inviting you to attend prayers with them on Friday night?

 

• It’s something I am CALLED to do.

 

19  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)

 

The 4 Step Plan most Christians Use:

 

1) Invite non-Christian friend to church.

2) If they enjoy it get the Pastor to talk to them.

3) He answers all questions and baptizes them into Christ!

4) Rinse and repeat!

 

Remember the 180 – 190 million lost? If you set out to save these people and could win 1000 a day – it would still take you 521 years to save them all. However, if you and I could bring to Christ just one person by the end of the year, and they brought one person a year, in 40 years you’d have 1,099,511,627,776 – this is roughly 153 times the current population of the world!!

 

16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 (ESV)

 

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