Allow me to tell you a story as told by Pastor Harold Driskell.

"There once was a man sitting under a tree close to a river, when his attention was drawn to a scorpion that was caught in the large protruding roots of the tree, and was about to drown in the rising water of the river. The man crawled out on the roots of the tree and attempted to free the scorpion. However, every time he reached down to free the scorpion, the scorpion struck at him with his deadly sting.

"Someone who had observed this episode for several minutes, said to the man, 'Don't you know that's a scorpion and it is the nature of a scorpion to want to sting?'

"Replied the man, 'That may be, but it is my nature to save. Must I change my nature because the scorpion does not change its nature?'

After telling this story, Pastor Driskell commented, "It seems that some people never change either, and before long we find ourselves changing our nature to fit their behavior."

Let me ask you this question, do you think it is necessary to change our behavior to accommodate someone else's? Or is it possible that we could be so sure that what we're doing is right, that we would keep on doing it even if the person for whom we are caring doesn't even notice, or appreciate what we're doing on their behalf? And what is the criterion for such an action? One answer is that which Jesus gave us in what we call "The Golden Rule".

Stated in both Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31, we all know this "Rule" to be something like this, "In everything, do to others what you would have them do to you."

Now this is a very practical rule which, you may be surprised to know, is an ethical premise found in the teachings of all of the world's greatest religions. It's as though this is a rule of the human heart, placed there by God Himself. It's so clear, and simple, how could we not agree to it, and abide by it?

Here, let me give you a list of several quotes from the different religions of the world:

Judaism: "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself." (Leviticus 19:18)

"What is hateful to you, do not to your fellowmen. That is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary." [Talmud Shabbat 31a]

Notice that here, as in many of the quotes which follow, the Rule is given not merely as a negative exhortation, "Don't do to others what you would not want them to do to you." No, the "Golden Rule" is stated positively as well.

Here are some examples of the Golden Rule stated positively in non-Judeo-Christian sources:

Buddhism: "Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful." [Udana-Varga 5,18]

Confucianism: "Surely it is the maxim of loving-kindness: Do not unto others that you would not have them do unto you." [Analects 15,23]

Islam: "No man is a true believer unless he desireth for his brother that which he desireth for himself." [Azizullah, Hadith 150]

Taoism: "Regard your neighbor's gains as your own gain and your neighbor's loss as your own loss." [T'ai Shang Kan Ying P'ien]

Zoroastrianism: "That nature alone is good which refrains from doing unto another whatsoever is not good for itself." [Dadistan-i-dinik 94-5]

Jain: "A man should treat all creatures in the world as he himself would like to be treated." [Wisdom of the Living Religions, #69 - I:II:33]

Brahmanism: "This is the sum of duty: do naught unto others which would cause you pain if done to you." [Mahabharata 5,1517]

Now someone may protest, "You're reducing Christianity to the same level as all other world religions." But remember, just because a religious teaching contains falsehoods, that doesn't mean that there is no truth at all within that religion. What we have here is evidence that God has placed in all of mankind a very clear law of human relations. We'll see in a moment what it is that distinguishes Christianity, but we must be honest enough to admit that it's not merely this "Golden Rule." Or to say it another way, just because most of the time we may follow the Golden Rule, that doesn't mean that we are Christian. Thoughtful, religious people everywhere would agree on this fundamental rule of human conduct.

For example, Dr. Tony Alessandra, trains business professionals. This is what he teaches:

"It is my contention that you can create a lot more rapport with people and a lot less tension with them based on how well you practice the Golden Rule. Practice it appropriately - a lot more rapport; practice the Golden Rule inappropriately - a lot more tension." Then he goes on to say, "On the other hand, it's my contention that if you practice that rule according to the letter of the law in the way you deal with others, you stand a much greater chance of creating conflict than chemistry."

His reason for this is that, "If I practice the Golden Rule with you, I would treat you the way that I would like to be treated, rather than treating you the way you want to be treated." It is at this point that Dr. Alessandra seems to change the Golden Rule as taught by Jesus. He says, "We need to practice the true intent of the Golden Rule, which is, 'do unto others the way they want to be done to.' Treat people the way they want to be treated, speak to people in ways that make it easy for them to listen. Manage people, lead people in ways that internally motivates them to want to follow, not have to follow, and sell people the way they're comfortable buying, not necessarily the way you're comfortable selling."

This leads me to note that there are many other variations on this Golden Rule. Here are some modern versions, some more serious than others:

"Do to others as they do to you - treat them as they have treated you." How many times have you heard someone say, "I don't get mad, I just get even"? This is nothing but veiled revenge.

"Do to others so that they will do to you." This is flattery and manipulation.

George Bernard Shaw wrote in 1903, "Do not do unto others as you would that they should do unto you. Their tastes may not be the same."

In New York City, the Golden Rule gets translated, "Do unto others before they do unto you."

Across the river in Jersey, it comes out this way, "Do unto others and split."

And finally, "The person who has the gold makes the rules."

Jesus said it plain and simple, "Do to others what you would have them do to you."

Of course there can be some problems with how some might practice the Golden Rule.

You can see this in gift giving when someone gives to another person what he or she would like to receive for themselves. Here the rule changes to "Give to others what you would like to receive yourself." For example, I remember a man who gave his wife a ping-pong table for Christmas. Or how about the woman who gave her husband a beautiful ring, secretly hoping he would take the hint and purchase a ring for her.

Then there might be those who are keeping score - expecting a return on what they have done for others.

Furthermore, standing by itself, this can turn out to be a "works" salvation. If I am a good person, and treat others the way I want to be treated, then I will be accepted by God. And we all know that that is woefully lacking.

But let's go back and ask the question, what is different between the teaching of Jesus and other religions? Some think that most religious codes place a negative spin on the "Golden Rule", "don't do to others what you don't want them to do to you." While this is true of some religions, we have shown that there are several positive statements of the Golden Rule.

More to the point, one Christian factor is in the power to live it out; with Christ, we have been given the ability to perform according to the Golden Rule.

Yes, Christ, through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, gives us the ability to "do unto others as we would want them to do to us - if we found ourselves in the same circumstance." But Jesus also gives us the motivation and the ability to be like Him - to give sacrificially.

However, Christians take a step beyond, for our call is to "Do unto others as Christ has done to you." Listen to the teaching of the Apostle John, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." (I John 3:16)

However, to understand the uniqueness of the teaching of Jesus, we also must pay attention to the context of Jesus' teaching of the Golden Rule. Both Gospel texts report the exhortation of Jesus Christ in the Sermon on the Mount (or in Luke, "Sermon on the Plain").

The "Rule" is first found in Matthew 7:12. Notice how this chapter gets its start, (vs. 1) "Do not judge, or you too will be judged." The religious people of Jesus' day were particularly good at this. But what Jesus said to them goes for us to, "Don't try to pick the speck out of your brother's eye when there is a beam in your own." Let me share a story from a news report which bore the headline, "Pregnant Valedictorian Loses Title." (Associated Press, Radcliff, KY, May 21, 1999)

"A Christian high school stripped an 18 year old senior of her valedictorian title and barred her from graduation ceremonies because she is pregnant. Leah Carr, who has a straight-A average, said she became pregnant six months ago. She said she expected some punishment but also support from officials at Dove Christian Academy, a school of 149 students run by Radcliff First Assembly of God.

"'I feel let down, betrayed,'' Ms. Carr said. 'I love them, I trusted them. I don't feel the support I was wanting. I don't expect anyone to pet me in my sins, but I do want forgiveness.'

"The church pastor and the school principal declined to comment. Larry Riggs, the parent of one of Ms. Carr's classmates, said he believes the school may have sent a bad message.

"'She could have hid it, she could have had an abortion,' he said. 'Do we want kids to think that if they do wrong, there is not forgiveness? Do we want to promote abortion as the way to avoid ridicule from the church?'"

Right away we are prone to say, "There goes the liberal, secular press again. They just don't get it - we have standards, and we expect people to live up to them." But let me ask you, doesn't the world have the right to ask Christians why it is that we don't practice the forgiveness we preach?

"Do unto others what you would like them to do to you" must include replacing a harsh judgmental attitude with love and forgiveness. Let's not forget how it was the Jesus treated the "woman taken in adultery." He refused to join the stone throwers.

But there's something else in the context of Jesus mentioning the Golden Rule. Just before reciting it, He said, (vs. 11) "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"

The Christian version of the Golden Rule always has to do with the attitude of giving good gifts. And if we are going to be like our Father, we will do so without an expectation of anything in return.

Then look at the context of Luke 6:31, where Jesus makes even more radical statements:

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back." (vs. 27-30)

This takes us back to the story about the man by the rising river trying to save the scorpion stuck in the tree roots. To fully practice the Golden Rule as taught by Jesus, we become willing to go the extra mile, loving others even when they may act like they don't want to be loved.

This in fact is what God Himself has done, reaching out to us, loving us, blessing us - even when we fight Him off.

The Golden Rule may be the beginning place for all conscientious people everywhere, but Christ bids us go further. Instead of merely treating others as we would like to be treated, we, in the power of the Holy Spirit, treat others as the Lord would treat them - with sacrificial love and forgiveness.

In fact, the true Christian Golden Rule could be stated this way, with Jesus saying, "In everything, do to others what you would do unto me."

According to the story Jesus told in Matthew 25:31-46, isn't that what will separate the sheep from the goats in the final judgment day? Jesus, when accepting into heaven those who had done well, said, "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." (NIV)

So at the end of the day, will we be content to be like people of all the religions of the world? Will we settle to abide by the Golden Rule, or will we go Beyond the Golden Rule?

Once Jesus compared His disciples to the religious leaders of His own day. He said, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

In our day, we could say that the Pharisees and the teachers of the law are those who preach the Golden Rule. Our righteousness must exceed that. We must go Beyond the Golden Rule, love like Jesus loved, and love others as though we were indeed loving Him.

1. What are some of the teachings that many of the world's religions have in common?

2. When the man who tried to rescue the scorpion was questioned as to why he kept trying, in spite of the scorpion's nature to sting, what was the man's response?

3. In what way are we like the scorpion in this story?

4. What is suggested by the fact that most religions teach a version of the Golden Rule?

5. At times the "Golden Rule" is stated in ways that distort its true meaning. What are some of those ways?

6. How would the "Golden Rule" be stated positively, and how would it be stated negatively?

7. Jesus indicated that the commandments can be summed up by two - how does the second one (quoted from Leviticus 19:18) relate to the Golden rule?

8. What are some possible distortions, or misuses of the Golden Rule?

9. What sets Christianity apart when it has to do with the Golden Rule?

10. Do you agree with the way the Christian school and church handled the situation reported in the news report, "Pregnant Valedictorian Loses Title"?

11. What does "Love your enemies" have to do with the Golden rule?

12. In what two ways does Christianity expect us to go beyond the Golden Rule?

13. In your own words, what does this saying of Jesus mean, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven"?