BY AKOWE JOHN-DUKE ‘SELIME
The subject matter of this thinking as
replicated by the topic is often regarded as the golden rule because of its
value. It is an aphorism that is also found among non-Christians. It is based
on the great commandment- love thy neighbour as yourself (Matt 22: 39).
Do to others what you want them to do
to you seem simple prima facie but
there is more to it; the question of what one is expected to do to the other.
This necessitates the connexion and accompaniment of the golden rule with the
natural law imperative which is stated thus: bonum faciendum etmalum vitandum--good
must be done and evil avoided. This natural law imperative involves two principles;
on the one hand, knowing what is good and doing it and on the other hand,
knowing what is evil and avoiding it. Thus, the golden rule involves knowing
what is good for oneself and doing to others that good which we would expect to
receive from them. It also involves knowing what is not good for oneself and
restraining from doing it to others if we would not like to receive them from
others. However, a problem arises because of the relativity in the idea of good
as argued by some philosophers.
Nevertheless, this problem does not
suffice in the golden rule. This means that the golden rule does not
necessarily mean that in our wayward, capricious, gasping moods, we should wish
that men would do to us, that we are to hold ourselves bound to do them. It
does not involve acting from injustice or selfishness. It means doing to others
all that we expect or desire of others in similar situations. It means doing to
our neighbour that which we ourselves acknowledge to be fit and reasonable.
This appeal is made to our judgment and the discovery of our judgment is
referred to that which is our own will and expectation when it is our own case.
It entails guided by mercy and justice, we should do to all men as we would
have them to do to us, if our circumstances and theirs are interchanged. This
would make us impartial, candid and just. It would destroy avarice, envy,
treachery, unkindness, slander, theft, adultery, murder etc.
The golden rule outlines of the
commandment- you must love your neighbour as yourself. This together with the
love of God with our whole being summarizes the law and prophets. (Matt 22:
40). Thus as Christians and more so as, we ought to treat our fellow brothers
and sisters the way we want them to treat us. If we fail to do so, then our
claim that we love God is baseless (1 John 4: 8, 20) We ask the good Lord to
give us the grace to discern what is actually good for us so that we can treat others like that and by extension show
our love for him.
