The often maligned book of Leviticus most likely reached its current form sometime between 538-322 BC. This is disputed of course, but no matter the actual time frame, the point is that the wisdom found there is decidedly not new, which is to say that it is old. Because I am of the Wesleyan tradition, and because we are dealing with Leviticus and its various laws, I will be speaking about this with Article VI of the Articles of religion in mind.

Article VI — Of the Old Testament

The Old Testament is not contrary to the New; for both in the Old and New Testament everlasting life is offered to mankind by Christ, who is the only Mediator between God and man, being both God and Man. Wherefore they are not to be heard who feign that the old fathers did look only for transitory promises. Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, nor ought the civil precepts thereof of necessity be received in any commonwealth; yet notwithstanding, no Christian whatsoever is free from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral.

The Golden Rule

For the purposes of this piece, I want to look at Leviticus chapter 19. In this chapter, there are, among other things, rules for ethical relationships. Specifically, I would like to focus on the 18th verse. “Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.” We also need to look at verses 33 and 34: “When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the Lord your God.” Jesus would echo these words would be echoed in the New Testament by Jesus the Christ also. Most of us have heard of the “golden rule” of course, but I think that it is far past time to take a closer look at it.

The golden rule is found, in some form, in nearly every religion and every culture. It is axiomatic it seems. In Confucianism, for example, it is stated “Do not do to others what you do not want them to do to you”. There is a subtle, but important, distinction in Christianity however. While other faiths and cultures very much have the idea of not doing something to another that you do not want them to do to you, Christianity, and it’s Jewish roots, goes beyond the negative aspect and includes the positive instruction, and command, to love. This firmly places all Christian ethical relationships in the context of love.

The command to love goes even further however. We are not to simply love our neighbors, but we are to love others as we love ourselves. This is key because the golden rule is an invitation for self examination as well. If we are full of malice, bitterness, and anger, then that will come through in our love. If we are filled with resentment, jealousy, and contempt, that too will come through in our love. Likewise, if we are filled with the fruits of the spirit, namely love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, then that will through in our love. From this we can see that the command of the golden rule is, like nearly all matters of the Christian faith, both a corporate command for the church catholic, and also a personal command for individual behavior and belief.

What It Looks Like

We will, by necessity, disagree and converse over what love is and what it looks like. This is good, and necessary, so long as it is productive and not argumentative, as love is at the core of Christian ethical behavior. As a guide, I strongly suggest John Wesley’s sermon 139 titled “On Love ” (https://www.wordsofwesley.com/libtext.cfm?srm=139)

On Love (Sermon 139)

In this sermon, Wesley says the following: “The love which our Lord requires in all his followers, is the love of God and man; — of God, for his own, and of man, for God”s sake. Now, what is it to love God, but to delight in him, to rejoice in his will, to desire continually to please him, to seek and find our happiness in him, and to thirst day and night for a fuller enjoyment of him? As to the measure of this love, our Lord hath clearly told us, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart.” Not that we are to love or delight in none but him: For he hath commanded us, not only to love our neighbour, that is, all men, as ourselves; — to desire and pursue their happiness as sincerely and steadily as our own, — but also to love many of his creatures in the strictest sense; to delight in them, to enjoy them: Only in such a manner and measure as we know and feel, not to indispose but to prepare us for the enjoyment of Him. Thus, then, we are called to love God with all our heart.” I encourage reading the entire sermon as it expands upon this, and other topics, that can give us a much fuller sense of what the love we are supposed to be living out looks like.

The Golden Rule is not so simple as a superficial reading might initially suggest. It is not only the foundation of all Christian ethical behavior, it is an invitation to self examination and holiness by following the commands of God. It is simple, but it is not easy. As Christians living in a world that too often seems obsessed with the next new thing, our hope is the start of something old.