It is clear to me that proponents of liberalism enjoy the widespread use of the golden rule to justify their actions. As a worldview that claims to propagate justice and mercy, the socially liberal Christian seeks to rectify grievances by applying the only standard they can comprehend: do unto others as you would have done unto you. It is argued that this is the pathway to selflessness and humility, by esteeming others better than yourself. The imprudent liberal says that Christianity’s meekness and lowliness will cure this wretched planet of it’s atrocities against fellow men. “If only we could learn to love,” laments the heedless evangelical, “then Christianity would truly make a difference in the world!”
There is no need to reason with these men.
“There ought to be no place for racism, xenophobia, or bigotry in the kingdom of God,” exclaims the ignored liberal. The foolish man flaunts his worldly knowledge of sociology, as if his argument is somehow more true with the depraved appeal. The pattern should be recognizable at this point. For unwise men, the second of God’s greatest commandments (Matthew 22:34-40) is used as the framework for interpreting right and wrong itself. It is impossible for a liberal Christian to comprehend a world where right and wrong is not determined by the golden rule.
These men further claim that motivations outside of one’s humble love of neighbor is self-interested. It is maintained that anyone having ambitions foreign to neighborly love is only seeking self-fulfillment or political power. There is no need to judge an action on it’s morality if the intent behind it can be adequately interpreted. After all, the liberal envisions a Christendom that is free of selfish and petty ideas, a utopia within the church that can be applied to all peoples through sufficient evangelism. Liberal Christendom attempts to offer to humanity the fruits of unity and peace, by offering nothing less than itself; a harmonious community governed only by the golden rule.
The Rule Made of Gold
By viewing our actions towards others as the measure of morality, humanity implodes on itself. A man cannot possibly sustain the life that measures his own good deeds by observing how his deeds are received. Introspection and self-absorption are inevitable in the worldview that views sympathy and compassion as the basis of virtue. Indeed, the men that hold to this gilded axiom are the same men that Paul addresses in Romans.
“What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Romans 9:14-15 (KJV)
The liberal evangelical has spent years convincing themselves that morality is based on love of neighbor. If left unchecked, this line of reasoning inevitably leads to regarding God himself as unrighteous.
Mercy is not the measure of good and evil.
Promotion of societal good for it’s own sake leads to the idolization of humanity. The commonplace idolatry of self takes a new expression, hiding in the guise of selfless love. If man’s chief end was to render himself amiable to his friend, there would be no need for Christ. If man’s primary directive was to show the love of Jesus to humankind, there would be no need for God.
Righteousness Defined
The man that is constantly questioning the righteousness of God is a man that has lost his standard. If you do not understand the righteousness defined by God, you cannot possibly hope to progress in your Christian walk. You must understand that man’s fundamental objective is to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever. Holding the Almighty to a standard of self will necessarily result in doubting the righteousness of God.
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
1 John 2:29 (KJV)
Mankind cannot possibly hope to act righteously if the very basis of goodness is questioned, or held to the regulations of mortals. If you know that the Creator of all life is righteous, you will recognize it in creatures born of Him. The liberal Christian seeks to invert the commandments in Matthew 22, looking to make God more “attractive” to others. Rather than put these commandments at odds, the prudent Christian ought to keep them in their proper order. Firstly, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, and mind. If you are guided by this command, the second is like the first: love your neighbor as you would love yourself.
Instead of building a system that glorifies humanity, it is good and right for mankind to glorify the Creator. The liberally-minded man ought to remind himself that seeking the well-being of society is not an ultimate good. If you envision God’s love as the manifestation of humanity’s golden rule , how can you possibly hope to understand a God that would destroy an entire nation? If you are a man that conflates the systems of the world with the love of God, remember 1 John 2:15: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
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