Article August 19, 1944 Issue

Signs of the Times

The Golden Rule

with contributions from W. R. McWilliams

The Age
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

The true Christian form of the Golden Rule is a summons to magnanimity, and was declared to embrace both law and prophets. It bids us take the initiative and not wait to see what others will do to us. It summons us to cease thinking of our claims on others, and begin to realize our obligations to them.

Among the Jews in olden times a class of men devoted themselves to the study of the law and the exposition of it in relation to their present circumstances. Special attention was paid to the "traditions of the fathers." One of the lawyers asked Christ [Jesus] about the greatest commandment. The answer was significant.... It was the commandment to love both God and man. No law-keeping can be of any value except in so far as love is in it. The answer was intended to lift the minds of the crowd above the petty disputes of the schools about the relative worth of isolated precepts. The big thing, the greatest thing in the world, is. .. love.

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