The Golden Rule Is It Relativistic?

“Well, secular humanists are frequently accused of being moral relativists by evangelicals, (as if this is an insult). The implication is that without God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, one has no moral compass, so they create ethical/legal castles on a foundation of sand.

I think that Christians too face this dilemma, along with the rest of us. Even if you believe that the 10 Commandments were actually meant to apply to Gentiles, then there is still no absolute consistency in the interpretation of those rules. Consider stealing, for example, as in stealing bread from the mouths of decadence. It’s all muddy when you mix it with human law, but it is inevitable to mix it with human law. That is why we stone people to death as they leave the Red Lobster every night.

Or, better, consider killing. Some Christian men would conclude that killing the enemy in war is absolutely immoral, like Cain killing Abel. Other Christians would praise God and pass the ammo.

But now the Golden Rule, that is explicit. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Make a moral decision about your actions based on your own point of view. This is explicitly morally relativistic. And it was commanded by your Lord Jesus.

So, when I hear an evangelical deride others for being a moral relativist (much less a nihilist), then I point out that sand is under everyone’s feet.

Sand is what happens to concrete when rain, wind, moss, and light have finished their work.”

Luke (thimscool)

Alright here, I promised Luke I would write on this. Jimmie has given his answer I will give mine. You see my friends what happens when things are taken out of context.

7 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
8 For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9 "Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?
10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?
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!
12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Mathew 7: 7-12 NIV

When taken in proper context with the supporting verses and in the context of the complete verse itself you can see that it has nothing to do with moral relativism. The supporting verses talk about giving good things and that the Father is capable of giving even greater things. The golden rule sums this up by talking about looking at our own lives and seeing the good things that we would want in it and to treat others accordingly. The verse itself I think is more telling in the defense that the golden rule is not relativistic because it specifically points to the fact that these verses sum up what the Law and the Prophets (scriptures) said. The whole of the books of the Law and the Prophets (our Old Testament) can hardly be described as being relativistic.