The Politically Incorrect Jesus Sample

Golden Rule or Golden Calf?

Everyone can quote the Golden Rule — “Do to others as you would have them do to you” (Luke 6:31 NIV).

Unfortunately, this long-revered maxim of civility seems to have fallen on deaf ears of late. The money- making schemes by brand-name banks and investment firms, personal investment counselors, and members of Congress have not helped foster the golden rule.

What’s contributed to such an erosion of personal and corporate responsibility? Simply, when you remove God from the public square, ethical conduct diminishes. Biblical principles are thrown out the window, and God’s laws are ignored and even ridiculed. Self-sacrifice is soon replaced by self-gain.

Much like Moses’ experience at Mt. Sinai in Exodus 32, people begin to look elsewhere for their significance and security when God’s presence leaves the camp. Without leadership based on God’s moral law, many of us will clamor for gods that are fashioned to fit our lifestyles and cravings.

Ironically, we’ve replaced the golden rule for a golden calf. We often look to worship the created rather than the Creator.

Ultimately, with no moral constraint or concern for others, chaos ensues. Society crumbles under the weight of its sin.

When Moses came down the mountain, he saw the madness and lawlessness that came as a result of worshipping the golden calf. He had to literally throw the Word of God at the situation to stop the madness. God’s Word is needed yet today to stop the madness we face.

God may not be politically correct in the public square, but without him that square soon fills up with people dancing around idols of their own creation. King David tells us in Psalm 115 that those who seek to replace God with an idol (literal or figurative) will ultimately be like them—hollow, hard, and unbending.

Ultimately, we wind up worshipping ourselves. That’s a scary thought. I don’t know about you, but I’d make a terrible idol.

Question: Are you living out the golden rule, or dancing around the golden calf?