"So whatever you wish that others would do to you,
do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 7:12
[Note: This is my 3rd post of a three-part series I've entitled 'Navigation | Narration | Normalisation'.]
My wife and I have been avid tea drinkers since we met each other. We especially enjoy exploring the various tea drinking cultures from 'Eastern' countries, e.g. Turkey, India, China, Taiwan and Japan. Since living in Munich, we've often been to our favourite little tea shop (called Laifufu), where the owner always treated us like long-lost friends and taught us much about tea. We also started collecting different tea sets, which enhance the tea drinking experience.
The other day, I clumsily ended up dropping two cups from two different sets...and felt awful. But then I also remembered once reading about Kintsugi - the Japanese art of mending pottery. I do not intend on writing about this art form. (But here are two great articles on the subject matter: Kintsugi - The Art of Precious Scars | Kintsugi Jesus)
A day before this happened, I had a prophetic picture from God about broken jars of clay, which are meant to represent people in general. And this got me thinking...
...Is anybody or anything normal?
Life in Germany is slowly going back to 'normal'. Of course, each one of us might have a different definition for what 'normal' means.
...Has the world ever been normal?
That is one of the many questions I've been asking myself lately.
...If so, what does normal look like?
In my past experience, I would label someone 'normal' if they fit in my (narrow) view of how a person should speak, act, behave etc. That is to say, I, myself, would naturally be the parameter - or point of reference - by which my understanding of 'normal' is measured. This is what you'd call a biased opinion.
The only problem with that is: everybody uses themselves as the standard for this thing called 'normal'. Usually, we befriend and socialise with people based on our bias. Why would we hang out with people who we think are a few sandwiches short of a picnic?
ENTER JESUS.
Historically and statistically speaking, our world is currently experiencing the most peaceful, most just and most prosperous period ever recorded. This doesn't mean that there's plenty of violence, injustice, poverty and so on still left in the world. But we're far off from the time when Jesus' ministry began two thousand years ago.
The Bible verse above from Matthew 7 has challenged me for a while. Today, two different sources that I follow both posted something on the 'Golden Rule' and I thought it more than coincidence that influential people from the Christian faith are addressing some of Jesus' most outrageous teachings in a time when outrageous things are happening around us and making us question everything.
The Golden Rule
"Do to others as you would have them do to you."
Such a simple statement. Show me one person who wouldn't agree with that idea. Today, the sentence makes sense to most of us. In the 1st century, people would have found it far more compelling.
Why?
A Jew was expected to strictly follow the Mosaic Law and adhere to the words of the Prophets. When Jesus came on the scene, he pretty much told the people that you can take the Law (with its 600+ rules) and everything the Prophets have said, and boil it down to one thing: do to others as you would have them do to you - the Golden Rule.
I recently reflected on the expectations I have of others and realised the following: if I have high expectations of others, then surely I need to first meet those expectations myself before I can expect them of others. If I want to have good friendships, I have to be the good friend first. If I want to have a better marriage, I need to be the best husband first. And so on.
The statement Jesus made may sound simple. But often it is hard to follow.
We may be living in the most peaceful time, but the world is still corrupted and we ourselves have to deal with that corrupting spirit on a daily basis.
- - -
Throughout history, there have been numerous paradigm shifts in different areas. But the paradigm shift in the way we approach each other as human beings, as equals in the eyes of God, which Jesus revealed to His followers, would change the world forever.
Christianity changed the world. Most scholars would agree that that change was positive. Needless to say, political and institutional religious Christianity has caused wars and many other unspeakable atrocities. Yet, for the most part, the good work of Christians since the 1st century has helped us get to where we are today.
Jesus' teaching wasn't just about rules. Yes, this Golden Rule is helpful for us and we should take it seriously. But there is one parable in Matthew 18:21-35, which highlights something more essential.
The Platinum Rule
As I may have mentioned before, I follow an incredible, thought-provoking devotional written by Skye Jethani called With God Daily. Skye, who recently published his new book "What If Jesus Was Serious?" writes that,
"[...] the Golden Rule is not where Christians are to set their goal. On a number of occasions, Jesus called his disciples to an even higher command—what we might call the Platinum Rule. For example, Jesus told them to love one another “as I have loved you.” Here the standard is not human kindness but divine self-sacrifice. Likewise, Jesus commands us to “love our enemies” because God also loves his enemies (Matthew 5:43-48). If left to the Golden Rule alone I might conclude that ignoring or avoiding my enemies is sufficient, but the Platinum Rule requires me to actively love them."
You see, in the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, Jesus tells us about a loving king who forgives his servant's debt. The servant, however, does not show the same level of compassion, mercy and grace to his fellow servant who owed him money.
How often are you and I like this unforgiving servant? How often do we forget to forgive others, the way Jesus forgave us?
Let's go back to the beginning: when you decide to follow Jesus, the Christ, you are adopted into God's family and through the Holy Spirit you are empowered to be an effective disciple in His kingdom. You are called to be a servant and you are called to selflessly serve and love others - including your enemies.
As a disciple of Jesus, you hopefully come to see that there is no such thing as 'normal'. God's creation is remarkably abnormal. From the smallest atom to the largest star, God has placed His indelible and unique stamp on everything around us.
Broken But Whole
So what does the above have to do with the art of Kintsugi?Translated, Kintsugi means 'golden joinery'. By adhering to the Golden Rule, you and I are able to approach another person, with all their hurt and brokenness, and help them to find healing. After all, that's what we'd expect others to do for us, right?
It is only Jesus who can mend the broken pieces of your soul. Only Jesus can breathe life into your heart of stone and turn you into a living stone for His kingdom.
Even though God can restore us while we live on this earth, I don't think we'll ever experience the full restorative power that Jesus paid on the cross, until we comprehend the extent of debt that He covered for us. Walking in His forgiveness is the new 'normal' for those who choose to acknowledge it.
The cross repairs the jars of clay. The resurrection fills them with living water.
Life shouldn't only be about putting together what was broken, but rather holding our cup up to God and asking Him to fill it until it overflows. The overflow is what some might called Grace, for none of us deserve to receive it.
The Platinum Rule is us sharing the overflow with others and filling their jars. One rule (or mode of discipleship) is inextricably linked to the other. As Christians, we still live in this 'normal' world. As Christians, we are still the caretakers of this planet. That includes taking care of our fellow human beings.
Throughout history, Christians challenged the status quo and the idea of 'normal'. It is time for modern-day Christians to be serious disciples of Jesus, live out what He said, and show the world that His actions and words are still relevant today - that they are the key to building His kingdom until He returns.
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