“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” – Matthew 7:12
The way we see God really shows our best ideals. If we have a messed-up idea of the Almighty, it leads to messed-up behavior since everyone tends to worship their own ideals. Back in the Dark Ages, people had some pretty wrong ideas about God’s character, thinking of Him as a punishing figure. Thankfully, we’ve moved past those low standards today, although some folks still turn away from the Bible’s divine inspiration.
Justice is a big deal when it comes to God’s character; the Bible says it’s the very foundation of His throne. We need true justice to guide what we do; if our character doesn’t have that, it’s not right. Some people have different levels of justice, but we have systems like prisons to help encourage people to be more mindful. The old beliefs didn’t really get God’s justice right, but now we understand that the Divine Plan calls for much higher standards of kindness and love.
The Bible hints that a lot of God’s plan is mysterious, but it’ll all come to light eventually. Right now, only the “elect” really get these truths. Those with a humble heart can grasp the true nature of God and what He intends for humanity. The idea that God would create beings just to suffer forever doesn’t fit with the idea of a just and loving deity.
The Golden Rule, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you,” is especially important for the Church. It sets the standard for how Christians should treat each other, highlighting justice as the base of our behavior. We’re actually called to go beyond that in love and character growth.
In our everyday lives, we should check our actions against the Golden Rule, whether we’re at work, home, or in our communities. Are we treating others how we want to be treated? This principle should also guide how we interact within the Church. Sticking to the Golden Rule in every part of life is key to earning divine approval. We need to be honest and fair in how we deal with others, treating all our fellow believers equally and supporting each other on our spiritual paths.