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Of course, I thought about the one I heard often as a kid. It went “Do unto others before they get a chance to do unto you!”

Quite a difference in thoughts. Yet, each represents a way of thinking I am very familiar with. Though the former is often the lesser of the two practiced. I think back to a priest, or pastor, whichever you prefer; I met as a teenager. He’d modeled his appearance after what I thought was Abraham Lincoln. Later I realized he looked more like a Mennonite. 

He acted like the type of man I believed a pastor or priest should be. He walked the walk and talked the talk. If he met someone who needed shoes, he would take his own off and give them to the person he felt in need. He did this a lot. Of course, it never made the man rich like most pastors or priests these days. 

His congregation was filled with the lesser liked people of my hometown. The choir only had four people in it, yet the entire congregation sang. Nor did many show up in their “Sunday” best. They came in what they had. It would set the standard by how I judge a church and its pastor.

What was important to this pastor was spreading the word of Christ. He did more by example than any other person I have known to demonstrate a person could live by the “do unto others” credo. I have always been amazed by his ability to live such a life.

What was even more amazing was his congregation was filled by those of us, yes; I was an ardent member of those who practiced the “do unto others before they get a chance to do unto you” group. I mean we were a rough crowd. We played in the church softball league and came in last. Yet, we were considered the last group anyone wanted to take on. 

Of course, our BBQ’s after the games were the stuff of legend. I often wonder why good food and rough people always go together. For instance, the best fried chicken I have ever eaten has come from gas stations located in the deepest parts of the hood.

Come to think of it, most of those I have run into who lived by the “do unto others as you would have them do unto you” credo could be found in the roughest neighborhoods or surrounded by some of the hardest people you will ever come across. I am not sure why this is, it’s just an observation of mine.

I have traveled the world over and have found this to be true time and time again. I once thought it was some sort of a missionary need. Yet, most of those I met were not pastors or priests or missionaries. They didn’t possess the look of the “true believer.” 

You know the type. Their eyes are filled with whatever they believe in. Bright, shiny, terrible eyes. I consider such people to be on the verge of insanity. The verge since they can still tell what is right and wrong. At least as far as the rudimentary rights and wrongs are. Murder is still murder to them. 

I find such things fascinating. You would think those who practiced the “do unto others” command of Christ to be staunch church members. Nothing could be further from the truth. The Catholic Church places itself first to its parishioners. God and Christ come a distant second. The same can be said for most other major denominations. In my humble opinion, most churches are businesses. 

I feel the same way about television evangelists. They are businessman. It’s the only explanation for why they are so prosperous. Business first, God and Christ second. 

Do I practice the “do unto others” command? No. Nor do I practice the “do unto others first” philosophy either. I fall somewhere in the lukewarm middle with all the others who don’t take a stand either way. I remember a man I knew in my twenties who was as hard a criminal as they came. He lived and breathed crime. He didn’t want to live any other way.

Yet, this scary man who operated several crack houses and handled his business in a manner you would expect, went to church each Sunday and laughed at the Sunday Christians. He believed his faith was far greater than those who attended. He knew what was evil. Knew what was righteous. He simply chose to do evil. It didn’t mean he didn’t believe in God or Christ. In fact, as we talked, I came to understand what he’d say was true. His faith was greater than most. It certainly was greater than mine.  

As I sit and write, I am still reminded of how many opportunities I have had which would allow me to demonstrate I was a part of the “do unto others as you want someone to do unto you” group. I come across several opportunities a day if I’m honest. And yet? I look the other way. Or I move along. Or I find an excuse not to do the right thing.

You want to know what’s the real tragedy here? Most of the things I could do are simple things. Minor actions which mean little to me, but for those I could do them for, they mean everything. And yet? I still don’t do them. 

In many ways this makes me worse than the crack house man. He often did the right thing. More so than I ever had, and society judges him a true sinner. Church goers definitely do. I find I am unable to toss the first stone. Could you?

I’m Ross, The Editor-in-Chief at The Pyrateheart Press and I’m out.