My family unknowingly joined the ranks of a unique group of people when we bought a used Jeep Wrangler a few months ago. After driving around town a handful of times, we started noticing an interesting trend. Every time we were riding in the Jeep, someone driving the opposite direction would wave at us. And without fail, they were always driving a Jeep too.
Wondering if this was “a thing,” we took to the internet to find out. Turns out, the “Jeep Wave” has been around for years and is a way to show camaraderie between fellow Jeep owners. Not everyone does it or knows about it, but basic “Jeep Etiquette” calls for fellow Jeepers (another new term I learned), to wave at one another. It’s not really about the other driver, but about showing respect for the brand, history, and culture.
And because my mind makes strange connections between things, the more I thought about the Jeep Wave, the more it made me think of the Golden Rule. Jesus’ famous words appear near the end of the Sermon on the Mount: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 7:12, NIV)
I wonder what the world would be like if we felt a sense of kinship and camaraderie with others just because we’re all occupying the planet together. How much of the strife on earth would be eliminated if we treated others the way we wanted to be treated? In teaching about this verse, author Jen Wilkin explains that all people want preferential treatment. However, we’re not always looking for ways to give people the preferential treatment we’d like to receive. It’s challenging to realize that as Christians, fulfilling the Golden Rule includes seeking ways to treat others better than they deserve because that’s the way we’ve been treated in Christ. We received grace, mercy and eternal life when we deserved condemnation, punishment and death. Nothing good we give to others could even compare.
Implementing the Golden Rule means taking initiative to treat others well without waiting for them to do something to deserve it. In a small and silly way, that’s why I want to do the “Jeep Wave” even if I don’t get a wave back. I do it because it’s what Jeep owners do. Why wouldn’t I want to encourage camaraderie? Likewise, showing others kindness and preferential treatment should just be what Christians do as an act of obedience to the God we love. People may not always notice, but that’s not the point. Treating others well is one small way to make a positive impact and to change the atmosphere around us for the better. And sometimes, others do notice and begin to follow our lead.
It seems like our world has lost its way recently. We’ve stopped treating others how we’d like to be treated. We’ve stopped taking initiative to do what is right, good and kind. We’ve become angry, cynical and violent. We malign people we don’t know and make negative assumptions about them because their views differ from ours. We’ve forgotten the camaraderie of being part of the human race and have let our differences cause deep divisions among us.
I think it’s time to remind ourselves of the Golden Rule and to live it out. Jesus gave another message that is consistent with this: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39b) We show God we love Him by loving those made in His image. This applies to all people, regardless of whether they look like us, think like us, or act like us. In his letter to believers James calls Jesus’ command to love our neighbors the “royal law.” He goes on to say, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.” (James 3:9-10, NIV)
It’s time to show God we’re taking His command to love others seriously. After all, if we, as His followers, aren’t loving others, how can we ever point people to Jesus as the answer to the world’s brokenness and hurt?
Will you join me in being intentional about treating others the way you want to be treated? Try giving them the preferential treatment you’d want, whether they deserve it or not. And if you drive a Jeep, be sure to wave at me if you see me on the road. I’ll be on the lookout for you.
Sometimes we feel powerless to counteract the ugly things we see in the news right now. If you’d like some ideas and inspiration for how you can impact others, listen to Josh Wilson’s song “Dream Small.” You’ll discover how simple moments you create can change the world.