There are two types of Christians (in a Galatians sense), the Gentile and the Jewish. For the former the Golden Rule is the sole, practical guide, and the Holy Spirit is thought to aid in compliance. The latter think the Golden Rule is very important, but as only one of several rules for pleasing God, and which, with help of the Holy Spirit, can be ferreted out in scripture, church edicts and, perhaps, even elsewhere.

The Gentile Christians, focusing on the Golden Rule alone, are content to seek its more perfect implementation. The Jewish Christians (for whom the desire for such implementation, while critical, is inadequate for thoroughly pleasing God) are more vulnerable to arguments by others, Christian and non-Christian alike, that additional rules are necessary, e.g., not eating blood sausages (a German delicacy), keeping Saturday holy, men avoiding romantic embraces with men, etc.

The two Christians get along by each seeking to avoid exposing the other to what is contrary to the other's rules (Romans 14). A Gentile Christian in Germany, for example, would not intentionally serve blood sausages in the presence of Jewish Christian visitors who might consider the injunctions of the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) as binding.