What Is The The Core Teaching Of The Gospel?

[Gray]

Is it unconditional love? Unconditional obedience to people higher on the institutional org chart than you? Or something else?

 

I have to go with unconditional love. According to Jesus, the first and second greatest commandments are very similar - love God, love your neighbor. You're even supposed to love your enemies. Love with no conditions, no matter what. That is the core teaching behind Christianity, and I believe that is also the core teaching of Mormonism, at heart.

 

No particular doctrine or policy should ever get in the way of those fundamental principles.

 

That's how I've always viewed the gospel. I'm sure some of you have other ideas to share.

 

ETA: please let's not discuss the new policy specifically. Obviously that inspired this thread, but we've had thousands of posts about that already. 

Edited November 11, 2015 by Gray

[JLHPROF]

Depends how you define "core"?

And Love does NOT equal Tolerance.  Nobody is being denied love.  Some just would like their sins to be loved too.

 

And if "core" you mean the most central, all important tenet of the Gospel, to me it is Moses 1:39.

Everything else anywhere in the gospel is just part of this, from the atonement to the temple to priesthood.  All is encompassed in Moses 1:39.

[MiserereNobis]

If you had to distill Christianity into one "core" belief (which I think is impossible to do, really, but here go), I'd say it is

 

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

 

(D-R translation... I'll fight your protestant King James Version with my Catholic Douay-Rheims translation! )

[JLHPROF]

 

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

 

This is a good choice too.  But it is the reason WHY God needed to do this that led to my choice.  He did it out of love of course, but for what purpose.

[bluebell]

I'm with MN. God loves us unconditionally, but He does not accept us unconditionally. Only those who follow His Son are redeemed.

Unconditional love (mercy) cannot rob justice. Christ saves us from our sins, not in our sins.

[filovirus]

3 Nephi 27

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.

18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.

19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

[CV75]

ETA: please let's not discuss the new policy specifically. Obviously that inspired this thread, but we've had thousands of posts about that already. 

The core is Jesus Christ: “The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, 121).

 

Because this is all concerning Jesus, I would strive to abide the appendages as well as the fundamental principles. After all, He “will drink of the fruit of the vine with you on the earth …And also with Peter, and James, and John, whom I have sent unto you, by whom I have ordained you and confirmed you to be apostles, and especial witnesses of my name, and bear the keys of your ministry and of the same things which I revealed unto them; Unto whom I have committed the keys of my kingdom, and a dispensation of the gospel for the last times; and for the fulness of times, in the which I will gather together in one all things, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; And also with all those whom my Father hath given me out of the world. Wherefore, lift up your hearts and rejoice, and gird up your loins, and take upon you my whole armor, that ye may be able to withstand the evil day, having done all, that ye may be able to stand.” (D&C 27).

[bluebell]

Is it unconditional love? Unconditional obedience to people higher on the institutional org chart than you? Or something else?

I have to go with unconditional love. According to Jesus, the first and second greatest commandments are very similar - love God, love your neighbor. You're even supposed to love your enemies. Love with no conditions, no matter what. That is the core teaching behind Christianity, and I believe that is also the core teaching of Mormonism, at heart.

No particular doctrine or policy should ever get in the way of those fundamental principles.

That's how I've always viewed the gospel. I'm sure some of you have other ideas to share.

ETA: please let's not discuss the new policy specifically. Obviously that inspired this thread, but we've had thousands of posts about that already.

You seem to be saying that it's impossible to love someone if you make choices that might cause them some pain. Is that what you are saying?

[CV75]

3 Nephi 27

13 Behold I have given unto you my gospel, and this is the gospel which I have given unto you—that I came into the world to do the will of my Father, because my Father sent me.

14 And my Father sent me that I might be lifted up upon the cross; and after that I had been lifted up upon the cross, that I might draw all men unto me, that as I have been lifted up by men even so should men be lifted up by the Father, to stand before me, to be judged of their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil—

15 And for this cause have I been lifted up; therefore, according to the power of the Father I will draw all men unto me, that they may be judged according to their works.

16 And it shall come to pass, that whoso repenteth and is baptized in my name shall be filled; and if he endureth to the end, behold, him will I hold guiltless before my Father at that day when I shall stand to judge the world.

17 And he that endureth not unto the end, the same is he that is also hewn down and cast into the fire, from whence they can no more return, because of the justice of the Father.

18 And this is the word which he hath given unto the children of men. And for this cause he fulfilleth the words which he hath given, and he lieth not, but fulfilleth all his words.

19 And no unclean thing can enter into his kingdom; therefore nothing entereth into his rest save it be those who have washed their garments in my blood, because of their faith, and the repentance of all their sins, and their faithfulness unto the end.

20 Now this is the commandment: Repent, all ye ends of the earth, and come unto me and be baptized in my name, that ye may be sanctified by the reception of the Holy Ghost, that ye may stand spotless before me at the last day.

21 Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;

And in the rest of that chapter, Jesus makes it clear that He has authorized His servants to write scripture, judge (ecclesiastical administration), and receive revelation in helping people enter the gate and proceed along the path while it is yet day.

[Zakuska]

I'm with MN. God loves us unconditionally, but He does not accept us unconditionally. Only those who follow His Son are redeemed.

Unconditional love (mercy) cannot rob justice. Christ saves us from our sins, not in our sins.

 

Did the Prodigal son get accepted when he came back? His sin was taken away by the Sacrifice the father prepared in his honor and the Father accepted him back unconditionally.

 

Every knee shall bow and Confess Jesus is lord so then ALL will be redemmend and all will be forgiven.

[Gray]

You seem to be saying that it's impossible to love someone if you make choices that might cause them some pain. Is that what you are saying?

 

You can't love someone while simultaneously rejecting them and judging them unworthy of you and your group. It's always easier to see how other people are sinning than to see how we are sinning. That's why we don't bat an eye about Jesus' teaching that divorce and remarriage are adultery. We don't cast people out after they remarry. We understand that there are sometimes good reasons for divorce. We can put ourselves in their shoes. When we empathize with people, then we can love them. When we can't empathize, it's impossible to love them. 

 

As I've said before, there is love and there is "love". "Love" is where you hurt someone all the while saying it's for their own good. But of course we don't do that to people we actually love (no scare quotes)

Edited November 12, 2015 by Gray

[Hamba Tuhan]

Did the Prodigal son get accepted when he came back? His sin was taken away by the Sacrifice the father prepared in his honor and the Father accepted him back unconditionally.

 

Every knee shall bow and Confess Jesus is lord so then ALL will be redemmend and all will be forgiven.

 

Did you notice the part where the prodigal son actually left his ways and went back?

[Gray]

About core teachings of Judaism, Christianity and Islam:

 

https://youtu.be/soC_MSUo5Qo?t=2m21s

[Storm Rider]

Is it unconditional love? Unconditional obedience to people higher on the institutional org chart than you? Or something else?

 

I have to go with unconditional love. According to Jesus, the first and second greatest commandments are very similar - love God, love your neighbor. You're even supposed to love your enemies. Love with no conditions, no matter what. That is the core teaching behind Christianity, and I believe that is also the core teaching of Mormonism, at heart.

 

No particular doctrine or policy should ever get in the way of those fundamental principles.

 

That's how I've always viewed the gospel. I'm sure some of you have other ideas to share.

 

ETA: please let's not discuss the new policy specifically. Obviously that inspired this thread, but we've had thousands of posts about that already. 

 

Yeah, no; you are adding your own spin on what Jesus said and I don't think your spin is found in scripture.  Please provide scriptural support that Jesus was talking about unconditional love.  What is unconditional love look like?  What does obeying God's commandments have to do with loving God?  What is obeying God's commandments impact on loving others?  

[KevinG]

I don't think acceptance, love or obedience are sufficient. I strive to learn and live the fullness of the gospel. Too many are willing to drum a single scripture and claim it is more important than any other. Living the fullness is what we must arrive to do, and knowing we cannot then repent and accept the atonement.

[Storm Rider]

If you had to distill Christianity into one "core" belief (which I think is impossible to do, really, but here go), I'd say it is

 

For God so loved the world, as to give his only begotten Son; that whosoever believeth in him, may not perish, but may have life everlasting.

 

(D-R translation... I'll fight your protestant King James Version with my Catholic Douay-Rheims translation! )

 

It is interesting how Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection gets sort of forgotten rather easily when we are pushing an agenda that is desperate to avoid the commandments and teachings of Christ, his prophets, and apostles.

[Freedom]

There are nine basic doctrines and none of them mention love:

1) Godhead

2) Plan of Salvation

3) Atonement

4) Dispensation, apostasy and restoration

5) Prophets and Revelation

6) Priesthood and Priesthood keys

7) Ordinances and Covenants

Marriage and Family

9) Commandments

 

We need to acquire the pure love of Christ but I would not call it a core teaching. It comes as a result of acting on faith so perhaps faith is a foundation teaching. nevertheless the church does not consider them core teachings. The core teaching is the Godhead.

[bluebell]

Did the Prodigal son get accepted when he came back? His sin was taken away by the Sacrifice the father prepared in his honor and the Father accepted him back unconditionally.

He was accepted when he repented. We are all accepted WHEN WE REPENT.

Every knee shall bow and Confess Jesus is lord so then ALL will be redemmend and all will be forgiven.

Even the devils confess that Jesus is Lord. Confessing the truth about Jesus is not what saves us.

[KevinG]

He was accepted when he repented. We are all accepted WHEN WE REPENT.

Even the devils confess that Jesus is Lord. Confessing the truth about Jesus is not what saves us.

You mean reading the back of that Chick tract didn't save me? Oh no.

[Storm Rider]

I have always liked Joseph's summary,

 

The fundamental principles of our religion are the testimony of the Apostles and Prophets, concerning Jesus Christ, that He died, was buried, and rose again the third day, and ascended into heaven; and all other things which pertain to our religion are only appendages to it.

 

If we are going to stand for something, let us stand first for this and allow all others things submit to these first teachings and principles.

[Storm Rider]

You mean reading the back of that Chick tract didn't save me? Oh no.

 

Unfortunately, you were not saved unless you clicked your heels three times while wearing ruby slippers.  Do you have ruby slippers?

[Gray]

Yeah, no; you are adding your own spin on what Jesus said and I don't think your spin is found in scripture.  Please provide scriptural support that Jesus was talking about unconditional love.  What is unconditional love look like?  What does obeying God's commandments have to do with loving God?  What is obeying God's commandments impact on loving others?  

 

No one reads scripture with out interpretation (or spin as you call it). But Jesus' admonition to love enemies, people who hate you, and complete strangers means that it's unconditional love. 

 

God's commandment is this: love God, love one another. In my view, those are the core teachings. Any supplementary doctrines that start to supersede either of those must be wrong. 

Edited November 12, 2015 by Gray

[Gray]

It is interesting how Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection gets sort of forgotten rather easily when we are pushing an agenda that is desperate to avoid the commandments and teachings of Christ, his prophets, and apostles.

 

Jesus is reported to have said the two great commandments are about love. I agree. 

[Gray]

There are nine basic doctrines and none of them mention love:

1) Godhead

2) Plan of Salvation

3) Atonement

4) Dispensation, apostasy and restoration

5) Prophets and Revelation

6) Priesthood and Priesthood keys

7) Ordinances and Covenants

Marriage and Family

9) Commandments

 

We need to acquire the pure love of Christ but I would not call it a core teaching. It comes as a result of acting on faith so perhaps faith is a foundation teaching. nevertheless the church does not consider them core teachings. The core teaching is the Godhead.

 

 

37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Edited November 12, 2015 by Gray

[carbon dioxide]

Is it unconditional love? Unconditional obedience to people higher on the institutional org chart than you? Or something else?

 

I don't believe in unconditional love.  Even God does not believe in it. John 3:16 says that God loved the world that he gave his son and and that love comes with a condition that one must believe to get eternal life.  God did not show unconditional love to Satan and those that followed him. Our love should have very broad boundaries but there are limits.