As I’ve mentioned before, it drives me crazy when politicians and other people on tv wave a Bible in one hand, while simultaneously breaking The Ten Commandments on a regular basis. Even though I pray for them and try to forgive them, those charlatans and that hypocrisy drives me nuts.
I have also mentioned that I have a friend in their late-80s, and his biggest concern in life is for the mistakes he has made, and that he might spend eternity in Hell.
A True Christian cannot vote for an anti-Christian
I think about these things when I think about people who vote for politicians who wave the Bible with one hand while simultaneously breaking The Ten Commandments with the other.
If you are a Real Christian, you have to be concerned that if you vote for a politician like this, there’s at least a chance you’ll be going to Hell, right? 🔥
I believe that true Christians know what I mean: If (a) you recall The Ten Commandments, and (b) find a politician that has potentially broken nine of them, then (c) that politician is the very definition of an ANTI-CHRISTIAN, right?
A vote for them is literally a vote for the OPPOSITE of Christ’s values.
I just don’t think that can be good for your soul.
The top principles that Jesus Christ taught
Therefore, if you ARE interested in (a) Christianity, (b) following the principles that Jesus really taught, and (c) not spending eternity in Hell, I have researched Jesus’ teachings, and came up with the nine key principles that Jesus taught according to Christian tradition.
A very short summary of the principles is that Jesus taught:
- To love God and your neighbor (as his greatest commandment)
- Practice forgiveness
- To be humble and serve others
- Have compassion for the poor and marginalized
- To live a non-materialistic life (don’t worry about belongings)
- To follow the Golden Rule (do onto others)
- To have absolute faith in God, and to deeply, honestly, and sincerely pray to Him
If you are interested in all the details I have found, please read on.
1. Love God and love your neighbor
Jesus emphasized these as the two greatest commandments. He taught to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:37-39: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.”
2. Forgiveness
Jesus stressed the importance of forgiving others, even enemies. He taught his followers to forgive “seventy times seven” times (from Matthew 18:21-22). I have read interpretations that suggest that by this, he meant infinite forgiveness.
3. Be humble and serve others
Jesus demonstrated humility by serving others, including washing his disciples’ feet, and taught that greatness comes through serving. “The greatest among you shall be your servant.”
Jesus also stated, “The last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:16).
4. Compassion for the marginalized
Jesus often reached out to and advocated for those on the fringes of society: the poor, sick, sinners, and social outcasts.
Luke 4:18-19: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
5. Non-materialism
He taught not to store up treasures on earth, but to focus on spiritual wealth and treasures in heaven instead.
Matthew 6:19-21: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”
6. The Golden Rule
Jesus taught to treat others as you would want to be treated yourself.
Matthew 7:12: “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”
7. Faith and trust in God
Jesus taught the importance of having faith in God’s provision and care. He encouraged his followers not to worry about material needs, using examples like the lilies of the field and the birds of the air.
Matthew 6:25-26: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.”
8. Prayer and relationship with God
Jesus emphasized the importance of prayer and maintaining a close relationship with God. He taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer and often withdrew to pray alone.
Luke 11:1-4: Jesus teaches the Lord’s Prayer.
Mark 1:35: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”
9. Repentance and the Kingdom of God
From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus called people to repentance, urging them to turn away from sin and seek a renewed relationship with God. He frequently spoke about the Kingdom of God as both a present reality and a future hope.
Matthew 4:17: “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.’”
Luke 17:20-21: “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”
Interconnectedness of Jesus’ Teachings
Please note that these principles are not isolated concepts, but rather interconnected parts of Jesus’ complete message. For example:
- Love for God and neighbor (#1) provides the foundation for forgiveness (#2), humble service (#3), and compassion for the marginalized (#4).
- Non-materialism (#5) relates closely to faith and trust in God’s provision (#7).
- The Golden Rule (#6) is a practical application of loving one’s neighbor (#1).
- Prayer (#8) nurtures our relationship with God, strengthening our faith (#7) and helping us align with God’s will.
- Repentance (#9) is a response to God’s love (#1), and a key part of entering the Kingdom of God.
Understanding these connections helps to see Jesus’ teachings not as a list of rules, but as an integrated way of life centered on love for God and others.
Summary
If you want to follow in Jesus’ path, these teachings formed the core elements of his message, as portrayed in the Gospels.
They are interconnected, with love for God and neighbor — his 1st and greatest commandment — serving as a foundation for the other principles. For instance, this love:
- Motivates forgiveness
- Drives compassion for the marginalized, and
- Inspires humble service
Jesus’ teachings on faith, prayer, and the Kingdom of God all stem from and reinforce this central theme of love.
For those seeking to follow Jesus’ path, these principles offer a comprehensive guide to Christian living, emphasizing both personal spirituality and social responsibility.
If you want to be like Jesus Christ, these principles challenge you to transform your life through faith and repentance, while also actively engaging with and serving the world around you.
books by alvin
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