Question: Dear Sir, Shouldn’t we lay aside religious differences and all just love Jesus? After all, only opinions divide us, right?

Answer: Jesus prayed that all who believe in him might be one (John 17:20, 21). You are right when you say that we should all just love Jesus. Love for Jesus would correct all the divisions that exist among those who claim to be his. The real question is what does it mean to love Jesus? Jesus said, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). He also declared, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them" (John 14:23). There is a difference between limiting belief and religious practices to "thus saith the Lord" and "teaching human precepts as doctrines" (Matthew 15:9). The former is proceeding by divine authority, the latter is adopting human opinions as guides. The solution is for all to be of the former persuasion. If we all loved Jesus enough to believe and practice all that his word teaches, and only what his word teaches, what would the result be?