as “essential,” and “vital to faith and salvation.”7 What are these truths? The two
great commandments are often mentioned in this context. I think the following
would qualify: There is one God. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. He created us for
heaven and we live in heaven when we love God and our neighbor. He reveals
Himself and His will in the Word. He calls us to see and confront evil in our
lives, to repent, and to live in charity with our fellow human beings.
The Writings emphasize that doctrinal differences do not divide where
love for the neighbor and a life of charity exist.8 One passage, however,
contains a caveat. Where there is charity, a doctrinal difference is not regarded
as divisive or as