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Our Declaration of Independence says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” This self-evident statement stresses the importance of individual rights, but it does not ignore the value and benefit of loving others. Jesus Christ and His apostles stressed that those who profess faith in Christ must love one another as He loved us. In His second letter to believers, John the Apostle of Jesus told God’s people they must always let love be their guide—even though they must often have to deal with unloving or unlovable people. John wrote, “I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.” John goes on to explain that love does not mean we must approve of wrongdoing, or accept those who practice evil, or accept false teaching about Jesus Christ. We can reject evil practices and false teaching about the person of Christ and still love people.
