Dear Brother,
I know you have been pretty much even handed when it comes to RCC in these discussions. Instead of a united Body of Christ, it seems we have become what the world is, which is competing factions of "we are right, and you are wrong", which has solved/absolved the differences we hold over each other's heads not one iota.
Still, though you have done your best to be faithful in the splitting of hairs, it still has many difficulties I'm sure on all sides to be able to get past them and to find total acceptance except as individuals, and in truth I believe as it should be. For the vehicle by which we came to belong to Christ, has less import than that we have become His! We, you, me, all believers are the church, with Jesus as the Head; not the RCC, Baptist, Pentecostals, Lutherans, and it goes on. For membership in these churches do not safe one and never will. We must remember that.
Another reason these discussions can be helpful in finding understanding, but only up to a point. They then become a fruitless back and forth that creates more animosity, then a loving unity we should have. A unity of faith, a brotherhood of belief in Jesus, which we confuse at time with a uniformity of worship which needs to be laid aside.
Why? Because that worship, is personal and though it can be congregational, likeminded, it does not necessarily have to be so, in order to be heart driven and for it to occur. For we worship God, and not a denominational practice of do's and don'ts. Yes, not all is acceptable, and in truth should be set alongside of scripture that we as imperfect recipeints of the Word of God, may be guided by the Holy Spirit to do that which is Holy and acceptable to a Holy God. To fail to use what we have been given to use, can only come to our own detriment, and benefit us less than it should.
Still, in our walk, where we attend should not be the focus to non-believers, but rather Jesus, and as Paul told the church at Corinth, Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). So, that at least some might be saved brother.
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
\o/
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