There ARE important distinctions.
...but not so important as to condemn each other to perdition.
That’s why we have such a headbutting contest with Catholics, because their doctrine explicitly condemns all of us to Hell.
Whereas the worst that we do is only have the Lord’s Supper solely with people we are in 100% agreement with.
There are some topics that only God knows the answer to and how they all fall out.
For me, if someone has accepted Jesus Christ who is the One presented in Scripture and is trusting Him alone for salvation, I consider that they are likely saved and they are a brother or sister in Christ.
If they disagree on some point of doctrine with me, then it’s not my issue. It’s between them and God because they answer to HIM not me.
In addition, it simply may be that they’ve never thought through the doctrine well enough to know what they think on it.
We are all at different stages of spiritual growth. Some are recently saved and just learning the basics. Some are spiritual veterans who have been in the trenches for decades. I don’t expect the noob to the faith to be at the same stage of spiritual growth and understanding of doctrine as the old timer.
We’re not cookie cutter Christians.
I think *Prots* are far more willing to cut each other slack in the non-essential doctrines than Catholics are. And far more willing to accept that there are areas of disagreement that are not critical to salvation that are not worth dividing over. Stuff like the gifts of the Spirit.
Or Romans 14 kind of stuff. Things Paul calls *disputable matters*.
We don’t all march lockstep to the same denominational drummer.