Perhaps that is the difference and why we talk past each other. Many Protestants consider only "true" believers as members of the Church, which is synonymous with the elect (which would be an invisible body), while Catholics consider a person baptized as part of the Church (making the Church visible to the world) - while again, the elect are unknown in this life. The Catholic view takes into account the parables of Jesus and discussing the Kingdom, consisting of weeds and wheat, good and bad fish, and so forth.
Your comments?
Yes ... I will presume to speak for Protestants in saying that we do, indeed, regard only "true believers" ... as members of Christ's church (i.e. the ecclesia or "called out ones").
Unbelievers may participate, to an extent, ... in the context of the church, ... but are not considered members of the church ... until they declare their personal belief.
Unbelievers may participate, to an extent, ... in the context of the church, ... but are not considered members of the church ... until they declare their personal belief.
Yes, I thought so. This different view on who is in the Church makes a lot of sense on how we view things, such as who is saved, the effects of Baptism, and so forth.
I do think that Christ's parables on the wheat and the weeds refers to the Church, which is why Catholics view salvation a bit differently - we can see nominal Catholics and call them part of the Church, but they are not "true believers" according to the Protestant. Thus, these discussions that seem to pass by each other.
Regards