I don't know if you've ever engaged betty boop in a discussion on the forum, but she is Catholic too - and we are so close, Spiritually, that we can finish each other's sentences. Jeepers, we've written a book together and are planning another. And .30Carbine is such a Spiritual "twin" to me that some posters think we are the same person posting under two handles.
This is the way the body of Christ should work, regardless of the labels we wear.
I often raise the point that Jesus chose twelve very different apostles and accepted seven very different churches in Revelation. Peter wasn't like John; Ephesus wasn't like Philadelphia.
Also, that the Spirit of God Whom we all have obviously received is like a seven faceted diamond. (Rev 4) What each of us see may be different based on the facet (the aspect) we are facing - but it is still the same diamond and the same Light.
Truly, Mad Dawg - a person belongs to Christ the moment he first believes. And from then til he weighs anchor from this mortality he continues in the walk of sanctification, of "working out his own salvation."
That walk is different for each one of us as we receive - and ask for, and receive - the Holy Spirit.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas [there is] among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I [am] of Apollos; are ye not carnal? Who then is Paul, and who [is] Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?
I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. - I Cor 3:1-7
In the soon to be announced Mad Dawg translation of the Scriptures, "And let the people say, 'I Copy. That's a 10-4!'"
This is the way the body of Christ should work!
Oh, I so agree dear Alamo-Girl!
To me, the most depressing thing about the current state of the culture is that everyone seems to be "at war" with everyone else these days. Even Christians attack each other. Whatever happened to the spirit of charity? It is a law of God.
Of course, to the extent that influential sectors in the culture are consciously, deliberately making war on God, and thus on His law, I suppose it is to be expected that peoples' expressions to one another will become increasingly self-referring, disordered, irrational, even vicious.
The way I explain this to myself is to say that under God, there is a common, shared ground of being and thus of discourse. The enemies of God and Western culture more generally know this, which explains the hostility towards God -- and towards man by implication.
But one would think that Christians, of all people, would not be prone to the descent into personal abuse of one another on the basis of doctrinal differences.
As you say, dear Alamo-Girl, we ought to be united in the Spirit of God, showing charity and good will towards one another rather than spite and personal abuse. IMHO, we can leave that sort of thing up to the U.S. Congress and the anti-God contingent: We must not forget that, for all our differences, we Christians (of whatever denomination) are equally members of the Body of Christ, and are called to conduct ourselves in such a way as to demonstrate God's love in this world.
If we don't "walk the talk" in this world, then who will?
Well, FWIW, just looking at the "big picture" here. I hope the foregoing makes sense (I'm confident it makes sense to you!). Thank you so much for your glorious essay/post, my dearest sister in Christ!