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I don't know where you get the idea of a "doctrinally unified invisible church." I've never heard of that idea in all the different Protestant churches I've been in.

Ok, then maybe I'm mistaken about the entire thing. It seemed Alex Murphy was rebelling against my list that pointed out differences between some mainstream Protestant denominations, and I thought he was doing so because he believed this "invisible church" had no major doctrinal differences.

But is the point now that the "invisible church" has no doctrinal unity except belief in Jesus Christ as Lord? Is that your point, ScubieNuc? If that's the case then I simply submit that I could never believe in such a concept. I could never believe that God would want His Church filled with confusion on whether or not His Son is God, or whether or not OSAS is true, or whether or not we have free will.

We can agree to disagree if that's the point here. I just could never accept a Church filled with such confusion, personally speaking.

But is the point now that the "invisible church" has no doctrinal unity except belief in Jesus Christ as Lord? Is that your point, ScubieNuc?

I wouldn't say that is the ONLY doctrinal unity, but I would say that that is the main one.

The Apostles Creed was an early example of trying to lay out the main doctrinal issues for new converts to the Church in Rome around 200 A.D.. The basis of most of the Creed comes from Scripture. When people couldn't all have access to Scripture, a Creed was something people could memorize and keep in mind. Now we have access to Scripture, so our doctrinal unity can be found in there.

If that's the case then I simply submit that I could never believe in such a concept. I could never believe that God would want His Church filled with confusion on whether or not His Son is God, or whether or not OSAS is true, or whether or not we have free will.

First, where is there confusion on whether or not Jesus was God? It's pretty clear from Scripture that Jesus was God. If a person doesn't accept that, I can't see how they would be part of the Body of Christ or the "invisible Church."

Second, Eternal Security, free will, etc. are minor doctrines. I am not a TULIP Calvinist, but I have brothers and sisters in Christ who believe that way. Believing you were pre-selected before the foundation of the Earth to be saved is not required for salvation. Look at the thief on the cross beside Jesus. What he knew and what he did weren't that much, but he believed that Jesus was God and he is in Paradise today.

Third, I believe you over paint with the word confusion. Corinthians says that we now see through a glass darkly. (1 Cor. 13:12) The Apostle Paul didn't have every answer and he relayed to the Church at Corinth that some things will remain a mystery until we see God face to face.

Does that mean that there will be confusion? Yes, but not on the main issue of salvation. Does that mean that God authored confusion? NO! Confusion was authored by Satan and brought about as the consequence of sin. What God wants us to do in these times of confusion is to 1)Study his Word for answers, 2)Pray for guidance, 3)Join with others to learn and share, and 4)to rely on God for strenth.

Sincerely