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I see no way through this without risking some sin, whether pride, self-delusion,or some other. But I have to try to say this and to be fair about it.

Yep. Many of us feelthy papists (that's a joke, people -- unwad the underthings), myself definitely included, get pretty acerbic. There seems to be at least some of that on the other side. Here is one fault that does not respect denomination.

It is not only my shame, but a kind of general embarrassment that in discussing and examining different opinions about the Lord of Love we forget the Love part, at least I do. We leave the noble "extremism in defense of Liberty is no vice" position and end up somewhere near the self-defeating "We had to destroy the village to save it" territory. Our mutual adversary laughs.

Much as I dislike Cromwell, he did wonderfully suggest to, I believe, Scottish presbyters that they consider that they might be wrong. To strengthen his urging, he appealed to the bowels (that is, to the compassion) of Christ. I think real conversation is impossible without considering at least that reasonable people of good will might think that I am wrong, and that I must try to understand in charity how things look from their point of view.

In both Ephesians and Philippians Paul writes deservedly famous passages about the central mystery of Christ and His reconciling work. He does so in both letters to found his appeals for mutual charity and forbearance not on sentiment but on the one cornerstone.

It may be that in, as we see it, defending Christ, we forget Him and His love. To the extent that I have done so, I ask your forgiveness and prayers and hope that we can contend without bitterness but in expectation that our errors will be conquered by the Truth himself to whose saving care we ought to commend one another.

okay, that's enough grandiloquent and self-satisfied piety for one morning!