" You said that we shouldn't pretend to be part of the Church, do you think we do?"
I'm getting old...and it is late. I meant to respond to this comment also.
I do think, or at least after having read here on FR, thought, that Protestants of all manner believe and proclaim that they are part of The Church, as the Orthodox, the Copts, the Armenians, the Latins the Greek Catholics, the Melkites, the Maronites etc. are. I didn't mean to imply that you thought that you are Roman Catholics (or any other of the listed particular churchs within The Church). For us (those listed above) Protestant "churches" are not, as +BXVI wrote, strictly speaking churches but rather are ecclesial assemblies. In consequence of that attitude, I should think you would quite properly not give a fig if we in The Church as it has been defined for the last 2000 years, called you, or believed you to be Donatists (or whatever else).
LOL.
Protestant "churches"...
In quotes, no less. So we Bible-believing, God-fearing Protestants are not part of Christ's Church on earth?
Keep your figs or fruit of choice. I'll trust in the only vine.
II. The visible Church, which is also catholic or universal under the gospel (not confined to one nation as before under the law), consists of all those throughout the world that profess the true religion, together with their children; and is the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ; the house and family of God, through which men are ordinarily saved and union with which is essential to their best growth and service. III. Unto this catholic and visible Church, Christ hath given the ministry, oracles, and ordinances of God, for the gathering and perfecting of the saints, in this life, to the end of the world; and doth by his own presence and Spirit, according to his promise, make them effectual thereunto. IV. This catholic Church hath been sometimes more, sometimes less, visible. And particular Churches, which are members thereof, are more or less pure, according as the doctrine of the gospel is taught and embraced, ordinances administered, and public worship performed more or less purely in them. V. The purest Churches under heaven are subject both to mixture and error: and some have so degenerated as to become apparently no Churches of Christ. Nevertheless, there shall be always a Church on earth, to worship God according to his will. VI. There is no other head of the Church but the Lord Jesus Christ: nor can the Pope of Rome in any sense be head thereof. etc...I. The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him that filleth all in all.