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Thank you so much for pinging me to your wonderful insights, dear brother in Christ!

Yes, in many ways I couldn't agree more. And this truth [Christianity was divided from the getgo, just as it is today] is why many of those on my side have trouble understanding or accepting the idea of "always and everywhere believed".

Indeed. I usually underscore the point with evidence of official "book burning" which I will not repeat here since it has already been addressed on this thread.

At bottom, the “always and everywhere believed” claim is empty and our young in Christ should not be confounded by it or other such claim of supreme, exclusive authority to convey the words of God, e.g. Mormonism and Catholicism. Obviously, for one to be right about exclusive authority, the other would have to be wrong - and I submit that puts too much pressure on new Christians.

Rather, I aver we ought to encourage the young in Christ to love God surpassingly above all else, submit to Him. And we ought to trust Him that He will guide them according to His own will – which may or may not include submitting to an assembly which claims exclusive authority. At the very least, we ought never become an obstruction.

And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and [his] disciples rebuked those that brought [them].

But when Jesus saw [it], he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

And he took them up in his arms, put [his] hands upon them, and blessed them. – Mark 10:13-16

You also said:

If it is actually true that in Heaven there are Orthodox and Baptists and Latins and Presbyterians, etc., etc., then I can conceive of how God could have wanted things to be exactly the way they are right now.

The Scriptures point to that.

Peter was not like John who was not like Paul who was not like James who was not like doubting Thomas - but Christ chose each one of them. Moreover, He did not treat them exactly the same.

Likewise the foundation of the New Jerusalem is comprised of twelve very different gemstones, one for each apostle. The twelve gates, named for the tribes of Israel, by contrast, are all pearls.

And the foundations of the wall of the city [were] garnished with all manner of precious stones. The first foundation [was] jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony; the fourth, an emerald; The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the seventh, chrysolite; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. – Revelation 21:19-20

And each of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3 have different strengths, different weakness, different challenges, different warnings and different rewards for those who overcome.

And again in the description of the gifts of the Spirit and the body of Christ in I Corinthians 12 we see that not every Christian has the same gifts, calling or responsibility.

Therefore I aver it is spiritually wrong-headed to ever judge or condemn a person at all, much less one who is declaring Christ but additional doctrines and traditions which seem strange.

Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: - Luke 6:37

These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness [that] speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. – Proverbs 6:16-19

On the other hand, it is vital (literally) to the body that we all stay focused on the one and only Great Commandment – and beyond that, encourage sound doctrine. We should also discourage doctrines and traditions which have no root at all in the Word of God, our Lord Jesus Christ lest we become like the Pharisees, straining at gnats and swallowing camels:

[Ye] blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. – Matthew 23:24

Let us love God absolutely and our neighbor, unconditionally. Let us believe God and trust Him.

To God be the glory!

[ FK: Yes, in many ways I couldn't agree more. And this truth [Christianity was divided from the getgo, just as it is today] is why many of those on my side have trouble understanding or accepting the idea of "always and everywhere believed". ]

So true; its always been so.. even among the Jews, pre-Messiah.. Its the observer problem again.. Whatever mankind observes he can pick up some things differently.. Reminds of the classroom lesson where you tell one kid something who whispers it to another to another, at the end of the chain the story is totally morphed into a different story.. More so when time/history is involved..

The "observer problem" is with us upon many levels.. not just spiritually.. Even with mathematics.. the Neils Bohr and Albert Einstein dichotomy of the telescope and microscope looks at physics..They were both fairly correct as Bohr seem to observe..

Could be that there is a "telescope/microscope" element to spirituality too.. with literal/metaphorical takes on spiritual reality.. I've noticed that the "religious" can Obsess on different things.. i.e. universality, presbytery, baptism, the method, and even charisma.. The observation or obsession on a view observed can tend to group like observers together.. A self sorting dynamic that appears to be "of God"(John ch 10).. When even the "Goats"(non believers) self sort themselves into groups.. Its quite remarkable when you think of it.. A wonderful plan observed by the Ultimate Observer.. "GOD"... who has a much wider Vista to observe from..

Gives a unique "Perpective" to "Judge not unless you be Judged".. Judged by Whom?.. Judged by Yourself when you self sort yourself into SOME group because of picayune obervations of your(MY) OWN.. LoL...

FK: And this truth [Christianity was divided from the getgo, just as it is today] is why many of those on my side have trouble understanding or accepting the idea of "always and everywhere believed".

I usually underscore the point with evidence of official "book burning" which I will not repeat here since it has already been addressed on this thread.

Yes, I remember reading your excellent post and was actually thinking of you when I commented. :)

Peter was not like John who was not like Paul who was not like James who was not like doubting Thomas - but Christ chose each one of them. Moreover, He did not treat them exactly the same.

Yes indeed. God has a specific path for each of us and they will be different. It is not for us to question, but rather to rejoice in what God has chosen for us.

Let us love God absolutely and our neighbor, unconditionally. Let us believe God and trust Him.

Amen. Our personal-infinite God tells us that this is our place in the universe.