Orthodox Presbyterians, especially ministers and elders, strongly disagree with Baptists on their view of baptism, though they recognize sincere Baptists as brothers and sisters in Christ. One thing we don’t hear from our pulpits is tirades against Baptists and their doctrine of “believers’ baptism.” It does no good to our concerns for brotherly love among believers and grieves those who might have friends or relatives who are Baptists.”
I couldn't have said it better myself. A thousand thanks for that lovely understanding in fellowship and the freedom of the Christian conscience.
After all, the body of Christ is not one part, as Paul, that excellent theologian stated in 1 Corinthians 12. For example, here we see the unity of those who have faith in Christ alone for salvation.....
1 Corinthians 12:1-3
1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed. 2You know that when you were pagans you were led astray to mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
And then the distinctions which God has granted the church to prevent if from becoming stagnant of ingrown and ineffective.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
While some people see denominationalism as divisive, since they perform different functions within the body, they serve a purpose. People can affiliate themselves with whatever denomination works best with their gifts and skills.
1 Corinthians 12:12-20 12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body— Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
14For the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 16And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.
Or perhaps one could say *If the Baptist should say, "Because I am not a Pentecostal, I do not belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.*
Or even if the Methodist should say, *Because you're not a Methodist, you're not a part of the body, the Baptist would not cease being part of the body.*
Everyone is accountable to God for their relationship with Him and while if they claim to be Christian and have no fruit to prove it, it's a reasonable conclusion that they are not Christian, the same cannot be said of denominations. Just because someone attends a church that is Pentecostal, or Baptist, or OPC, or whatever, doesn't mean they're not Christian.
Our unity is in faith in Christ alone for salvation as individuals, not the style of worship music we prefer, or if we like to raise our hands during worship or not.