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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.

Thank you for saying what I feel so strongly about in my heart. What I think is so difficult for some to believe is that this unity of the spirit we speak of is REAL and we REALLY do think that way. What to some who have been convinced is not possible, we prove every day in our discourses with each other. We can disagree on certain issues but those will not be the major issues that constitute the Christian faith. When we say we believe Scripture is our authority for doctrines we mean that in the major things we have unity and in the minor issues we have liberty. We can still exhibit love, regardless.

There are some on this forum who feel personal slights whenever something they have been told is true is shown to not necessarily be true according to the Bible. Some, in defense, try to complicate or over-pontificate the issue and when the exact Scripture point is quoted, they go into offensive mode and attack the poster rather than join in the discussion. When that happens, the flame wars usually start depending on the individual Freepers involved. Flame wars seem to never resolve anything and the point of discussion is usually always left in the dust and is why we see the same issues brought up repeatedly.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a mature, respectful dialog where opposing viewpoints can be aired and everyone goes away knowing they gave it their best shot and the results belong to God? I HAVE seen it happen, but it is rare. It would be wonderful if in this season of remembrance of our Savior's sacrifice and resurrection for our new birth, we also determine to post in “newness of life”.