"Perhaps these debates are the means (or offer us the excuse) by which we avoid living such a Christian life – especially as we view the other (heretical) Christian on the other side of the debate."
Not only inter-Christian debates, but also the numberless, endless conversations we have with each other which are tightly controlled to ensure that we can personally avoid living the Christian life, especially as we point out the ways in which those opposed to us are not living their own "Christian" life.
What hypocrites we are. Modern-day Christianity is a facade, a false-front, a mask which we hide behind and use to justify our INACTION relative to bringing our own world into the parameters of and under the control of the Kingdom of Christ. To use the worn-out metaphor, it is a bandage applied to a hemorrhage and just as useless. It is a lie which we use so we do not have to look at ourselves, identify our own failings, and take necessary steps to correct them.
I am as guilty of this as anyone else, everyone else. As I grow continually closer to my departure from this world, it becomes more evident to me that I need to focus on the sin (singular) and stop covering for the sins (plural) which are so manifold in my own life. At the end of the day, I can (and do) imagine standing before God and hearing the question, "Why should I allow you into Heaven?". I have my doubts that the trite statement that I "trusted" Jesus to save me once, a long time ago, after I walked down the sawdust trail at a camp "revival" meeting, will be sufficient to allow passage.
It is so easy to point the finger at someone else. "O, wretched person that you are", and often it makes us feel better...for a few minutes at least. Yet, when the self-righteous euphoria wears off, we are still there and the SIN is still staring us in the face. Our own face. My own face.
"inter-Christian doctrinal debates are secondary to living the Christian life."
I agree with you here. There's no way that I could believe that my saintly grandmother (who was a Methodist) met Jesus when she passed at age 100 and would have heard Him say, "I did not know you, because you did not pick the one Christian denomination that I approve." She lived the life, and was much more worthy than I will ever be of the Kingdom.
Still, being a Catholic I pray for her soul as often as I can remember, at least every Sunday at Mass, along with all the others I've lost, not out of a sense of superiority, but just in case it helps in some small way.
"Perhaps these debates are the means (or offer us the excuse) by which we avoid living such a Christian life – especially as we view the other (heretical) Christian on the other side of the debate."
Not only inter-Christian debates, but also the numberless, endless conversations we have with each other which are tightly controlled to ensure that we can personally avoid living the Christian life, especially as we point out the ways in which those opposed to us are not living their own "Christian" life.
What hypocrites we are. Modern-day Christianity is a facade, a false-front, a mask which we hide behind and use to justify our INACTION relative to bringing our own world into the parameters of and under the control of the Kingdom of Christ. To use the worn-out metaphor, it is a bandage applied to a hemorrhage and just as useless. It is a lie which we use so we do not have to look at ourselves, identify our own failings, and take necessary steps to correct them.
I am as guilty of this as anyone else, everyone else. As I grow continually closer to my departure from this world, it becomes more evident to me that I need to focus on the sin (singular) and stop covering for the sins (plural) which are so manifold in my own life. At the end of the day, I can (and do) imagine standing before God and hearing the question, "Why should I allow you into Heaven?". I have my doubts that the trite statement that I "trusted" Jesus to save me once, a long time ago, after I walked down the sawdust trail at a camp "revival" meeting, will be sufficient to allow passage.
It is so easy to point the finger at someone else. "O, wretched person that you are", and often it makes us feel better...for a few minutes at least. Yet, when the self-righteous euphoria wears off, we are still there and the SIN is still staring us in the face. Our own face. My own face.
God, be merciful to me, a sinner.
"inter-Christian doctrinal debates are secondary to living the Christian life."
I agree with you here. There's no way that I could believe that my saintly grandmother (who was a Methodist) met Jesus when she passed at age 100 and would have heard Him say, "I did not know you, because you did not pick the one Christian denomination that I approve." She lived the life, and was much more worthy than I will ever be of the Kingdom.
Still, being a Catholic I pray for her soul as often as I can remember, at least every Sunday at Mass, along with all the others I've lost, not out of a sense of superiority, but just in case it helps in some small way.
ATL, as God is outside of time, prayer today will be of benefit for your grandmother just as much as if you prayed for her when she was alive.
And I agree fully with your comment: there is a true Church, and it is not bound or limited within any one single institution.