[testallthings]

To answer some of OBW's questions I might use an imperfect illustration. When we receive the Lord Jesus and we are born anew, our spiritual life is very pure and “simple”. We might say that we are “naked”. Then, we start to read the Bible, to have fellowship with other believers, and so on. After few years, we put on layers of clothes (doctrines, interpretations, practices, etc..) that characterize us as a particular Christian. We all have some layers, that means everyone (I am not saying that reading the Bible, to know Its teaching, to grow in knowledge, to have some practices, etc.. is wrong).

Naturally, when we meet other Christians we feel very happy. The life of Christ in us, the Spirit in us, rejoice in meeting another person that has been redeemed and has received the same Life. The problem starts when we look at the clothes they are wearing, and when they look at ours. Does he believe in eternal salvation or that salvation can be lost? Does he belong to my group or to another one? Does he have a single pastor or a group of elders? The way he practice this or that is not according to the Bible. On this point he is surely wrong! And so on.

Let me be clear. If this is the way we consider our fellow brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are wrong. Our eyes should look at the Christ in them, and their eyes should look at Christ in us! Going around trying to pull off others clothes is, to say the least, inappropriate (if we are asked to explain, clarify our belief, well, then that is another story, but it matters how we do it. Condemning others should be avoided at all cost).

Then, you might ask why start a thread on denominationalism? First, this is a forum. I guess those who come here have questions. In real life, I try to avoid discussions and debates. Most of the time, they are unfruitful. And even here, I seldom put my nose in others discussions.
Second, to prove that not all who are against denominations are condemning their fellow brothers and sisters in the system. Those who think they have received more light should be more humble than those who have received less.
I am not defending anyone who uses his light as a club to “convince” others (and if I had done this, I am glad to apologize).

In my experience, though, I have observed in many cases the opposite scenario. The one, supposedly, with less light, bashes the one, supposedly, with more light.

We all belong to the Body of Christ. There is no question about it.

Some Implications of "The Body"
Firstly these implications are corrective.
There are many either false or imperfectly considered ideas about the Church, and a real revelation to the heart by the Holy Spirit of the truth will result in considerable adjustment.
If there is any real Divine mind behind the definition of the Church as the Body of Christ, and the One New Man, then the Church cannot be five things which obtain in 'Church History', or 'Ecclesiastical Polity'. It cannot be national. It cannot be international. It cannot be denominational. It cannot be interdenominational. It cannot be undenominational.
What sort of a man is this One New Man? What kind of a body is this Body of Christ? Is he a National man? Then there cannot be "one Body"! Is he an international man? Then he must be a composite man, embodying the features and characteristics of all nations. We will not carry the question further. All these designations which we have mentioned represent something, as apart from something else, to the Church. They distinguish Christians; they put some here and some there; some in this and others not in this. Even the last-named - undenominational - as a good-intentioned measure to get over sectarian barriers or distinguishing marks, but sets up another boundary, and misses the positive truth of the Body of Christ; it is at least negative.
Before we proceed let us pause a moment. We are anxious to avoid unnecessary misunderstanding. We are not saying that because many believers are in the various denominations they are not in the Body of Christ. Rather would we say that the Body of Christ comprises those who are truly joined to Himself wherever they may be found. So that no one must imagine that we suggest that in order to be in some thing called "the Body of Christ" they must leave their denomination. We should say that denominations are not an expression - in themselves - of the Body, and can be either a definite limitation or a real hindrance to the full thought of God. We recognize that there may be a fine difference between denominations and denominationalism; the one being more or less passive, the other positive. The latter would certainly be a menace to the truth of the Body of Christ. What we mean by denominationalism is the definite pursuance of denominational interests. There are many people of God in denominations who are not denominational in any positive and aggressive way, but who are rather where they are because that is where they have met the Lord. They love the Lord and desire to go on with Him.
What we are saying is not meant to be a judgment of such, nor in the spirit of criticism, but out of real love for every fellow-member of Christ. If a thing has to be judged as being less or other than the Lord's full or true thought; and if it is seen - in the light of fuller revelation and corresponding experience - to be only good as far as it goes, but not good in relation to a fuller thought of God, then those who are in it will only come under that judgment if and when they fail to have light which God has made available, or disobey light given. This, of course, will touch upon the question of whether the Cross has dealt with the natural life, and whether there is a walk in the Spirit. Let no one think therefore that we are out against Christians because they are in this or that department of the whole company of believers, nor yet that it is our aim to destroy those departments.
We are concerned with positive spiritual reality, and we say with Paul "admonishing every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ; whereunto I labour, striving according to his working which worketh in me mightily" (Colossians 1:28, 29).
But we recognize and know that "perfect in Christ" is related to the Body, as the context shows - "I... fill up on my part that which is lacking of the afflictions of Christ... for his body's sake, which is the church" etc. (verse 24).
We would never say anything which would raise an issue which is fraught with so much suffering and misunderstanding were it merely a technical question, and were we not convinced that the gain to the Lord and His people far outweighs that cost, and justifies the "afflictions". Our objective is constructive, not destructive; positive, not negative; love, not judgment or criticism.
The Stewardship of the Mystery
by T. Austin-Sparks
Chapter 3 - The Mystery
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/004593.html