[mizpeh]

Originally Posted by Esaias

We are instructed to maintain the unity of the Spirit until we come to the unity of the faith. Therefore there are some things which come over a pulpit that can be put on the back burner so to say.

Also, unless one claims to have perfect knowledge of all things one has to admit one is still learning, and therefore a disagreement may be caused by one's own error rather than the church's.

Can two walk together except they be agreed? Yes, in fact, but only so far as they are in agreement.

On a practical basis, I would say fundamental doctrines are essential, such as the unity of God, the Lordship of Christ, repentance and faith, baptism, the Holy Ghost, the reality of healing, resurrection and eternal judgment. Other issues like the structure, purpose, and function of the church, the proper form and substance of the liturgy (the work of the assembled saints aka the "service"), the issue of headcoverings, prophecy, etc etc are things that each individual must decide for themselves after MUCH prayer and study, as to whether or not those will be determiners of fellowship.

For me, I could not be a regular member of a non Holy Ghost church, a trinity or two-ness or "Jesus is not God" church, or one where testifying and Spirit filled meetings are not allowed, or one that was all about money and entertainment, or a miniature popedom where the pastor and his immediate family run EVERYTHING and everyone else is just a resource for them... or one where clucking and barking are all the rage.

Oh and if the women have big blue hair tons of makeup and ten inch fake eyelashes...

You make some good points.