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in the model of a "bigger" body, what defines the boundary of what IS the body of Christ?

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The general consensus is divinity of Jesus, what was done on the Cross, etc. Typically understood as all mainline evangelical denominations including Catholics/Orthodox, major Protestant and non-denominational faiths (Baptist, but no neckties).

Mormons/JW mostly considered out.

Not really wanting to have a discussion around borders or whatnot. Your stance is already noted. If you want to say "that's not a border", have at it.

diehard03 said:

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Diehard, you're nondenom right?

I would ask, what is the sinner's prayer actually doing? And what is baptism not doing?

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Depends on how technical you want to get with predestination and whatnot, but the act of submission - whatever the act is - is where God steps in. it's in alignment with Romans 10 (confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord...), Ask/Seek/Knock verses and stories like the Thief on the Cross. Baptism isn't doing the savings because one already has been.

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Because if someone approached me and said they had never stepped foot in a church, but said the sinners prayer earnestly I would say "praise God, lets go to Church!"

And that would start the process of inquiry ->catechumen ->membership in the church through confession/baptism/chrismation.

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Just to answer your question directly, we would say the same thing. Not because salvation is at risk, but because we believe it's the starting line, not the finish line. I believe this consistent with Pauls' letters about extoling Christs saving work in the lives of saints, yet still instructing/correcting/teaching.

Personally, I think counting the cost is important. Understanding one's need for salvation is important. Would I question their salvation? That's not my role. But, I would bring up contrary statements/views to Christ's teaching if they express them.

Specific church membership is not important, but you hold a different definition of "church" than I do. (in terms of bigger corporate body of christ where many denominations exist, vs one where one's particular church, and those "in communion with" ARE the body of Christ)

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Just a comment about Romans 10…It's interesting how people assume that believing in your heart and confessing Jesus with your mouth is only meant to be a 'once and done'. So many other scriptures also mention persevering in faith. Faith is not only cooperating with Gods saving grace in faith through words but faith in deedS (1 Tim 5:8) (but a reminder that I'm not saying anything about meriting salvation..which we could never do). Paul also says that we share in the deaths and new life of Christ through baptism. Grace alone saves us. We cooperate (show our faith through sacraments etc)

I come from a devout Catholic family, and my wife was raised in a devout Baptist family. We started dating when we were 18 and got married almost right out of college. When we started dating, I made it clear that I never intended to leave the Church and that I desired to raise my future children to know and love the Catholic faith. She understood that, and early in our relationship, we would go to mass together and also attend a non-denominational church near us.

When we got engaged, my wife still had not converted to Catholicism. We had a Catholic wedding and continued to attend mass together after we got married. After being married for about a year and a half, we left mass one day and my wife turned to me and told me she was ready to come into the Church. It was a really cool moment.

Since then, she has shared with me that some of the most impactful things that led to her conversion were:

-An openness to learning and understanding...from both of us. I desired to learn more about what she believed, she desired to learn more about what I believed, and we both desired to learn more about what our churches teach. I think seeking to understand each other, and each church's teaching is key.
-An example of holiness and people living out their faith around her. Obviously, I needed to live out my faith in order to help her come to know it, but she also talked about the strong impact my parents' and grandparents' walk with the Lord had on her and her conversion.
-Talking things out together. I think it can be easy to avoid differences or things that might lead to conflict, but this is obviously something that needs to be discussed extensively.
-The church that we attend. The parish we attend has a very vibrant community with a strong pastor, and that certainly played a role in her conversion.
-Most importantly, love. Love of the Lord and love of each other.

Knowing very little about your situation, but having walked through similar circumstances, I would encourage you to:
-Pray and talk things through together intentionally and regularly. There is probably a temptation to just do your own thing and go to mass and let her do her own thing at a different church. Don't do this, it will almost certainly lead to y'all compartmentalizing your relationship with God rather than living it out.
-Seek to understand. Seek to understand God's call for you as a man and as a husband, seek to understand your wife, and seek to understand what you believe.
-Don't pressure her, encourage her...if she comes into the Church for the wrong reasons, she is likely going to resent it. You want her to come into the Church because she desires it.
-Don't be defensive. There were times in my wife and my relationship when I didn't know the answers to questions she had about why we believed a certain thing or why the Church does this or that and got defensive because I did not know the answer...the approach that was far more productive was openly saying, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I am going to find out and tell you when I do!" That was a far more fruitful process for both of us and helped me learn a lot about my faith.
-Evaluate the parish that you attend! Yes, as Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our spiritual lives! Yes, that is the primary reason we attend mass. But that is not an excuse to live out our lives in a parish that does not cultivate growth for you spiritually. This may not apply to you at all, but I definitely could see someone having a hard time desiring to attend certain Catholic churches.
-Be open. Even though I never intended to leave the Catholic Church, I told my wife that I was open to learning what she believed and if I came to believe that I would embrace it. It never came to that, but it helped me understand a lot more about her family, her faith background, and challenged me to grow in my faith.
-Handle things with love!
-Lastly, pray! Pray together, pray on your own, and pray intentionally that God may guide you, her, and y'all as a couple.

I hope this helps! I will be praying for y'all. God Bless.

Zachary Klement said:

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I come from a devout Catholic family, and my wife was raised in a devout Baptist family. We started dating when we were 18 and got married almost right out of college. When we started dating, I made it clear that I never intended to leave the Church and that I desired to raise my future children to know and love the Catholic faith. She understood that, and early in our relationship, we would go to mass together and also attend a non-denominational church near us.

When we got engaged, my wife still had not converted to Catholicism. We had a Catholic wedding and continued to attend mass together after we got married. After being married for about a year and a half, we left mass one day and my wife turned to me and told me she was ready to come into the Church. It was a really cool moment.

Since then, she has shared with me that some of the most impactful things that led to her conversion were:

-An openness to learning and understanding...from both of us. I desired to learn more about what she believed, she desired to learn more about what I believed, and we both desired to learn more about what our churches teach. I think seeking to understand each other, and each church's teaching is key.
-An example of holiness and people living out their faith around her. Obviously, I needed to live out my faith in order to help her come to know it, but she also talked about the strong impact my parents' and grandparents' walk with the Lord had on her and her conversion.
-Talking things out together. I think it can be easy to avoid differences or things that might lead to conflict, but this is obviously something that needs to be discussed extensively.
-The church that we attend. The parish we attend has a very vibrant community with a strong pastor, and that certainly played a role in her conversion.
-Most importantly, love. Love of the Lord and love of each other.

Knowing very little about your situation, but having walked through similar circumstances, I would encourage you to:
-Pray and talk things through together intentionally and regularly. There is probably a temptation to just do your own thing and go to mass and let her do her own thing at a different church. Don't do this, it will almost certainly lead to y'all compartmentalizing your relationship with God rather than living it out.
-Seek to understand. Seek to understand God's call for you as a man and as a husband, seek to understand your wife, and seek to understand what you believe.
-Don't pressure her, encourage her...if she comes into the Church for the wrong reasons, she is likely going to resent it. You want her to come into the Church because she desires it.
-Don't be defensive. There were times in my wife and my relationship when I didn't know the answers to questions she had about why we believed a certain thing or why the Church does this or that and got defensive because I did not know the answer...the approach that was far more productive was openly saying, "I don't know the answer to that question, but I am going to find out and tell you when I do!" That was a far more fruitful process for both of us and helped me learn a lot about my faith.
-Evaluate the parish that you attend! Yes, as Catholics, we believe that the Eucharist is the source and summit of our spiritual lives! Yes, that is the primary reason we attend mass. But that is not an excuse to live out our lives in a parish that does not cultivate growth for you spiritually. This may not apply to you at all, but I definitely could see someone having a hard time desiring to attend certain Catholic churches.
-Be open. Even though I never intended to leave the Catholic Church, I told my wife that I was open to learning what she believed and if I came to believe that I would embrace it. It never came to that, but it helped me understand a lot more about her family, her faith background, and challenged me to grow in my faith.
-Handle things with love!
-Lastly, pray! Pray together, pray on your own, and pray intentionally that God may guide you, her, and y'all as a couple.

I hope this helps! I will be praying for y'all. God Bless.

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Great post!