Why do you want me in your church?

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Ebor in another thread (that was going off topic) asked me the question in the subject line.
So, I thought I would continue it in a new thread.

My answer was that, yes, I want everyone to join my church.  With Orthodoxy the answer goes deeper than that.  The church is, we believe, the one established by Jesus Christ and remains his mystical Body.  What can compare with that? 

The Protestant answer is usually the same.*  Go to the church that feels right to you.  After years as a Protestant, I find that answer less than satisfying.  That answer not only places too much discretion on the individual, it is bound to lead to divisions, since we are all different.  Furthermore, this answer tacitly admits that no church has the truth.  If one is just as good as the next even though there are doctrinal differences, how certain are these denominations about what they believe?


I am not saying I do not have respect for Protestants.  My best friend is an Anglican and have great respect for him as a Christian, but Protestants don't want to deal with this issue of the church.
What irks me is when they deflect it by accusing us of creating disunity by claiming a single undivided church.

 
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*The other possible answer is our dinky denomination established late in history is the only one that is true.  That answer is much worse than what is described above.
 
   

[AncientFaith]

I don't want everyone in my Church.  I'm simply not that charitable.  There are a lot of people I want in my Church, because I do really believe it is the Pearl of Great Price.  It is so real, so right, there is no way for me to adequately describe it.

I only pray that I will learn enough charity to want more people than I do to join the Orthodox Church, even if I never grow enough to want everyone.

[Veniamin]

I don't want everyone in my Church.  I'm simply not that charitable.  There are a lot of people I want in my Church, because I do really believe it is the Pearl of Great Price.  It is so real, so right, there is no way for me to adequately describe it.

I only pray that I will learn enough charity to want more people than I do to join the Orthodox Church, even if I never grow enough to want everyone.

Post of the month nominee, for the sheer honesty.

[TinaG]

I don't want everyone in my Church.  I'm simply not that charitable.  There are a lot of people I want in my Church, because I do really believe it is the Pearl of Great Price.  It is so real, so right, there is no way for me to adequately describe it.

I only pray that I will learn enough charity to want more people than I do to join the Orthodox Church, even if I never grow enough to want everyone.

AF:  You just pegged the practical meaning of repentance and Theosis.  I bet there isn't one person on this board who can say they feel brotherly or sisterly love for absolutely everyone in their church or daily life.  Most of us just hide it; we avoid that person at coffee hour because they are weird, obnoxious, old, arrogant, or they aren't meeting our expectations of what an Orthodox Christian should be - not churchy enough.  It would be the same thing if some drunk or mentally ill street person showed up on Sunday morning.  As long as we're being frank here, that's something I struggle with because I feel uncomfortable and a little scared of encounters like this. 

So good, you admit you don't want everyone in church with you, and even better that you realize this is something to work on.  I agree with Veniamin.  That is honest and noble.

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