Are We One Body?

At Mass tonight, we sang one of my favorite songs. It's called "We Are One Body." The refrain is: "We are one body, one body in Christ; and we do not stand alone. We are one body, one body in Christ; and he came that we might have life."

What a beautiful image.

I just wish the image was more readily transformed into reality.

So often, the body of Christ seems like it was hit by a Mack truck, and pieces are scattered everywhere. As I read theology books, I get frustrated at how the church divides itself over and over again, based upon each particular "stand" on various issues.

A central question for me has arisen: Is my taking a firm stand on a particular belief more important that preserving unity with my brothers and sisters in Christ?

For me, the answer is almost always an emphatic "No!" There is ALWAYS a spectrum of belief on everything from the significance of the sacraments to church governance to yada, yada, yada. I'm not saying that these things have no importance, but I'm coming to believe that being "right" on any one of these things is just not that big a deal.

In its most simple form, it seems to me that the church is supposed to be a community of people centered around Jesus, with the intent of being formed to be like him and of serving the poor and the outcast of society.

You can baptize infants or not baptize infants. You can believe the bread and wine are the body and blood of Christ or represent the body and blood of Christ or signify that Christ is our spiritual sanctification or are just a memorial meal.

But for Christ's sake, why can't we hold these things loosely enough to maintain fellowship with one another?

Where are the people of God who get this?