Denominations, Faith, and Worship

I've been thinking recently of the various denominations: the Methodists, Episcopalians, Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, Pentecostals, etc..., etc.... and what they are. It's hard to honestly say what all these denominations are and what they represent. However, it's easy to say what they are NOT. They are NOT faiths. There is one faith and there are believers in all of these different denominations who are part of it.

I'm referring to Ephesians 4: 5. Here it is with a little context.

2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
4  There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;
5  One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
6  One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

I think it's misleading to say, "I'm of the Episcopal faith" or the Methodist faith... and so on. I think all these denominations differ primarily in: 1. How they worship; 2. How they express their faith to others; and 3. Doctrines they emphasize.

On the other hand, denominations are neither human nor Christian. They are tools humans use to function together in groups. They serve a useful limited purpose but they'll pass away when the Church becomes apparent to our spiritual senses. I think a denomination is similar to a corporation: a legal (and fictional) entity.

Faith is too precious a word for describing a denomination or summing up a denomination's catechism. Faith is more than an intricate belief system.

1 Peter 1:7  That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Faith for the Christian is personal belief that Jesus Christ is God's only son; that he died, was buried, and rose again to put away sin; and we may individually believe in that act for our own personal salvation from inherited sin and our personal sins. Faith is a substance and evidence that has a symbiotic relationship with hope that allows us to transcend our senses without compromising our sane wholeness.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I don't believe we have to believe in defined terms. I believe God will accept our best efforts to believe in him even if we're sloppy believers. That just seems to me what love would do.

I think "worship" might be a good word to use instead of "faith" or "denomination." We could say, "I'm of the Episcopal worship." "I'm of the Catholic worship." That would mean looking at "worship" as a noun in that context instead of as a verb. It would sound strange at first but it might be a positive way to look at our differences.