We are all at different place in our spiritual journey and it is just that. It's not a destination where we suddenly become something specific. We're all different, diverse and complex. So that is why God judges our hearts because that is where the purity and truth lie within each of us. We see the outward man - He sees, knows & judges the heart.
We would do well to try and do likewise with each other. What we see on the exterior of each other is shallow, vain, and worldly. That's why Jesus told us to LOVE our neighbors as ourselves - because THEN we would stop judging, give people the benefit of the doubt, realize that most people are MORE like us than NOT like us and we would love them, help them, serve them more than judge them and usually misjudge them.
I have found though that as a person grows spiritually, it begins to affect and change their very appearance, their countenance, the way they dress, the manner with which they interact with others, the respect they have for themselves and their world around them - they gain a reverence, appreciation and peace that everyone feels too. SO - we might all be on the same walk but we are all at difference places, stages and perspectives on that same walk, aren't we? And Tthat should be ok.
In the end it's you and the Lord. Creeds and denominations can help keep you on the right path, provide support and community and admonition. They can also be a convenient place to "go through the motions". It's the heart of the believer that knows whether he or she is going through the motions or allowing the wisdom of that community to enter and edify.
Faith leads to relationship, and as such it cannot be merely emotional but must be rational as well. The emotions can move the mind, but the mind can set the direction for the heart. Ultimately, accepting Christ -whether for the first time or when coming back after making a poor choice - requires the mind and the heart working together.
Scripture teaches us that we have been saved (Eph 2:5), that we are being saved(1 Cor 1:18), and that we will be saved (Rom 5:9). Scripture also teaches us that we are to mature in faith (Col 2:10) both as individuals and as communities (Eph 4:13), and to imitate those who imitate Christ (Heb 6:12). Finally, Scripture admonishes us to cling to faith (1 Tim 6:12) and to feed our faith through good works (James 2:26), not trusting in what we do, but in the Grace of Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11).
Some are strong enough and close enough in their walk with the Lord that they think they don't need church or rites or moral codes to follow. Some of us are only strong enough to recognize that we can fall off the right path if we don't have a community to support us, and to support likewise.
Christians have a bad rap, but maybe if we cared about a person and stopped trying to get our agenda across, we'd see a positive impact. Maybe is we stopped judging other Christians on how they act, what mistakes are made, we'd see an positive impact.
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