You know, 547 posts and not one decent answer to the following:
The problem is, at least based upon conversations I've had with my Protestant friends, is that they do not comprehend that there is one Church and that is that (cf 1 cor 3:1-5, 1 cor 12:12ff, Eph 5:27, etc.). Jesus Christ is the head of that Church and is the bridegroom of that Church (cf Eph 5:23). He installed Peter as his "prime minister," to deal with the temporal issues relating to that Church (Matt 16:19, cf Isa 22:20-23). Additionally, they do not comprehend the concept of Apostolic succession (cf Acts 1:15ff, and many other examples of episcopal ordinations, cf 2 Ti 1:6, Acts 20:28, etc.).
Typical Christian vs Protestant thread...
There are none so blind as those who will not see. I fear that at least some of these folks demonstrate sufficient familiarity with the exposition of the Truth - and then refuse to embrace it - that they imperil themselves more than they know. And they'd have little excuse if they did so imperil themselves; they accuse us of "legalism" exclusivity and triumphalism when we talk about what we know to be the objective requirements for salvation, yet they cheerfully damn every non-Christian to Hell without a hearing on every bit the legalistic mindset they accuse us of! If God uses their own logic and bumps it up one rung of the ladder to accuse them out of their own mouths, it is very possible that He will hold them to a stern accounting for their lack of sanctifying grace after a death without access to absolution. Not my job to so declare, of course, but it *is* a logical outcome based on His own objective norms.