Interesting response and one that, in our current world, makes sense. Consider, however, that our Lord established one Church. According to Scripture, Christ wanted us to be one (John 17:22-23). We are all as a Church to be of one mind and to think the same (Philippians 2:2; Romans 15:5). There is only to be one "faith" (Ephesians 4:3-6), not many. For the Church is Christ's Body and Christ only had one Body, not many. Also, since the Church is Christ's Bride (Ephesians 5:29), can Christ be married to more than one wife (essentially a spiritual form of the the sin of polygamy)? No, Christ can only have one wife (i.e., one Church, not many).
Since the Reformation, "christian" churches have been established then split and divided and split again and again. The current number of churches proclaiming to be christian is beyond measurement. Some put the number at 30,000, others at 40,000 and then there are those who practice alone at home.
Only one Church has stood strong for 2,000 years. That is the Church founded by Christ. No other organization has thrived for that length of time, testimony to the work of the Holy Spirit.
FYI..Merry Christmas
I don’t disagree with your analysis, but my belief is that for the Church to become whole again, those who are dragging down both the Catholic Church and these other denominations need to be set apart so that those who are genuinely attached to the Faith can come home. The Catholic Church’s outreach to faithful Anglicans is a sign of things to come.
***Since the Reformation, “christian” churches have been established then split and divided and split again and again. The current number of churches proclaiming to be christian is beyond measurement. Some put the number at 30,000, others at 40,000 and then there are those who practice alone at home.***
Oh, I see, we would have better off staying Roman Catholic with the ultimate consequence of having our small boys molested by Priests. < sarc>
True. That does not eliminate the acceptability of multiple denominations. Jesus did not prescribe the offices of Pope, Primate, Metropolitan, Bishop, etc. He didn't establish forms of liturgy. It is possible for two groups to have conflicting opinions and practices on what the proper polity is for administering the Church, different forms of worship, etc., etc. and still hold and pursue a common faith.
But what we have here with TEC is actually a different form of faith. They have proclaimed that what the vast majority of Christians recognize as sin - homosexual sexual practices - is NOT a sin and in fact in some circumstances can be celebrated. That's the sticking point to me.