"Denominations didn't exist until the 15th Century. They exist in violation of the plainly stated will of Jesus Christ concerning His followers - "that they all may be ONE, even as I and My heavenly Father are ONE". He knew that truth can exist only in unity, because truth cannot conflict with truth, and conflicting beliefs/teachings therefore necessarily mean false beliefs/teachings. The present state of Protestantism is exactly the opposite of what Jesus intended for His Church, which was & still is that all of His followers would be members of the ONE Church He founded, which He said was to remain ONE, to which He promised "The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth" & "Whatsoever you bind upon Earth is bound in Heaven" & "He who hears you hears Me"."
Denominationalism DID NOT start or come into existence until the 15th Century. Any student of history would NOT become Catholic, knowing what history teaches concerning the one true church 'of all saints everywhere that call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord & ours.' (I Cor 1:2,3)
It was alive & well in THE CHURCH that met IN Corinth, around 52AD.
I Cor 1:2 RSVCE "To THE CHURCH which is AT--CORINTH, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, CALLED TO BE SAINTS, TOGETHER WITH ALL those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord & ours."
I Cor 1:10-13 RSVCE "I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree together, so that there may be NO DIVISIONS AMONG YOU & that you may be united in mind & conviction. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you.
What I mean is this: Individuals among you are saying,
“I follow Paul,”
“I follow Apollos”
“I follow Cephas”
“I follow Christ.”
Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?
Romans 1:1-7 RSVCE
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning His Son, Who was descended from David according to the flesh & designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace & apostleship to bring about THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH FOR THE SAKE OF HIS NAME AMONG ALL THE NATIONS--INCLUDING YOURSELVES--WHO ARE CALLED TO BELONG TO JESUS CHRIST.
7 To ALL GODS BELOVED--IN--ROME, who are CALLED TO BE SAINTS: grace & peace to you from God our Father & the Lord Jesus Christ.
There is only one church. Some of the called saints met in Corinth, some met all over the place that called upon their Lord & ours. If you want one exclusive church, it says, 'THE CHURCH OF GOD AT CORINTH. If ever anyone wanted to be exclusive, they could say that. But they didn't.
Some of God's beloved saints were found assembling together IN ROME, ALSO. They also were called to be saints, just like every other believer & follower of Christ who called upon Him as Lord--were saints. Saint simply means 'called out to be separate.' Believers are called out of the world & set apart for God's use & purposes.
Those who follow men are carnal & immature & promote men not Christ. Sadly, the Roman Catholic church fell into the error of man-made denominations by:
'I follow Cephas." The head of the Roman Catholic church is not Christ but the pope, the head of the Roman Catholic church, the vice
Pope Francis I will be taking on the awesome responsibility of leading a church with more than 1 billion followers, a job that comes with eight official titles — none of them "Pope."
To hear
Dr. Terrence W. Tilley, Chair of the Theology Department at Fordham University, tell it, calling the pope "pope" is a little like calling your CEO "chief."
"'Pope' comes from the Italian 'papa,'" explains Tilley. "It's actually a colloquial term rather than a formal term. In America, we often use the phrase, especially the bishops — 'Holy Father,' 'Sancta Papa,' — which is where you get 'Pope.'"
The pope's proper title,
according to the Vatican's website, is Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Prince of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Primate of Italy, Archbishop and Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God.
Wow. Do we find that in Scripture? No. Those are all man-made, man generated titles.
St. Peter is considered by many to be the first Bishop of Rome, but
Father Raymond Schroth of America Magazine says there is a fair amount of doubt surrounding that claim.
"Raymond Brown was the best scripture scholar we had, and he's written several things on this. (He) said it would be a mistake to say that Peter was the first pope, as if he were the founder of the church. That's an exaggeration. The evidence for Peter's presence in Rome is not airtight — that's a nice way of putting it.
Vicar of Jesus Christ, aka Vicar of Christ "A less formal title that is rooted in his primacy," says Tilley. "That is, his political headship of the universal church. So a vicar would be something like a vice regent. I believe it is a medieval or early modern title."
Successor of the Prince of the Apostles Another direct reference to St. Peter, who was deemed Prince of the Apostles on the strength of Jesus declaring in
Matthew 16:18, "That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church." Another dubious claim, according to Schroth.
"Historically, this is a stretch, in the sense that the evidence is not there that Peter was the first leader of the church," says Schroth. "If you said to Peter, if you were to flash back in history and say, 'Are you the pope?,' he wouldn’t know what you were talking about. That term 'pope' did not come along for another couple hundred of years.
"This is a baroque title. It's one of those 'let's puff up the pope' titles," concedes Tilley.
Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church The word "pontiff" comes from the Latin "pontifex," meaning "bridge-builder." "Pontifex maximus" was the great bridge-builder of ancient Rome, a title held by the likes of Julius Caesar. Tilley believes the title was assumed by the Bishop of Rome post-Reformation, as an assertion of his "juridical and communicative status."
I can go on further but one thing is clear: the Lord Jesus Christ never gave up being the Head of the body of Christ, the one church HE IS CONTINUING TO BUILD, not Peter or any supposed successor of Peter.
There is no other HEAD of the body of Christ except Jesus. NO SURROGATE HEAD OR INSTEAD OF HEAD, ETC. He continues to remain the Head, representing His church & continues to add to the number of His one true church daily throughout the world. He has never ceased being the Head nor delegated it to others but continues to be the Head & all growth & believers come because Christ adds them to his church, all those from every tribe, nation, tongue, language, sect, etc. that call upon Him as Lord.
When we follow men & not Christ, we have gone astray. The Israelites didn't want God to be their head; they wanted a human king, a man to rule over them. God allowed that but was greatly disappointed that they chose that, telling His prophet that they had REJECTED Him. So He allowed it to happen, to their own demise, so often.
So when any local church meeting in a definite locality presumes to be the ONLY TRUE CHURCH--BEWARE. When they elevate men to rule OVER the laity (the error of the Nicolaitans in Revelation which JESUS HATED), then there is problems. That is what Nicolaitan means: 'nico' rule over and laiitan = laity.
The Holy Spirit is grieved when there is division in the one true church that Jesus Christ, as the one Head, is CONTINUING TO BUILD--no matter what certain churches claim. We don't unite under one church, we unite under the One Head & He builds His church. He gives us servant shepherds to help the body of Christ, but they are just that--servants who feed & shepherd the flock & give oversight.
Peter said that Himself.
I Peter 5:1-11 RSVCE So I exhort the elders AMONG YOU--AS A FELLOW ELDER--& a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed. Tend the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly, 3 not as domineering over those in your charge but BEING EXAMPLES to the flock. And when THE CHIEF SHEPHERD is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory. Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for He cares about you. Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your BROTHERHOOD THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. 10 And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, establish & strengthen you. 11 TO HIM BE THE DOMINION FOR EVER & EVER. Amen.