Although there are certainly valid reasons for Christians to be upset with the ‘established church,’ I think it is fair to say that the fragmentation of Christendom is well-rooted in the arrogance of unsubmissive Christians who seek to crown their own works. Ever since the Reformation, countless Christians have desired to be teachers and pastors (and spouses of such), without going through the pains of theological study and humble submission to church authority.

Every Protestant is guilty of this to some degree. Rome would not recognize our reformation as legitimate to the common cause of the kingdom and so we are now “on our own,” so to speak. Does the reformation give us license to form new unions every time there is a disagreement within the church? Whatever happened to martyrdom? If something is worth dividing over, it must be worth dying for -No? “How does one die for the church when they will not literally kill you, like they would in pre-reformational times?,” you ask. You dedicate yourself to the greater cause of the gospel until you are excommunicated. But this would be the extreme case. Most Christians would not face excommunication if they stood for their beliefs, rather, they would face some basics pains of things, such as exegetical study and submission to authority. Most think they know more and are more godly than the authority, though, and so they leave to become part of a different union.  

Cultural diversity also comes into play within the fragmentation of the Church. Those that are lesser educated and not likely to be accepted into leadership in larger denominations choose to be a part of the newer denominations that only require you to have a general knowledge of the Bible to become a leader. Many of these people do begin to learn some of great doctrines of the Church that they should have learned in the seminary format, and thus begin to impress the socks off of their more ignorant congregation. These leaders spoon-feed their congregation truths so that the people become completely dependent on them; not that the leaders could give them full portions if they wanted to, they actually can’t as they have never had full portions themselves.

From the Roman Catholic Church down, each denomination below the next requires less and less from their ministers.

1. The liturgical church (Anglican, Lutheran, Presbyterian, etc.) requires less than the Roman Church.

2. The Baptists require less than the liturgical church.

3. The Non-denominational church requires less than the Baptist church.

4. The Charismatic church requires less than the Non-denominational church.

5. The Christian cults and home groups require less than the Charismatic church.

The lower the church the higher the unwillingness to submit to the higher standards. I am an Anglican and do believe that there is more humility and submission in the Roman church (I grew up in the Roman church), but I simply cannot tolerate their Marian doctrines as well as other dogmas they carry. Sure, many Baptists may say the same thing about the Anglican church - that they cannot stomach our doctrine - but are they correct in their assessments? And how do they know they are unless they have spent ample time studying the leading scholars and teachers of the Anglican faith, not to mention the participation of the Eucharist (and its power)?

If you are in a low church because you do not believe you can serve in a high church, please reconsider your calling and work with the higher church to assimilate you. They are not as mean as you think they are…well maybe some of them are ;) It just takes patience, humility, and some research.