Of course on the otherhand Jesus did start a new religion. And check out Acts to see how those early "free thinkers’ had an accord in the temple but then continued their worship simply in homes which is where they broke the bread. A lot of Protestants have shown interest in unity. But it’s kind of difficult when the Catholic Church is so certain it and it only has all infallible truth and it’s idea of seeking unity then is by only expecting everyone else to come entirely their way. It takes 2 to tango. If one party is willing to dance and the other is immovable, it’s a bit difficult to get done.
Read Revelation and see if you can recognize any uniform and elaborate services; candlesticks, robes, incense, repetitive praises, thrones, altar, etc. etc.
Because the liturgy of the services offered in the early Church, when they were in ‘simple’ homes, to avoid persecutions, doesn’t mean they only broke bread. With the keys and the authority to bind and loose, overtime things were firmly established according to the authority Christ appointed.
The Catholic Church is the Church Christ started and promised to be with, guide with the Holy Spirit, and teach all things unto the consummation of the world that even the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. That’s where infallibility comes from, Christ Himself, and in Him certainty is assured.
The Church was one. Man splintered into different Churches, with different teachings, yet it’s recommended the Catholic Church give to help people accept it? That’s what it sounds like that you’re suggesting. We should forget the traditions, that scriptures tells us to hold too? We should change our minds and judgments so that we can be of the same accord? When will the changes be going outside the original teachings? What interpretations do we ‘change’ according to the free thinkers?
Two to tango, like how a covenant works, according to the covenant giver.
Cliches can go both ways, give an inch and they’ll want a mile. The things you seem to propose we give on, are not ours to give, they are His. Did the early Church give on Arianism? Where do we draw the line on what to give up? No matter how much would be given, there are going to be more that disagree and want even more changed. Not all accept the real presence, the Trinity, baptism, etc. etc.
There was a unity in the early Church. There were not many ‘applications’ of the one faith.
Christ let many leave Him and walk with Him no more. He did not change to accomodate the things they could not handle. It’s His Church, let Him teach it, guide it and be with it.
