Found an interesting take on why we have denominations of Christianity today. Because there were so much religious diversity in the American Colonies in the 17th century, a new way of understanding the church was needed. Sects are considered exclusive, but denominations are inclusive because each denomination was a part of a larger group--the church- to which all denominations belong. The true church doesn't belong to one denomination--it belongs to all. I don't know if this is what Paul had in mind when he wrote of the church:

The human body has many parts, but the many parts make up only one body. So it is with the body of Christ. Some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into Christ's body by one Spirit, and we have all received the same Spirit. ....Now all of you together are Christ's body, and each one of you is a separate and necessary part of it. (1 Corinthians 12:12-13, 27)

If you replace Jews with Catholics, Gentiles with Lutherans, etc. I can see where the denominational theory of the church came from. I think we are all thankful that hundreds of years of bloodshed were ended when the men finally realized that things couldn't continue the way they had. However, not all sects were considered part of the church--only those who held to the core truth of the Christian faith--that we are sinners, cannot save ourselves, therefore we need a Savior. Jesus is that Savior...the Messiah. He died on the Cross for our sins, and was brought back to life on the third day. Whoever believes in Him will not die, but has eternal life.  Amen!

I'm not sure they meant to have this many splinter groups of Christianity, but as long as we are holding to the basic truth of the faith, the differences in worship and some theological theories (not doctrine) should not divide us.