Organizations didn’t come around and make it complicated…
The first 300 years of Christianity were full of persecution. Only had house churches (which were not informal btw and the services were liturgical) or have to do it in catacombs.
313AD Now churches are possible due to legalization by Emperor Constantine who converts to Christianity.
351AD First Ecumenical Council (there’s 7 btw), Council of Nicea happens. All the Bishops get together to mainly address the rising heresy of Arianism. We get the Nicene Creed there too. You can actually go read it’s canons. You’ll be shocked how removed Protestantism is removed from Early Christianity.
Make a long story short, let’s skip to 1054 AD where the Great Schism begins. Splitting the East and the West. Roman Catholicism begins.
In 1517, Martin Luther kicks off the Protestant Reformation against the Roman Catholic Church with the 95 Thesis.
Lot more happened but keeping it brief and simple.
All of this is available to read. You’re just not aware of it
www.ccel.org
You’re not even well versed in Christian history, Scripture, you don’t even know an episcopacy put together the Bible you read and trust.
You lack any knowledge of basic ecclesiology to have the nerve to tackle apologetics to reach out to Muslims.
You’re intentions are pure and I applaud you. You should go properly learn Christianity first.
You’ll do yourself a favor at least getting your feet wet by buying this ($13).