One only has to consider the historical and biblical example of Israel to realize how fast apostasy spread. The early Church fathers had a definate agenda to establish the church in Rome to secure their own authority in the church. It was an issue that eventually rent the church into opposing groups. Orthodox believers today cite their origins in the "patriarchs" of the early churches and insist on the doctrine of equal primacy.
It's hardly a failing of God no more than it was in Israel. God predicted the events and foretold of the apostasy. Likewise, He did the same respecting the "Christian" church.