Was Jesus against organized religion?

[Adullam]

The Greek word "ecclesia" is correctly defined as: "The called-out (ones)" [ECC = out; KALEO = call]. Thus, you can see how this word was used to indicate a civil body of select (called, elected) people.

That is one of the common fallacies people make who think they know Greek. Going to the root words of a given word does not necessarily give that word some meaning directly from the root words.

Who cares what words mean. We are not fed from every word of God after all. :gah

 

[Free]

At least address the argument that is made and don't go about putting words in someone's mouth.

 

[dadof10]

That statement is not accurate. Do more research about the actual meaning in the Greek and you will see this. The ecclesia is the gathered "called out" ones who displace the ruling principalities in a given area.

The Greek word "ecclesia" is correctly defined as: "The called-out (ones)" [ECC = out; KALEO = call]. Thus, you can see how this word was used to indicate a civil body of select (called, elected) people.

O.K. I have no problem with your definition above "gathered called out ones". In your previous post it seemed you were under the impression that it meant isolation ("if Jesus is calling men OUT of the systems of this world...then Jesus is not instituting a rival organized religion...") instead of organization. That's simply not the case if we study further.

http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=G1577&t=KJV

1) a gathering of citizens called out from their homes into some public place, an assembly

a) an assembly of the people convened at the public place of the council for the purpose of deliberating

b) the assembly of the Israelites

c) any gathering or throng of men assembled by chance, tumultuously

d) in a Christian sense

1) an assembly of Christians gathered for worship in a religious meeting

2) a company of Christian, or of those who, hoping for eternal salvation through Jesus Christ, observe their own religious rites, hold their own religious meetings, and manage their own affairs, according to regulations prescribed for the body for order's sake

3) those who anywhere, in a city, village, constitute such a company and are united into one body

4) the whole body of Christians scattered throughout the earth

5) the assembly of faithful Christians already dead and received into heaven

 

[Free]

Precisely. It is a gathering.

 

[Adullam]

It is precisely our subjective human reasoning that establishes organized religion.

It is subjective human reasoning that establishes Protestant churches, 1400 years after the founding of Christianity. The Catholic Church was established by Jesus and the Apostles.

This is not true. It is a fallacy. The language of the Catholic church is latin. The roots are from that period. The church met in homes for the first few hundred years. Every believer was a priest in those days. Read the bible and you will see this...if you are allowed to by your ecclesiastical authorities that is.

We do what we feel comfortable with. We adopt pagan practices and traditions and then bless them with holy water.

Or we adopt non-biblical DOCTRINES, like sola-Scriptura, sola-fide and INVISIBLE CHURCH, and create thousands of "denominations" all claiming to teach the "Truth", while directly contradicting each other. This is where following "Christ within us" leads, confusion and contradiction.We should follow our properly formed consciences when it comes to morals, but we need a divinely established teaching body when it comes to doctrinal discernment. The "me and Jesus" mentality is non-biblical and goes against common sense.

We are against all schisms and divisions....this includes the Latin church. It is unfortunate that you have not experienced Christ within. You are showing a blatant lack of biblical knowledge here. Christ in us is exactly biblical. Christ in you...the hope of glory

"To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."

Christ is both in and among those who surrender to Him and follow Him away from dead structures. We are called out into the glorious light in perfect freedom through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are set free from the old bondages and sins through Christ.

[quote:2uaiw9bs]If you truly believe the Spirit gives life....then why not follow the Spirit?

What you mean by "follow the Spirit" becomes, in reality, "follow my interpretation of Scripture". The Spirit guides to "all Truth". If everyone who claims to "follow the Spirit" came to the same conclusion on doctrinal issues, I would agree that God guides us by Biblical interpretation and subjective reasoning. This is FAR from the case, though.

So very wrong. You don't know the Spirit. So it becomes an interpretation game. There is agreement with those who follow the Spirit. We reveal a lack of such empowerment when we rely on traditions, creeds, rites, ceremonies, and dogmas rather than the living power of the truth that sets us free.

Nowhere in the bible are we exhorted to follow Mother Church. We are called to follow Father God. It is the Spirit we are to be led by...not church edicts or creeds.

Nowhere in the Bible are we told to read and personally interpret Scripture to discern Truth. In fact, we are warned against it:

Amen!

So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. (2Peter (RSV) 3)

Paul tells us to follow his teaching, his ORAL TEACHING, over and over again throughout Scripture, he NEVER tells us that all Truth is contained within Scripture or that we are to let "Christ within us" be the ultimate authority on Truth.

The authority must be the Holy Spirit. The bible is authored by the Spirit. It is the human interpretations that have caused the schisms. If posible even the elect would be deceived.

We are told to "follow Mother Church" in Acts 15. Here we have a DOCTRINAL dispute within the Church in Antioch. Paul and Barnabas took the dispute to "Mother Church" in Jerusalem. The issue was resolved and their decision was BINDING ON THE ENTIRE CHURCH, NOT JUST THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM OR ANTIOCH.

LOL We still network with other churches today. The Jerusalem church had more wisdom since the word of the Apostles went out from there. If you wish to call the Jerusalem church the mother church...ok.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions which had been reached by the apostles and elders who were at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. (Acts (RSV) 16)

This is the Biblical model given by Luke for settling doctrinal disputes within the True Church. Ask yourself a question. Does this sound even remotely like the way you would settle disputes within your church? Where is the Antiochian Church told to "follow Christ within them" and settle it themselves? Following "church edicts and creeds" is how we are to follow the Spirit, because the Spirit leads the teaching body of the Church, not individual members, just like in Acts 15.[/quote:2uaiw9bs]

This is precisely the way it is done. We follow the word. We network with other communities and home based churches. We have no ecclesiastical hierchies...we are all brethren. We listen to each other. Institutions on the other hand are a top down organization. The leaders will sometimes speak to one another...but they keep the flocks they are fleecing separate...they need the power and the income or they would be lost as any other man...powerless.

 

[Adullam]

Precisely. It is a gathering.

A gathering of what? Any gathering can be called an ecclesia if you wish to be legalistic about the term. The bible speaks of THE ecclesia. The bible is not an anthropological book that describes cultural phenomenon. The true purpose of these contentions against what I am saying is to abrogate the need of holiness.

So I'll say it...God wants holiness, not a religious structure. He wants obedience, not church attendance. He wants relationship not organized religion. We are to walk moment by moment by faith not from service to service by creed.

 

[Adullam]

Let us look at the evolution of the church from divine community to organized religion... :halo

We have gone from... power to powerlessness

From faith to mere belief

From testimony to creed

From being the church to attending church

From living among the brethren and meeting daily to a weekly (weakly) service

From being led by the Spirit to being led by men

From overcoming to being overcome

From making disciples to making converts to our creed

From following the whole council of God to selecting certain verses

From serving others to starting profitable ministries

From obscurity to popularity

From doctrine to dogma

From holiness to worldliness

 

[dadof10]

This is precisely the way it is done. We follow the word. We network with other communities and home based churches. We have no ecclesiastical hierchies...we are all brethren.

Really? How are the Antiochian and Jerusalem Churches "networking"? The Church in Antioch is asking for an AUTHORITY to step in and make a BINDING DECISION. If your "home church" and another "home church" disagree on a doctrinal issue, is it resolved by one "home church" taking leadership over the other and making a decision that's binding on BOTH? If you say so, O.K. but, dissension seems to be the order of the day, which is why I suspect you are in a "home church" to begin with.

We listen to each other. Institutions on the other hand are a top down organization.

The hierarchy does "listen" to the laity, but there comes a time for decisions, which must be made by the proper authority. Division is not the way Christ set up His Church, but it is the way Luther and Calvin set up theirs.

The leaders will sometimes speak to one another...but they keep the flocks they are fleecing separate...they need the power and the income or they would be lost as any other man...powerless.

 

[Free]

A gathering of what? Any gathering can be called an ecclesia if you wish to be legalistic about the term. The bible speaks of THE ecclesia.

Alright. You win this round. ;) It does have the general meaning of just a gathering of people but, without having gone through every instance in the NT, it would appear it is used exclusively of Jewish and Christian gatherings.

So I'll say it...God wants holiness, not a religious structure. He wants obedience, not church attendance. He wants relationship not organized religion. We are to walk moment by moment by faith not from service to service by creed.

Not only are you are creating false dichotomies, you are presuming to know what God does and doesn't want without any biblical basis for doing so. The same goes for the other post.

It seems that you have completely misunderstood the purpose in organized religion and creeds.

 

[dadof10]

The true purpose of these contentions against what I am saying is to abrogate the need of holiness.

C'mon now, that's a low blow. Neither Free or I have made this contention. I'm sure you'll agree that there are many holy people, people who give up their entire lives for the sake of the Gospel, in all churches, both Catholic and Protestant. No church has EVER claimed that we can reject holiness if we keep a set of precepts, and neither are we making this claim. That is a straw-dog.

So I'll say it...God wants holiness, not a religious structure. He wants obedience, not church attendance....

:amen

...He wants relationship not organized religion...We are to walk moment by moment by faith not from service to service by creed.

The two are not mutually exclusive. You can have a relationship within the framework of True Doctrine, and ou can serve within your creed. In fact, I don't see how you can have a relationship WITHOUT knowing the object of your relationship. That's what "organized religion" and "creeds" are, True teaching about God.

 

[Adullam]

The true purpose of these contentions against what I am saying is to abrogate the need of holiness.

C'mon now, that's a low blow. Neither Free or I have made this contention. I'm sure you'll agree that there are many holy people, people who give up their entire lives for the sake of the Gospel, in all churches, both Catholic and Protestant. No church has EVER claimed that we can reject holiness if we keep a set of precepts, and neither are we making this claim. That is a straw-dog.

So I'll say it...God wants holiness, not a religious structure. He wants obedience, not church attendance....

:amen

[quote:2z7crvjx]...He wants relationship not organized religion...We are to walk moment by moment by faith not from service to service by creed.

The two are not mutually exclusive. You can have a relationship within the framework of True Doctrine, and ou can serve within your creed. In fact, I don't see how you can have a relationship WITHOUT knowing the object of your relationship. That's what "organized religion" and "creeds" are, True teaching about God.[/quote:2z7crvjx]


If that was only true!

We have brothers who also visit organized churches as I also do. Is this the way you attend your church? Just visiting or ministering? Seeing that it is only an hour. Is the rest of your time spent with the brethren?

What I see is that the religious service has taken the place of the gathering of the brethren. We ceremonially shake hands, but we don't live together, or be disciples together. Christianity used to be a way of life...called...the Way! Now it is just a dead religion like any other.

Before the days of television, radios etc..people were more of a community. No community was tighter than the saints. Although it is still possible to take our calling in Christ seriously, no one seems to take the commitment to heart.


God is still calling...but no one is listening.

 

[dadof10]

The true purpose of these contentions against what I am saying is to abrogate the need of holiness.

C'mon now, that's a low blow. Neither Free or I have made this contention. I'm sure you'll agree that there are many holy people, people who give up their entire lives for the sake of the Gospel, in all churches, both Catholic and Protestant. No church has EVER claimed that we can reject holiness if we keep a set of precepts, and neither are we making this claim. That is a straw-dog.

So I'll say it...God wants holiness, not a religious structure. He wants obedience, not church attendance....

:amen

[quote:jogppe5d]...He wants relationship not organized religion...We are to walk moment by moment by faith not from service to service by creed.

The two are not mutually exclusive. You can have a relationship within the framework of True Doctrine, and ou can serve within your creed. In fact, I don't see how you can have a relationship WITHOUT knowing the object of your relationship. That's what "organized religion" and "creeds" are, True teaching about God.

If that was only true!

We have brothers who also visit organized churches as I also do. Is this the way you attend your church? Just visiting or ministering? Seeing that it is only an hour. Is the rest of your time spent with the brethren?

What I see is that the religious service has taken the place of the gathering of the brethren. We ceremonially shake hands, but we don't live together, or be disciples together. Christianity used to be a way of life...called...the Way! Now it is just a dead religion like any other.

Before the days of television, radios etc..people were more of a community. No community was tighter than the saints. Although it is still possible to take our calling in Christ seriously, no one seems to take the commitment to heart.


God is still calling...but no one is listening. [/quote:jogppe5d]

Apples and oranges. I asked you about how you discern whether a set of doctrines is True or not, not about the benefits of communal living. My point is that God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church, not through subjective Bible interpretation and "following Christ within".

The "way" to OBJECTIVELY decide which doctrines are True, is by the teaching body of the Church, as laid out in Acts 15. They were organized and had a set of common beliefs which were BINDING ON THE FAITHFUL, and once there was a decision, that decision was not open to interpretation by each individual local church.

The "me and Jesus" home church concept sounds really good in theory, but in practice, it leads to more divisions and convoluted subjectivism.

 

[RichardBurger]

We are to follow after life not organization.

You erroneously presume that there is no life in organization when it is precisely organization that preserves the life. If there is no organization, the "life" can become whatever anyone wants it to be. This is evidenced by the fact that the early church was an organized religion.

Not before AD 300. It was after the RCC got through with it.

 

[Cornelius]

My point is that God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church,

You are in error.

He reveals truth through the Holy Spirit.Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth:.............


Just because some claim to hear from the Holy Spirit and are in error, does not mean that others are not hearing in clarity and truth.

You are preaching that false gospel as if it is the truth, and you are ignoring the plain Word of God in favor of your doctrine.

 

[dadof10]

My point is that God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church,

You are in error.

He reveals truth through the Holy Spirit.Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he shall guide you into all the truth:.............

Does the Holy Spirit speak to you personally and guide you personally to "all truth"? If you and another Christian who is revealed Truth through the "Holy Spirit" disagree on a doctrine, which "Holy Spirit" is right?

The foolish, false doctrine that the HS guides each individual believer to "all Truth" is not taught in Scripture, is not logical, and in practice, does not work. It sure SOUNDS good, though.

Is there a proper authority that you defer to in matters of faith, like the Church in Antioch did? If you look at that BIBLICAL example, you will see the Catholic Church in action. If the early Church was Protestant, the example would have been that of dissension rather than unity.

Just because some claim to hear from the Holy Spirit and are in error, does not mean that others are not hearing in clarity and truth.

Which ones are "in error" and which ones are "hearing in clarity and truth"? Let me see if I can guess which camp you come down in...hummm...So that would mean that those who disagree with YOU are in the "in error" camp, right? After all, they are disagreeing with the Holy Spirit, right? Total subjectivism is not Biblical.

You are preaching that false gospel as if it is the truth, and you are ignoring the plain Word of God in favor of your doctrine.

The plain words of Scripture say:

"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1Timothy (RSV) 3)

If the Church is the "pillar and bulwark of truth", how can you say the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the CHURCH to all Truth? How is the Church given this Truth if not from the HS?

 

[dadof10]

Not before AD 300. It was after the RCC got through with it.

Could you please point me to some documents that back up this WELL DEBUNKED claim? Thanks.

 

[Cornelius]

Does the Holy Spirit speak to you personally and guide you personally to "all truth"? If you and another Christian who is revealed Truth through the "Holy Spirit" disagree on a doctrine, which "Holy Spirit" is right?

Yes He does. The one who agrees with the Bible is right.

The foolish, false doctrine that the HS guides each individual believer to "all Truth" is not taught in Scripture, is not logical, and in practice, does not work. It sure SOUNDS good, though.

It is actually taught in Scripture:Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

Is there a proper authority that you defer to in matters of faith, like the Church in Antioch did? If you look at that BIBLICAL example, you will see the Catholic Church in action. If the early Church was Protestant, the example would have been that of dissension rather than unity.

The Bible does not mention the Catholic Church.

Which ones are "in error" and which ones are "hearing in clarity and truth"? Let me see if I can guess which camp you come down in...hummm...So that would mean that those who disagree with YOU are in the "in error" camp, right? After all, they are disagreeing with the Holy Spirit, right? Total subjectivism is not Biblical.

Those who agree with Sola Scriptura are correct. The rest are adding or subtracting from the Word.

The plain words of Scripture say:

"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1Timothy (RSV) 3)

If the Church is the "pillar and bulwark of truth", how can you say the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the CHURCH to all Truth? How is the Church given this Truth if not from the HS?

Yes the Holy Spirit leads and all who hear come together as the church (Not RCC) And by he way, you have just just changed what you said: You said the Church leads us into truth, now you say "How can you say that the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the church to all Truth? " I AM saying the Holy Spirit leads all who are in the church (true church) into all truth.

 

[dadof10]

Does the Holy Spirit speak to you personally and guide you personally to "all truth"? If you and another Christian who is revealed Truth through the "Holy Spirit" disagree on a doctrine, which "Holy Spirit" is right?

Yes He does.

You answered the first part, but not the second. If you and another Christian who is revealed Truth through the "Holy Spirit" disagree on a doctrine, which "Holy Spirit" is right?

The one who agrees with the Bible is right.

Every single Protestant denomination "agrees with the Bible", as do JW's, Mormons and every "milkmaid with a Bible". Besides, don't you really mean your interpretation of the Bible? After all, the Holy Spirit of God gave it to you personally (at least that's how I read your answer above). I agree with the Bible, just not your interpretation.

[quote:1cjcq8ns]The foolish, false doctrine that the HS guides each individual believer to "all Truth" is not taught in Scripture, is not logical, and in practice, does not work. It sure SOUNDS good, though.

It is actually taught in Scripture:Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: [/quote:1cjcq8ns]

"My sheep hear my voice..." means the HS guides each individual believer to all truth??? Did God tell you this personally? If someone disagrees with this interpretation is he "in error"?

[quote:1cjcq8ns]Is there a proper authority that you defer to in matters of faith, like the Church in Antioch did? If you look at that BIBLICAL example, you will see the Catholic Church in action. If the early Church was Protestant, the example would have been that of dissension rather than unity.

The Bible does not mention the Catholic Church.[/quote:1cjcq8ns]

You're dodging the question. Is your only authority for doctrinal Truth your own personal, subjective Biblical interpretation? Do you accept any authority outside yourself?

[quote:1cjcq8ns]Which ones are "in error" and which ones are "hearing in clarity and truth"? Let me see if I can guess which camp you come down in...hummm...So that would mean that those who disagree with YOU are in the "in error" camp, right? After all, they are disagreeing with the Holy Spirit, right? Total subjectivism is not Biblical.

Those who agree with Sola Scriptura are correct. The rest are adding or subtracting from the Word.[/quote:1cjcq8ns]

A guess that rules out Peter, Paul, James, Matthew, Mark and Jesus, among others. Again, you are dodging. Are the people who disagree with you "in error"?

[quote:1cjcq8ns]
The plain words of Scripture say:

"I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these instructions to you so that, 15 if I am delayed, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and bulwark of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of our religion: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. (1Timothy (RSV) 3)

If the Church is the "pillar and bulwark of truth", how can you say the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the CHURCH to all Truth? How is the Church given this Truth if not from the HS?

Yes the Holy Spirit leads and all who hear come together as the church (Not RCC)[/quote:1cjcq8ns]

Which church? If some members disagree with others on a point of doctrine, which HS guided group is right and how do you decide. Again, this sounds great in theory, but breaks down in practice.

And by he way, you have just just changed what you said: You said the Church leads us into truth, now you say "How can you say that the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the church to all Truth? " I AM saying the Holy Spirit leads all who are in the church (true church) into all truth.

I said in a previous post:

"My point is that God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church, not through subjective Bible interpretation and "following Christ within".

And above:

If the Church is the "pillar and bulwark of truth", how can you say the Holy Spirit doesn't guide the CHURCH to all Truth? How is the Church given this Truth if not from the HS?

I don't see how these are different, but if you do, I'll clear it up. The Catholic Church is kept from teaching error in matters of faith and morals by the Holy Spirit. It is Her mission throughout time to pass on this Truth to the faithful. That's what I mean by "God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church". The HS teaches THROUGH His Church, which is EXACTLY what happened in Acts 15. There was a doctrinal dispute, members of the Church in Antioch sent representatives to Jerusalem for an AUTHORITATIVE ANSWER. The leaders of the Church held a council, discussed the issue, then RELIED ON THE GUIDANCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to come to a final decision. This decision was then BINDING ON ALL THE FAITHFUL, not just the Church at Antioch. This is EXACTLY how the Catholic Church operates to this day. This is the Biblical model for settling doctrinal disputes.

The Protestant model is not even close. As near as I can tell, If a church has a doctrinal dispute, one camp reads Scripture, claims guidance by the HS, and starts their own rival congregation. This is the opposite of Acts 15 and the opposite of unity.

 

[Adullam]

RC'ers always see those who are not RC as protestants. This is a cult mindset. It's the us and them. I have been called by Christ to follow Him. Just like Paul you read about in the bible. We followers have been persecuted from the beginning....long before kingly popes sat on velvet thrones. We are of the original group....those who follow through the Spirit. Our temples are made without hands...our creed is written on the tablets of our hearts. We have been called to intimacy through the blood of the new Convenant. This is seen as foolishness. But their condemnation is just that both invoke Jesus and blaspheme against the Holy Spirit in the same breath.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels. To be personally ridiculed is of no import to me. Those who act thusly are following their own hearts and inclinations, be they human as they may. I warn those who go on to grieve the Holy Spirit within His elect children that you are storing up for yourselves wrath on that day. Be warned!

 

[dadof10]

RC'ers always see those who are not RC as protestants. This is a cult mindset. It's the us and them.

That's pretty funny, considering you just made the distinction between "us and them" by calling "us" RC'ers. Do you also have a "cult mindset"? If you don't like the term "Protestant" what would you like to be called?

I have been called by Christ to follow Him. Just like Paul you read about in the bible.

If you followed Christ like Paul did, you would be a Churchman, first and foremost. You would also follow proper authority, like Paul did in Acts 15. It's "us" who follow Paul's example.

We followers have been persecuted from the beginning....long before kingly popes sat on velvet thrones. We are of the original group....those who follow through the Spirit. Our temples are made without hands...our creed is written on the tablets of our hearts. We have been called to intimacy through the blood of the new Convenant. This is seen as foolishness. But their condemnation is just that both invoke Jesus and blaspheme against the Holy Spirit in the same breath.

We have this treasure in earthen vessels. To be personally ridiculed is of no import to me. Those who act thusly are following their own hearts and inclinations, be they human as they may. I warn those who go on to grieve the Holy Spirit within His elect children that you are storing up for yourselves wrath on that day. Be warned!

Wow. Quite a bit of hot air to dodge a question . Since I know it probably just got lost in the shuffle, I'll repost my questions for you from a previous post. Thanks in advance for answering.

Apples and oranges. I asked you about how you discern whether a set of doctrines is True or not, not about the benefits of communal living. My point is that God commutes Truth to His people THROUGH the Church, not through subjective Bible interpretation and "following Christ within".

"The "way" to OBJECTIVELY decide which doctrines are True, is by the teaching body of the Church, as laid out in Acts 15. They were organized and had a set of common beliefs which were BINDING ON THE FAITHFUL, and once there was a decision, that decision was not open to interpretation by each individual local church.

The "me and Jesus" home church concept sounds really good in theory, but in practice, it leads to more divisions and convoluted subjectivism."