[mike182d]

Sorry I misperceived your post.

No apology necessary. No harm done.

Gnostics did not believe Christ came in the flesh etc.

As Christianity began to flourish, there were many heresies that sprang up and they were called out as such not by individual believers but by an institution that had the authority to deem them "heresies." If no such authority existed, there would be no reason to prefer the Gospel of Mark over the Gospel of Thomas.

The early Christians were very aware of an insitution and inclusion was necessary to be considered a legit, orthodox Christian.

[Quix]

IMhO,

Yes and no.

I suspect that the early church was tons more like the underground church in China than any of the institutional stuff you want to point to.

Hazards aplenty in that. And the growing institution dealt with some of those hazards

AND IMPLEMENTED IN THEIR STEAD THOSE WHICH CHRIST MOST CONDEMNED in the religious INSTITUTION and the RELIGIOUS leaders of His dusty pathed days.

I say again . . . any congregation older than about a year and a half is already seeding it's own death and uselessness to The Kingdom by the slow to fast build-up of customs of men; doctrines of men; traditions of men vs the leading of Holy Spirit.

I'll take the rough and ready street Christianity of the underground Chinese church any day over that. And, I have a persistent and recurring impression that God feels rather similarly.

Who do you think Scripture speaks of true believers being CALLED OUT FROM; CALLED OUT OF--TO LEAVE--AS IN LEAVING AN EVIL THING???