Replies

Th Great commission is given to the Church.

This is so "RC". Everything is filtered through the institutional church, which has the power to change doctrine and dogma if enough of it's leaders get together and say so. The individual rather than being empowered is emasculated.

Even during the Apostolic Era we have examples of a priestly class subverting Christianity for their own empowerment.

3John:9"I wrote to the church but Diotrphes who loves to have preeminence among them, does not receive us."

Our Saviour made our salvation an individual event, not a product of institutional control, to be dispensed by men at their choosing.

Luke 17:20-21 "Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them and said,"The Kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you."

Our Saviour made our salvation an individual event, not a product of institutional control, to be dispensed by men at their choosing.

Amen. This morning I read 1 Corinthians 3 which speaks to this very thing. Righteous teachers are given by God for instruction. The church is a community of like-minded believers whose worship God leads and enjoys, all subject to His word. And the Holy Spirit is given to each Christian, personally. As Paul said to the church at Corinth..

"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building.
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are." -- 1 Corinthians 3:9-17

Even during the Apostolic Era we have examples of a priestly class subverting Christianity for their own empowerment. 3John:9"I wrote to the church but Diotrphes who loves to have preeminence among them, does not receive us."

Amen.

Unto the church of Ephesus write....I know thy work and thy labour and thy patience and how thou canst not bear them that are evil: which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars (Rev.2:2)