they didnt appoint successors? but as the apostles began to pass from the scene, they appointed certain non-apostles-like Timothy, Titus, Mark, Philip, and Apollos-to oversee multiple local congregations and to appoint (Tit. 1:5) and discipline (1 Tim. 5:19-20) individual presbyters within them.
How is that not Christ based?
Because Jesus gave zero instructions for doing this..
It was merely an attempt at organization.. and control..
Sometimes with good results sometimes with bad..
What were bad results?.. When the Holy Spirit was forgotten and usurped..
Meaning when clergical control was developed.. and it was developed..
When the "church" became like a club.. with bylaws and officers..
It happened quite quickly in some places..
In the beginning the Holy Spirit was honored as "real and present"..
In the end (like now in most places) the Holy Spirit was not needed..
The "congragation" could function fine withour him..
But was called, out to, like a dog.. or retarded janitor..
Most churchs I've visited could function nicely without the Holy Spirit..
And DO... except when called on to perform, like a Penn and Teller Magic Show..
i.e. was it the Holy Spirit or just an entertainment trick..