From what the New Testament teaches, what is important is not the numbers alone. However, it exists so the officers - the pastor, elders, teachers, etc can HELP the members, and the members can help and encourage each other.
So ask yourself, “Is my goal to see how FEW people I can help, and how FEW people can help me to draw closer to Christ?” Because if you are haggling to see how few people you can help and be helped by...there is something VERY wrong!
We may move in a year or so to a small town with no Christian churches. If so...we’ll be a small home church. But if we can find any others Christians there, we’ll join together. The goal will NOT be to see how few can band together!
The goal will NOT be to see how few can band together!
So what is a church then? Your discussion has emphasized structure and organization. That is all you have presented. We like structure because we can control it, we understand it. We find comfort in it.
Now when God takes that structure away what is left?
You want to know God, Let him take you out to the wilderness where it is just you and Him.
The church is those who God has given to Jesus. It is those who have a relationship with God. His body is all his chosen ones through time and space, He has always uses individuals not institutions................
I have pastors, teachers and elders throughout the ages that God has given me.
Now, you have criticized and judged someone here telling him his church of family and friends is not right. Yet God has put him exactly where he needs to be.
You need to go to the corner and think.