[Claud]

God is thoroughly against hierarchical 'lording it over' religiosity, bureaucratic loftiness in any and all forms.

Lording it over yes. As we've said countless times on this thread, he who must lead must be the servant of the rest. But as for there being no religious authority...well, I think Numbers 16 has something to say about that:

Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, and Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men: And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown: And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said unto them, Ye take too much upon you, seeing all the congregation are holy, every one of them, and the LORD is among them: wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?

What happened to Korah, Quix? For advancing the priesthood of all believers apart from the divinely instituted priesthood of Aaron?

[Quix]

ye up yourselves above the congregation of the LORD?
= = =

I assume you read that Scripture yourself.

It confirms what I've been saying about THE CONGREGATION in I Cor 12-14 having the authority--particularly wisely exercised toward humble wise old codgers deciding tricky things.

No hint of a multi-layered bureaucratic edifice of the sort Christ railed so much against.

Thanks for such a good Old Testament confirmation of the emphasis on THE CONGREGATION having the authority a la I Cor 12-14

[Quix]

No. Korah advanced the priesthood of all REBELS.

Very different thing.

Actually, a case could be made that the RC edifice is an edifice of rebels but that's a whole nother thread.

[1000 silverlings]

What happened to Korah, Quix? For advancing the priesthood of all believers apart from the divinely instituted priesthood of Aaron?

1Pe 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1Pe 2:9

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

[1000 silverlings]

Jesus was from the house of Judah, so how'd He gettobe the high Priest?