Friend, you cannot judge the „pillar and foundation of the truth“, i.e. the Church Jesus founded in Mt 16,18. The Church led by the Holy Spirit established the canon of Holy Scripture at the end of the 4th century and she is the one that judges you. If you trust Jesus that „the gates of helll shall not prevail against the Church“, then there must be one Church that is from the beginning and has continued succession of Bishops who hand over the apostolic teachings (interpretations) since the time of the Apostles. That my friend is the Catholic Church. She is your mother and she waits for you ❤
“….. simply groups of believers led by one of their number …” (passim.) You seem to admit the outline of a hierarchy here. In any case Acts explains how the very early church was quick to divide hierarchically so that those devoted to preaching and offering the sacrifice of the mass could do so without distraction. Christ gave the keys to Peter and it is by this authority that the he teaches infallibly in matters of faith and morals. The Catholic Church claims apostolic authority through the simple practice of laying on of hands at the time of priestly ordination. This is a solemn and awesome moment that physically as well as spiritually links all priests directly to Christ and the first Christians.
Friend, you cannot judge the „pillar and foundation of the truth“, i.e. the Church Jesus founded in Mt 16,18. The Church led by the Holy Spirit established the canon of Holy Scripture at the end of the 4th century and she is the one that judges you. If you trust Jesus that „the gates of helll shall not prevail against the Church“, then there must be one Church that is from the beginning and has continued succession of Bishops who hand over the apostolic teachings (interpretations) since the time of the Apostles. That my friend is the Catholic Church. She is your mother and she waits for you ❤
“….. simply groups of believers led by one of their number …” (passim.)
You seem to admit the outline of a hierarchy here. In any case Acts explains how the very early church was quick to divide hierarchically so that those devoted to preaching and offering the sacrifice of the mass could do so without distraction. Christ gave the keys to Peter and it is by this authority that the he teaches infallibly in matters of faith and morals. The Catholic Church claims apostolic authority through the simple practice of laying on of hands at the time of priestly ordination. This is a solemn and awesome moment that physically as well as spiritually links all priests directly to Christ and the first Christians.