Precisely. Institutional churches are man-made, not God-breathed. They're just a model for what they think is the gathering of believers. They're therefore free to do as they wish. They can even install gold plating over their roof if they so choose.
one could say that about any type church gathering in homes.. its not necessarily the instructional church see the Building is just a church . when the people/congregation gathers / assembles they become the Church . some denoms i will not use the name but they preach they are the only true n.t church . of course another one they are the only true Church
This idea that having a communal facility with professional "clergy" staffing somehow legitimizes them as the only acceptable assembly of believers....no. That's utterly false. ( i have to respectfully disagree
8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
i am by far a professional i do pastor a church were small in numbers .but we do have unity is there Churches that are man made or should is ay run by man? yes sir i have seen them ben to them.
i am ordained general Baptist simply because i took the call to preach in a gen Baptist church the association ordained me after a year . it use to be a strong association. every 5th sunday week for 3 nights we had services took turns holding at each others church . many a good nights of service .
note it use to be the old timers that supported it died off.. now then is the Church what it should be ? no many have fell off.
The institutional system is in the cross-hairs of the enemy, and they are going to one day prompt their political puppets to go after them all as their front-line attack against what THEY think is Christianity.
Meanwhile.....the fish symbol at the cave entrance is still there.....to this very day, and beyond.....
in some maybe but i can take you and show you a lot of good churches to attend from the Pentecostal ( yes they Love Jesus as much as the baptist. just different worship ) to the Baptist and all the in between..
we are just trying to do best we can. my self i have no formal training just the school of hard knocks