I see Catholics, JW's, Mormons, Jews, Muslims, pretty much all religious faiths as being in this category. Anyone who has "authority" figures, president, elders, pope, prophet, Grand Mufti, Chief Rabbinate, Dalai Lama .... who follows any one particular leader over others I think fall under the #1 category. Debate me if that is wrong.
To have no 'authority' figures is to defy the scriptural model. To allow anyone to believe whatever they wish is to invite disunity. The first Christians did not operate that way.
The admonition from the apostle Paul was....
"Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you." (Hebrews 13:17)
So there were those who 'took the lead' and they had to have spiritual qualifications, but not necessarily academic ones. This in no way elevated them above the other members of the congregation, but these were the assigned shepherds and teachers....those who would account to God for their actions and decisions as they tried to correct erring ones, conscious of their own imperfections.....
"Brothers, even if a man takes a false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness. But keep an eye on yourself, for fear you too may be tempted." (Galatians 6:1)
If those who came into the Christian congregation wanted to introduce their own ideas, John said...
"Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works."
So there are grounds for rejecting those who want to create divisions and disruptions as well.
For those who broke God's laws unrepentantly, there were consequences...
"In my letter I wrote you to stop keeping company with sexually immoral people, 10 not meaning entirely with the sexually immoral people of this world or the greedy people or extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, you would actually have to get out of the world. 11 But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13)
Authority to "judge" those "inside" the congregation was given to the shepherds, but those "outside" would be judged by God. The disciplinary arrangement inside the congregation is entirely biblical, so I have no issues with it. It is done lovingly and with a view to helping the erring one to make the necessary adjustments in their life to comply with Jehovah's standards. He only has one set and all must abide by them.
I was not born a JW but chose to become one because no other religious group ticked as many boxes for me as they did. I was raised Anglican and quire frankly the hypocrisy I saw was nauseating. Whatever Christ taught, Christendom twisted it all out of shape and made it into something else. Whatever he told them to do, they justified not doing it....I understand that no one is perfect but I also understand that the first century Christians all believed the same truth and all stayed within the confines of Jesus' teachings......all of them, not just the convenient stuff.
I don't expect my brothers to be any more perfect that the original apostles were and they were chosen by Jesus to carry on where he left off. Their words are our scripture.
If you want to invent your own religion, then I'm afraid God will be missing from it....he tells us what is acceptable to him......all we have to do is comply with his instructions and study his word...his spirit will direct us if we are sincere. (John 6:44; 65)
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