REQUIRED RULES AND A PRIVATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST

Comparing Religious Rules, Rituals, Obedience, and Authority in the Light of Jesus, Paul, the Apostles, and Church Models

In examining the different views on religious rules, form, ritual, performance, obedience, and governing authority, we can break down the First Church (Jesus and the Apostles), Greek Orthodox, and Catholic models to see their approach to these concepts. This comparison reveals key differences in governance and how authority, relationship, and personal spirituality interact with the broader community.

1. The First Church (Acts, Jesus, and the Apostles)

• Governing Authority:

  • Organic Leadership: In the First Church, leadership was non-hierarchical and spirit-led. It was flat, where apostles, elders, and deacons worked collaboratively to teach, guide, and lead the community (Acts 2:42–47). Jesus as the Head of the Church was central, and the governing authority came through direct relationship with the Holy Spirit and Scripture.

  • Jesus’ Model: Jesus emphasized that authority was not to be about domination or control (Matthew 20:25–28), but rather servant leadership. Personal relationship with God was foundational, with each believer having direct access to God via the Holy Spirit (John 14:17, Romans 8:16).

• Rules and Rituals:

  • Spirit-Led: The First Church didn’t rely on elaborate rituals or rules beyond what was outlined in Scripture. Sacraments like baptism and communion were practiced, but they were simple symbols of union with Christ (1 Corinthians 11:23–26).

  • Personal Ongoing Relationship: The First Church emphasized an inward witness of the Holy Spirit, and the relationship with God was one of abiding (John 15:4–5). It was understood that believers were led by the Holy Spirit and that obedience was not just following external rules but living out a deep, personal commitment to Christ.

2. Greek Orthodox Church

• Governing Authority:

  • Hierarchical Structure: The Greek Orthodox Church follows a top-down authority structure, with the Patriarch as the highest authority, followed by bishops, priests, and deacons. The governance of the church is centralized within the hierarchy of the Church. This authority structure is seen as necessary to preserve the faith and unity of the Church.

  • Sacred Tradition: The Greek Orthodox Church emphasizes Sacred Tradition alongside Scripture as a primary source of authority. The Holy Spirit is seen to guide the Church through this sacred tradition, particularly through the Church’s councils, creeds, and liturgies.

• Rules and Rituals:

  • Liturgical Focus: The Greek Orthodox Church is known for its elaborate rituals and sacramental life, with seven sacraments including baptism, communion, and confession. These rituals are viewed as channels of grace, a tangible way for believers to engage with the divine. Obedience to these rituals is a key part of spiritual life, and they are seen as essential to salvation.

  • Personal Relationship with God: While the Greek Orthodox Church acknowledges the work of the Holy Spirit in each believer, the emphasis is more on communal worship and sacramental life rather than personal, one-on-one relationship with God as emphasized in the First Church model. The inward witness of the Holy Spirit is present, but obedience to the Church’s hierarchy and traditions takes precedence in this framework.

3. Roman Catholic Church

• Governing Authority:

  • Centralized Hierarchical Structure: The Catholic Church has a top-down structure, where the Pope holds the highest authority, followed by cardinals, bishops, and priests. The Church sees the Pope as the vicar of Christ on earth, with divine authority over doctrine and church governance. This centralized authority aims to maintain unity and the correct interpretation of doctrine across the global Church.

  • Magisterium (Teaching Authority): The Magisterium, or the teaching authority of the Church, is central in interpreting Scripture and Tradition. The Church believes that it is divinely appointed to interpret the Bible correctly, and that believers should follow the Church’s guidance in understanding the truth.

• Rules and Rituals:

  • Sacraments and Rules: Like the Greek Orthodox Church, the Catholic Church places a strong emphasis on sacraments (seven in total), especially the Eucharist and confession. These are viewed as essential to the believer’s relationship with God and salvation. Obedience to these sacraments and the authority of the clergy is seen as necessary for spiritual growth.

  • Personal Relationship with God: The Catholic Church acknowledges a personal relationship with God, but the process of salvation and spiritual maturity is mediated through the Church’s sacraments and the priesthood. Scripture is not understood in an individual, personal context as much as it is in the context of Church tradition. The inward witness of the Holy Spirit is acknowledged but intertwined with obedience to Church authority.

4. Modern Christian Ministries (Evangelical / Charismatic)

• Governing Authority:

  • Varied Models: In many modern Christian ministries, the governing authority can range from charismatic leadership (e.g., televangelists or megachurch pastors) to congregational authority in non-denominational settings. The emphasis is often on personal calling, prophetic gifts, and God’s direct leading through the Holy Spirit.

  • Decentralized Leadership: Unlike the hierarchical structures of the Greek Orthodox and Catholic Churches, modern ministries tend to have more flexible leadership models, often focusing on shared leadership or leadership teams. This can be both a positive and negative feature, depending on the personal accountability of the leaders.

• Rules and Rituals:

  • Less Formality: Rituals are less formalized than in Catholic or Orthodox traditions. Baptism and Communion are practiced, but there is a greater emphasis on personal choice and direct relationship with God. While there may be liturgies, they are typically less rigid and often vary between ministries.

  • Personal Relationship with God: Modern ministries place a strong emphasis on personal relationship with Jesus as Savior and daily Holy Spirit-led living. Obedience to God is typically framed as following God’s personal call rather than fulfilling external ritual obligations. The inward witness of the Holy Spirit is seen as a guide for daily living, decisions, and spiritual direction. Scripture is often emphasized, but there is a greater openness to prophetic guidance and spiritual experiences.

MORE VOCABULARY

Conclusion: Top-Down vs Organic Model

• Top-Down (Catholic and Greek Orthodox):

  • Both the Catholic and Greek Orthodox Churches maintain a top-down, hierarchical structure. The authority of the Pope or Patriarch plays a crucial role in doctrine, governance, and religious practices. These churches emphasize obedience to ecclesiastical authority, rules, and rituals as channels for spiritual growth and salvation.

• Organic (First Church Model):

  • The First Church model—as exemplified by Jesus and the Apostles—was characterized by organic, spirit-led leadership and a community of equals. The relationship with God was personal, with each believer having direct access to the Holy Spirit. The inward witness was central, and obedience was grounded in Scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, rather than in human traditions, rules, or rituals.

While the First Church model was organic and personal in its approach, later institutionalized churches (like Catholicism and Orthodoxy) moved toward more structured authority, emphasizing rituals, sacraments, and obedience to church tradition. Modern ministries, while sometimes adopting elements of the First Church, often focus on personal relationship with God through the Holy Spirit and Scripture, with varying degrees of structure or leadership styles.

Each model represents a distinct approach to how rules, rituals, and governing authority interact with the personal relationship believers have with God. As the Church continues to evolve, it is important to revisit and reaffirm the organic and biblically grounded approach to ministry that Jesus and the early apostles practiced.

Top Down Church Protestant, Book of Acts (tongue talking) Mega Celebrity
Control and authoritarianism, totalitarianism in a Christian ministry is usually ” top down” Famous Face Following type of church. (My submitted opinion)

A WELL KNOWN OR LOCAL TOP DOWN CHURCH might also be   many “authoritarian” “hierarchal” Protestant, Pentecost, mainly non servant leader styles of  charismatic, assessed major prophets, self named apostles (big or micro small) anyone with “Fan Clubs) (all races) HOWEVER no one size fits all as SOME may “appear to be one’ when they are just BIG with STRONG AUTHORITY NON CONTROLLING Him /Her leader.

and they MAY or MAY NOT BE “organic to the first model” (based upon style, fruit, demeanor and or cult, systems)

Chat GPT AI replies

Absolutely—this is a deep and rich topic with profound implications for how we understand Jesus’ obedience, relationship with the Father, and how this contrasts with ritual-only religion versus being led by the Holy Spirit in a daily abiding walk with Christ. Let’s explore this in an apostolic blog-ready article style:

Obedience from the Garden: Jesus’ Inner Witness, Gethsemane, and the First Church vs. Ritual-Only Christianity

“I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father has taught Me, I speak these things.”

— John 8:28, also echoed in John 5:19 and

John 12:49 “Nevertheless, not My will, but Yours be done.”

— Luke 22:42, in the Garden of Gethsemane

 I. JESUS: OBEDIENCE FROM RELATIONSHIP, NOT RELIGIOUS RITUAL

In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus displays the deepest act of submission not to ritual law, but to the living Father, whom He sees and hears inwardly and spiritually. When He says,

“I do nothing unless I see the Father doing it,” (John 5:19)

and “I say nothing unless I first hear the Father say it,” (John 12:49),

He is describing an ongoing spiritual relationship—not rule-following.

📖 Greek and Hebrew Insight:

• In Greek, the word for “see” in John 5:19 is βλέπω (blepō) and ποιεῖν (poiein) for “to do”—together implying careful observation followed by obedient action.

• The Hebrew context suggests a prophetic pattern—as in the Old Testament where prophets often “saw” (חָזָה chazah) visions or received an inner word before acting.

Jesus is demonstrating the spiritually prophetic lifestyle of abiding, of watching and listening inwardly, and co-laboring with the Father—not being driven by form, performance, or man’s approval.

 II. THE INNER WITNESS AND THE FIRST CHURCH

In the First Church (Book of Acts), this relationship-based model continues:

• Acts 13:2 – “The Holy Spirit said…” (the church leaders were fasting and praying together, and heard the inward direction)

• Romans 8:14 – “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.”

• 1 John 2:27 – “The anointing you received remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you… His anointing teaches you about all things.”

This is what the early believers lived—not just outward religion, but inward revelation and relationship. They were Spirit-led, not just tradition-bound.

III. MODERN RELIGIOUS FORM: WHEN RULES REPLACE RELATIONSHIP

In many modern-day church models, Christians attend weekly services, follow rituals, sing songs, and listen to sermons, yet may never cultivate an ongoing private fellowship with the Lord through the Holy Spirit and the Word.

Many well-meaning believers:

• Rely on the pastor/priest’s voice more than they seek the Lord personally

• Participate in sacraments but don’t practice inner listening or yielding

• View obedience as rule-following or works, not trusting and obeying the inward leading of Christ

This is similar to what Jesus rebuked in the Pharisees:

“These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” — Matthew 15:8–9

 IV. ENOCH: WALKING WITH GOD BEFORE RELIGION EXISTED

“Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” — Genesis 5:24

“By faith Enoch was taken from this life… For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.” — Hebrews 11:5

Enoch, who lived before Mosaic Law, before the Temple, and before any priesthood, walked with God simply by relationship—by faith. He’s an Old Testament example of a First Church-style life:

• No rituals

• No church services

• Just communion with God, daily, privately, personally.

He is an enduring example of the “abiding” life Jesus talks about in John 15:4–5, which the early church emulated—and which the modern church must recover.

 V. FELLOWSHIP WITH CHRIST: TODAY’S “ORGANIC” CHURCH

The Bible describes fellowship with Christ as something alive, organic, and day-to-day:

• Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock… I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.”

• Galatians 2:20 – “It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me…”

Modern believers are invited to this same fellowship, but many churches emphasize:

• Attendance over abiding

• Programs over prayer

• Conformity over inner conviction

Yet Jesus never called us to religious performance. He called us to follow Him, hear His voice, and walk with Him, just like Enoch, the apostles, and the First Church.

FINAL THOUGHTS: RELATIONSHIP OVER RELIGION

True Christianity is not:

• About a priest or a pastor being the mediator

• About rituals or ceremonies

• About hierarchy and legalism

It is about:

• Jesus as your Savior and Head

• Hearing the Father, daily, like Jesus modeled

• Abiding in the Word, in prayer, and being led by the Holy Spirit

Let us not reduce the faith to forms and rules, but return to the living walk—the inward witness—that Jesus, Paul, Enoch, and the First Church all demonstrated.

TO SUPPORT:

Donate with Stripe