re: History/Religion question for those interested

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Except that religious leaders were the norm throughout the Bible and even the New Testament includes books like Paul to the (Insert town here). Sounds a lot like religious instruction from respected leaders of Christianity of the time.

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Me writing a letter to a church doesn't make me the leader of that church... nor did it make Paul their "leader." God blessed Paul with a supernatural conversion, and he spoke through Paul in his letters to the various churches. Paul was without a doubt the most instrumental human since Jesus' ascension into Heaven when it comes to explaining the truth of the gospel. But that by no means made Paul the "leader."

Just as Peter wasn't the "leader" as someone else suggested.

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So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. - Hebrews 4:14-16

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Jesus is our High Priest. He is our Leader. Not the pope. Not your pastor. Not any other human that for some reason we all seem to want to put on a spiritual pedestal. At the cross, Jesus removed any barrier that keeps us separated from God. The veil was torn, and we now have the ability to "boldly" approach the throne of God.

We are under no man's covering. No human is our "go-between" to God. Leadership in the church is fine, as long as it follows the scriptures. But I can't tell you how many times I've heard Christians say that they can or can't do something because it goes against their pastor's beliefs or warnings. What does GOD say about it? The pastor was given no spiritual authority or hierarchy for that matter. He is simply the lead elder who helps oversee some of the matters of the church.