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Bishops (pastors) associate for fellowship, and sometimes for political cooperation. It hpeens today...it happened then. Some fellowships become associations. Some associations proceed to become denominations. Some denominations proceed to want to take over the world, and have city states, and little ecclesiastical kings who become quite influencial, and use spiritual threats and sometimes even force of arms to control other monarchs. Some, like the bishops did at Nicea form links with empires creating a "Holy ___________ Empire" on the side.

That's basically how it happened. Constantine called for these bishops, but that was only the beginning of the formal system that we know today as the RCC. And you are welcome to your system. But biblically, it is wholly unnecessary to be be involved with it for us to have a walk with God.

Constantine called for these bishops, but that was only the beginning of the formal system that we know today as the RCC.

Why then do secular Roman documents from the times of persecution before Constantine speak of the main body of Christians as an organized group, led by Bishops in every major city, with their head Bishop in Rome, and the second the Bishop in Alexandria? You are aware of legal rulings where property disputes among Christians were settled by the imperial authorities by granting the award to the group in communion with the Roman Bishop? Haven't you ever thought where Constantine came up with the idea of having recourse to Pope Sylvester's opinion onsome religious matters? Such as maybe, Roman legal precedent by his predecessors, the Emperors?

You know how Constantine knew about this group of Bishops? Because his mother, St. Helena, was an Orthodox Catholic, and that long before Constantine even converted himself or the Empire.

But biblically, it is wholly unnecessary to be be involved with it for us to have a walk with God.

Doesn't your Bible admonish you to "hear the Church" (St. Matthew 18?)