So is it better to have a small group of elites decide for everyone else what they must believe? It's about as inefficient, error-prone, and freedom limiting as Big Government.
The problem seems to be that many are incapable of understanding that the Church of Christ is spiritual, individual, and not composed of man-made organizations. We are instructed to assemble, and as such certain, limited organization must occur. However, these assemblies are not the Church; they are simply congregations where like-minded Believers can assemble.
**So is it better to have a small group of elites decide for everyone else what they must believe?**
You might want to check your numbers on the Catholic Church — largest denomination as far as I know.
I don’t know why you don’t think of Christ as an elite? Heck, he came from a small town, was the son of a carpenter; the men he called were not elites either: fishermen, tax collectors, etc.
These are the beginnings of the CAtholic Church in the Bible — don’t you agree?