Read the letters to the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3.
In each of them there were Christians who received instructions about what to do. We are definitely in a Pergamum/Thyatira era in our western culture. In the east they are persecuted.
I don't question our legitimacy as churches, Gamey. I just question the quality of our relationship with the Lord.
Just to be honest with you, our mainline protestants are heretical, and our independent protestants are wanting to go that same direction.
We might have our doctrines down to a "t", and we might run walk-a-thons for cancer/malaria/wounded warriors, but when it comes to holiness of life, we OFFICIALLY want the sinful nature to be ascendant.
I'm in favor of looking at churches who OFFICIALLY don't want sinfulness of life. I don't care if they're independent or organized. If they're withstanding the spirit of the age, they are closer to us than those 'evangelical' who call for 'dialogue' with homosexual advocates.
**In the east they are persecuted.**
Here we think we are persecuted because someone looks at us funny, or says something snide about our belief.