The early followers of Jesus did not immediately leave these synagogues that were central to the life of the people of the region, but continued to participate until they were eventually driven out. When they were driven out, the organization of the new churches appears to have followed a form similiar to that with which these disciples had become familiar.

Over the years that followed the founding of the New Testament church, the organization of the churches changed from an undominated responsibility shared by all the local disciples into the dictatorial domain of a minister or priest appointed and ordained by the centralized (Catholic) church. This usurpation of power definitely was not the way of God, but was the way that had been incorporated from the pagan religions adopted by Rome. The "Christian" churches of this world, including most of the Churches of God, have inherited this pagan organization and now try to foist it upon the membership as the way established by God. It is time to carefully look at the scriptures to see how the elders and ministers within the Church of God should be selected and what their duties truly are.