Mark 9:38-41: "John said to him: 'Teacher, we saw a certain man expelling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us.' But Jesus said: 'Do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me; for he that is not against us is for us. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink on the ground that you belong to Christ, I truly tell you, he will by no means lose his reward.' "
Jesus here had a clear opportunity to put his foot down in support of an organization where people were in lock-step with him and his disciples. Instead, he makes a statement that is clearly against organization. All that mattered was that this man belonged to Christ, not what group he was with.
We might add that, given the lack of ability to travel, it is unlikely that a governing body could have maintained much real control over the congregations in the first century. There were obviously many different personal beliefs being held in the congregations, but such personal views were not generally seen as a problem so long as the basic truth--Jesus died for us as was raised to life, faith in him means salvation, there will be a resurrection, etc.--was upheld. To suggest that men were needed to rein in Christ's congregation when holy spirit was so clearly active amongst them is to deify the concept of organization. To make it at the very least equal to Christ and probably equal to God. Read enough Watchtower articles and this becomes clear.
God has worked through individuals--in fact, organizations in the Bible generally became very corrupt. Think of the Israelite kings, sitting on Jehovah's throne, supposedly. Samuel, an individual, as opposed to Eli's sons, who had prominent positions in Jehovah's organization yet were grossly immoral and greedy. Elijah, an individual, facing the organization which had turned to false worship. Gideon, also an individual, but there was obviously no organization for him to turn to because everyone else was worshipping idols. Can we even name a prophet who was bound to an organization? Most of them operated as rogue elements in an organization that shunned worship of God and at times demanded the loyalty of everyone around them, sometimes thinking they were doing the right thing.
Many of the Bible's stories are of those operating either outside of an organization or inside an organization, trying to shake things up and get people to serve God the right way. So no, God doesn't need an organization on earth.
SD-7
