That is 110% wrong. Pastors are nothing like Popes. Nobody consider a pastor unfallible, and nobody thinks pastors are a higher religious authority. Pastors are more like teachers or messengers. They are not "fathers" because we call no man father but he who is in heaven and dear old dad of course.
I actually agree with you for the most part. But I wasn’t 110% wrong.
The only part that was wrong with my statement was using the phrase “almost all.” Too strong. Should have been simply “many.”
But many Protestant groups put a very unscriptural spin to the role of “Pastor” that is plain wrong and very contrary to what scripture teaches. I spent years with them in non-denominational ministry.
For you to say “nobody believes that” simply shows you haven’t been around much in the huge world of what is called Christianity. That’s ok.
In far too many churches, the pastor is the true single leader who is looked to for all spiritual direction, wisdom and insight. Too many churches are actually a cult-like following of a man. Yes, they may fire him. Years after believing and following every word he said and later discovered he was, in actuality, only a man.
Most groups do teach the pastor is the highest authority in a local church - glad to hear your group does not. I’ll not name names (”conservative, evangelical”, etc.), but I could because I’ve walked with and amongst the pastors who truly believe and are taught in their seminaries that they are indeed the highest authority and they believe it amongst themselves....but would never say or admit it among “the sheep”, who are lowly and beneath them.
Are there true men of God who are pastors who truly walk with God and speak for Him? Of course! I could name many and the list would be long, from an amazing width of groups.
That is a separate issue from my specific point: today’s (and much of history’s) concept of the pastor is wholly man-made and unscriptural.
We only accept it because it’s been around since the 2nd or 3rd century AD. It is nothing but a human tradition accepted by so many who so strongly berate our dear Catholic brethren for their emphasis on tradition.....