The difference is that the Church (the pope or her bishops) speak, that is because of the laying of the hands of the apostles that allowed them. "How can they preach unless they are sent?" When Blogger speaks that is his opinion only.
Apparently under your view, SOMEONE must be the pope. If a person does not acknowledge your pope as his pope, then he MUST have some other pope. This could take the form of some other ivory tower earthly authority, or in most cases, simply the person himself, as many Catholics have told me on FR. This Catholic assertion is simply wrong. Our side does not need or want a pope. We do not need a single human being to instruct us as to what our opinions and beliefs are. That is for you because you want to believe it. That is fine with me, but it is incorrect for you to project your requirement of such a human leader on us. It is interesting that for many other good Christians you give a TOTAL pass on the requirement, but somehow, every Protestant MUST have a pope, and of course it is always that Protestant himself. Is that really fair?
Apparently under your view, SOMEONE must be the pope.
Back when it mattered, the Epsicopal Church's "Articles of Religion" said that "Councils can err."
This question as hyou raise it is extremely provocative. It aska bout what God's promise to lead us into truth means and a whole host of things. And it is a REAL hinge point of ecclesiology and revelation and "The four marks of the church, One, Holy, Catholic, Apostolic" and of the psychology of decision making when it comes to Ultimate Questions.
Personally, I was hoping Frank Zappa would be elected Pope, but nobody ever listens to me.
I hope your comment gets the attenion I think it deserves. IT's incredibly important.
Then don't tell me anything in terms of theological absolutes. Stick to "I think that the scripture without the oral tradition or the institution of the Church is sufficient for understanding Christ"; "I think that faith alone is necessary for salvation", "I don't think praying to saints is a good idea", etc.
You become popes when you interpret the scripture personally but claim it to be the universally correct interpretation.