Because the entire concept of “Protestant” invites each individual to be their own “Pope”.
One interpretation is as good as another, as long as I convince myself that I am being guided by the Holy Spirit.
Thus, anyone claiming to be in authority, who disagrees with me is an anathema.
G Larry has it pretty much right. On Planet Protestant, the clergy are the hired help, coming and going at the say of the congregation — which is not amused when the help gets up on its hind legs and behaves like it has authority. This is an ecclesiological problem common to all reformation sects. Pope Francis has spoken more than once about clericalization of the laity.
Bottom line: on some level, you believe in the Sacrament of holy orders. Your congregation, like most protestants, does not. Think about that for a while.
I’ll pray for you.
Let’s see...Each of our bodies is a “temple of the Holy Spirit”. Proverbs 4:23 states:Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Yeah...each of us is our own Pope. Why? Because popes, priests, pastors, praise and worship teams, and even pious old mommas can’t always be around to mind us when we are out and about and in public. We Christians are to learn to conduct our private selves in ways that our religious selves could never farthom.
Hmm, then I have to ask the question: Suppose someone only has their Bible, and God (through the Holy Spirit) and they live on an island without a Catholic priest, I guess that makes them their own “Pope” guided just by the Holy Spirit.