But I'm not sure how unanimity bears on the discussion. I don't look to the bishops in German for my "direction." My bishop (Richmond, VA) gets my attention and I run what he says by what the pope says.
But even then, While I listen respectfully when PapaFran talks about the environment, I am not docile there and have no duty to be docile in such things. I will, so to speak, check my work. I will consul with respected peers and "superiors." But PapaFran is not an environmental scientist and he himself admitted he's no economist.
I would say that in my experience, it's RARE that anyone says, "You HAVE to think this." The closest is people saying, "I think that you should be ASKING and wondering about this." So, yes, at every step, the decision is my responsibility.
It just this minute occurred to me that a lot of people, a lot of Catholics, want their religious life given to them like a pill from the pharmacy. It's hard to help such people, except to say that Jesus is the Truth, that means the Truth is a person, and the only way to get to know a person is in relationship. Answers won't do it.
Luke 22:31-32 (KJV)
31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat:
32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
Note that last Word - brethren. They were equal in the ministry to the circumcision during the times recorded in Acts. One was not to Lord over the others. As Jesus made clear:
Matthew 20:25-28 (KJV) (see also Mark 10 and Luke 22)
25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
26 But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
God set up a priesthood for Israel, but after Calvary and the rejection of Jesus by Israel, things changed. This is made clear in many of Jesus’ statements of the move away from religion to an individual relationship directly with the Father through Jesus.
John 4:19-24 (KJV)
19 The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
20 Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
21 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
22 Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
This is a profound Truth spoken to the woman at the well. God is a Spirit. We are called to have spiritual intimacy based on the Truth of God’s Word. That takes us back to where Adam and Eve were before the fall - enjoying a personal relationship and full access to Revelation, not just sensual information.
John 14:6-7 (KJV)
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
There is only one way to the Father and it is not a religion, or denomination, or any individual on Earth today. It is Jesus, the Living Word. That does not mean a Believer, pastor, priest, or church could not point you in the right direction, but the individual must choose Jesus.
John 14:18-21 (KJV)
18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
This passage should excite every Believer. The Holy Spirit dwells in you. You have the inspired Word of God AND the Author available to you 24/7/365! This spiritual intimacy far surpasses anything religion could EVER offer.
John 15:1-8 (KJV)
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
Again the importance of having that spiritual connection through the Spirit and the Word is repeated. We were created to produce spiritual fruit. And as it is clear here, separated from Jesus you can do nothing. One definition for religion is attempting to produce fruit without being connected to Jesus, who is the Living Word.
Later Paul received the revelation of the Body of Christ, and would clarify this new relationship with Jesus as the Head, and only Head of the Body.
Ephesians 1:15-23 (KJV)
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
Jesus is the Head over ALL THINGS to the Body of Christ. And then in the next chapter of Ephesians, Paul places Believers - alive in Christ and seated together with Christ. Through Him we have access to the Father through the Spirit. Its all by God’s Grace, not by any works.
Colossians 2:6-10 (KJV)
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Believers are COMPLETE in Christ! What more could religion do other than confuse, beguile, or lead you astray from the remarkable Truth of the Gospel?
Colossians 2:16-23 (KJV)
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.
What Paul is talking about is all the religious hooey that men invent to lead people away from the Truth. The Gospel is supposed to be GOOD NEWS, freedom in Christ! We are to hold to JESUS, not any denomination or religion.
Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)
1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
Note where Paul tells Believers to set their affection. Its not some worldly religion or earthly leader, but on Christ. Look to where you are seated in Christ.
Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, God dwells in Believers, so that as He was, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:14-19) It takes a theologian to misunderstand that remarkable revelation.
Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship. The Body of Christ is not a denomination. It is a spiritual body with Jesus as the Head. Even if men create religious barriers to divide us, there can still be spiritual unity in the Body of Christ.
Having learned the hard way, you never put your faith in denominations or men. They will always let you down. Jesus will never deceive you, never forsake you, and never lead you astray. His Word IS Truth.