An insight into the Protestant mindset comes into our mind if we imagine:
A person is out of work, and in desperate need of a job. The branch office of a huge, multi-national corporation has an opening. The unemployed person applies.
“You will be working largely on your own. You will report to an overseas headquarters. There is an instruction manual to follow. Company income will be sent to Headquarters and their instructions must be followed.”
The person signs an employment contract and begins work. After a few months, he meets someone at lunch who asks what he does and where he works. He explains.
Then, the stranger tells him, “I know that company. It is so huge they don’t know what’s going on. You don’t need to do what they say. And, you don’t have to send them any money. You do whatever you want. You can keep most of the money. Just give a little to me to cover for you.”
“Don’t I have to follow the Instruction Manual?”
“No. They won’t know and don’t care.”
Now, we know what will happen. The Accounting Department will miss money that should be there. The Compliance Officer will note that instructions haven’t been followed.
The proper authorities will be alerted. Some time may be provided for the malefactor to make amends, repay the money, and resume good work. If that doesn’t happen, the person will be fired, prosecuted, jailed, and suffer loss of pension.
“Serves him right!”, we will say. “Actually, they were too patient with him.”
At the same time, we were all given orders as to where we should spend an hour or so a week. “Thou art Peter and on this rock I build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Further instructions inform us that if we disobey, we will be forever dead. “If you do not eat My Body and drink My Blood, you do not have life in you.”
We, who are appalled at someone disobeying an employment contract, simply will not believe that we, ourselves, must follow even the purposely indirect orders of an awesomely more powerful boss.
That is why many people convert to Catholicism. Protestants should be very afraid.
