Let's see, I came to the Orthodox faith because of what I had learned of its beliefs. Having arrived, I now surrender responsibility for my soul to whomever is currently in charge. Mine is not to reason why, etc. If they seem to be contradicting what I know of the faith - even betraying it - nevertheless I will blindly follow, for I am no longer responsible. It would be too "Protestant" of me to think otherwise.
Neither the Scripture, nor the Fathers, nor the history of the Church (including OT Israel) support such an attitude.
Obviously there is more to our ultimate salvation than a single decision, but, just the same, we are responsible.
Each individual reacts to all the influences in his or her life - including the gentle prodding of the Holy Spirit - and makes decisions.
No one becomes Orthodox because some bishop commanded him to.
Likewise, when one commits to the authority of the Church, it is to be hoped he is making that commitment to the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church in her fullness - which includes all of the Apostolic Tradition - and not to the current crop of clerics or hierarchs regardless of how faithful or faithless they may be.
That means making judgments, it means being responsible for upholding the faith, even in opposition to bishops, patriarchs and popes, if necessary.
One cannot or should not convert to Orthodoxy only to surrender his judgment to some sort of Latin-style "Magisterium."
We may not be saved alone, but we are responsible for our own souls and to learn to choose the good and reject the evil.
