“Besides, isn’t the gist of Protestantism that you read the Bible, have a chat with Jesus, and make up your own mind about everything?”
Heavens no.
The conservative, that is to say, Bible believing churches have certain standards. They are usually basically covered in the Apostle’s Creed. You can’t be a member unless you submit to those standards.
Were you to walk into my church any Sunday, you’d be welcomed. But you could not be a member without baptism, a public profession of faith, and regular attendance, and without any outward observable unrepentant sin going on.
You couldn’t just go home and hide, either. You’d get regular visitation and interaction with church elders and other church members.
If you aren’t a member, you can’t vote, you can’t lead in any ministry from Sunday School teacher to greeter, and you can’t take communion. All you can do is attend.
And the truth is...that is exactly what most people do. I've seen Churches that have maybe half a dozen people who actually run the church and the rest of the people sneak in and out after they say hello to a few friends.
Look, I know there are some really great Protestant Churches out there that are really alive with the Spirit and have lots of active members but to say that all of them are that strict is simply not true.
Going on visitation involves maybe two or three groups who mostly make phone calls once a week to make sure people are well who didn't attend. You make it sound like they are the gestapo or something. LOL