5 Ways to be a Better Priest
Evangelicals almost never talk about their priesthood. And, I’m not referring to those men in robes and vestments standing in front of church, leading worship and dispensing the sacraments, as in the Catholic Church.
I’m talking about you and me! And every born-again Christian – priests.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 1:9
The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, is introducing one of the most radical ideas ever, in any religion. That every born-again Christian is a priest! Prior to that, all religions had a class of spiritual leaders who believed they were intermediaries between the people and the gods. And this religious class perpetuated that idea because it kept them in power and control.
In the case of Israel, the priesthood actually was God’s idea, not mans. But with Christ’s death, the priesthood in Israel ended because Jesus became our forever high priest. “Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.” Hebrews 8:1,2
Priests on earth
So, while Christ is our heavenly priest, on earth we are his priests. However, we don’t stand between God and man as priests of old did. There is no human being, no pastor, no elder, no religious leader, we need as an intermediary between Jesus and us. Yes, there are elders and pastors assigned to lead churches, but they no longer stand between God and us. Christians have direct access to God, because we are all priests of God! So if we don’t stand between God and man, what is our purpose? To serve God, by serving humans – not to stand above them, but to stand alongside of them!
Here are 5 ways you and I can be better priests.
I’m talking about you and me! And every born-again Christian – priests.
“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 1:9
The Holy Spirit, speaking through Paul, is introducing one of the most radical ideas ever, in any religion. That every born-again Christian is a priest! Prior to that, all religions had a class of spiritual leaders who believed they were intermediaries between the people and the gods. And this religious class perpetuated that idea because it kept them in power and control.
In the case of Israel, the priesthood actually was God’s idea, not mans. But with Christ’s death, the priesthood in Israel ended because Jesus became our forever high priest. “Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.” Hebrews 8:1,2
Priests on earth
So, while Christ is our heavenly priest, on earth we are his priests. However, we don’t stand between God and man as priests of old did. There is no human being, no pastor, no elder, no religious leader, we need as an intermediary between Jesus and us. Yes, there are elders and pastors assigned to lead churches, but they no longer stand between God and us. Christians have direct access to God, because we are all priests of God! So if we don’t stand between God and man, what is our purpose? To serve God, by serving humans – not to stand above them, but to stand alongside of them!
Here are 5 ways you and I can be better priests.
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