WHAT IS A PRIEST
AND WHAT DOES A PRIEST DO?
1 Peter 2. 9-10
I suppose we have been conditioned to think of a Priest as someone formally appointed to an official position in a Church of one denomination or another, who enters into a contractual arrangement with the Church in which he or she is going to serve, takes the services, leads in most areas, especially pastoral work, and someone to whom everyone defers.
In some denominations that is very pronounced. In others less so and the titles used vary. In many Churches today, it is all quite informal. In some Churches the functioning of the body and the expression of the many different gifts set in the body is evident and overall, I have no doubt that most Church leaders in these roles have a genuine sense of being called by God and care deeply for Gods people.
I am not questioning that this morning, although on a very personal basis, I would not, in the light of what I have been taught and believe about these things, pursue or accept a formal appointment or position in relation to ministry, but that is just my own conviction. I can understand why people do so and I don't doubt their sincerity.
What has struck me however, (and mainly as a result of comments that have really surprised me recently) is that far from there being any problem with those who feel called to serve in this way it may well be the rest of us who need help. How do we change the general perception among Christians of what the priesthood is, what it means, and correct the misunderstanding that because they are not in that category, they just belong to something called a congregation and can really make little difference? Hence the apathy in so many Churches today.
It is a perception and attitude of mind developed over hundreds of years that seems to be entrenched in Churches everywhere, and if we are honest, may even suit us. Even the physical layout of Churches reflects it and has an influence (how the seating is arranged, where folk sit, a regular order of service etc) and even the best leaders might struggle to prize us out of this mould, these routines. We like them. So perhaps it is we that need to change.
Well, how does the New Testament view Priesthood?
It views it very differently to the Old Testament where God formally established an earthly order of priesthood to mediate between himself and the people who literally relied upon the Priests, among other things, to frequently atone for their sins and avoid the punishment of death. God introduced that system of things and it operated with his full approval.
I cannot see that system of things perpetuated anywhere in the New Testament other than among those who clung to the traditions of Judaism in the face of the ministry of Jesus and became chief among his persecutors.
I readily admit that in the book of Acts, we read that the twelve apostles gathered all the other disciples together and appointed some of them to organise the distribution of food to those who needed it and that the apostles laid their hands upon them, Stephen among them.
Yes, we can see that Paul expressed his confidence and support for Mark, Barnabas, Timothy and others and in that sense laid his hands upon them and exhorted the assemblies in various towns and cities to pay heed to them. Also that leading men were chosen to go with Paul and Barnabas to sort out a problem in Antioch. We read of the qualifications needed for Deacons in Timothy and so on, but I don't think you will find any support in the New Testament (the Spirit's day, our day) for a separate class of persons on earth within the Christian faith referred to as a 'priesthood' or any other similar term conveying a distinct group of persons set apart from other Christians in that way and yet………is it possible that that idea may well be lodged in our minds, and be colouring our thinking?
Does that mean that there should not be leaders and order? No, of course not. The idea of leadership is very strong in the New Testament but it is seems to me to be based much more upon moral attributes than on the basis of mere appointment and anyway, leaders do just that, “They lead” or they are not leaders.
The references in the New Testament (other than those referring to the remnants of the old priesthood who became the persecutors of Jesus) clearly refer to all Christians as priests as does this Scripture in 1 Peter 2. v 5 -9
Other scriptures support that. In Revelation 1 v 5-6 we read, “Unto him that loved us and has washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests to his God and Father”. That envisages all Christians being Priests. “Has washed us from our sins in his own blood” that must be all Christians, must it not, whom he has made Kings and Priests to God?
There is a Scripture in Hebrews which alludes to "Our Great High Priest having gone into Heaven" but that is uniquely a reference to Jesus and is meant to bring out the contrast between our day when we can have unhindered access to God through him.... and the old Testament times when the priesthood was formally established upon the earth to offer sacrifices and gifts on behalf of God's people to appease God and frankly to save their lives. It was one sacrifice after another, on and on and on, endlessly, and so much blood spilt over a long period.
The wonderful thing is that the same book, Hebrews, also tells us that “He, (Jesus), appeared at the end of that period of endless sacrifices (which the law demanded) to do away with sin, once for all, by the sacrifice, (not of more sheep and goats) of himself, and has washed us from our sins in his OWN blood”. “He offered himself, spotless to God”.
There is a lovely verse in Hebrews 10 which tells us that when Christ came into the world it was because it was clear that sacrifices and burnt offerings would never be enough to take away all our sins for ever and so he says to God. “Here I am, I have come to do your will O God”. What meaning in those words. “Here I am” as if to say, “The moment has come God. We have agreed upon this plan in a past eternity, involving my coming into this poor sinful world and becoming the ultimate sacrifice, now, here I am. I am ready” I am very moved by those three words, “Here I am” aren't you? They are full of meaning.
So the old priesthood therefore is now redundant. That is a relief and a great deliverance I think, don't you? Imagine living under that old system.
The old system implied that the people had to stay at a distance from God. Only the priests could draw near. Only they could go within the veil and only the High Priest into the very inner sanctuary once a year and only then under very strict conditions and God's detailed instructions had to be followed to the letter.
Now through what Jesus has done, the veil is rent from top to bottom. That veil behind which God was hidden and virtually unapproachable. Now all is revealed. God has come close to us in the person of Jesus and through what Jesus has done and the efficacy of his blood (as opposed to the endless shedding of the blood of those sacrifices the priests brought in the old days), we are each of us, invited and emboldened to enter into the very presence of God without fear. Not by proxy nor by someone else on earth representing us, but ushered right into God's presence by Jesus himself, comfortable and with all sense of condemnation gone.
And what is more…………..WE have now been made priests to God, We have. Yes you and I. The old order has been superseded by a new order of priesthood, US. There is now “A new and living way” that takes us right within the veil which has been opened up. That is the wonder of the Gospel and we are part of that new order. A heavenly priesthood serving God now, replacing the earthly one.
That is open to all of us male or female you know. Perhaps you have never thought of yourself as a priest before. Ladies you are included in this.
The great debate in Christendom as to women priests would never arise if priesthood was understood. I see no reason why a woman cannot be a priest in the sense that she acts in a priestly way but as soon as you make that an official position in the public sense and make it synonymous with leadership also in a public way especially in the context of the assembly as convened you then have try to reconcile Paul's teaching on the subject and that would require extreme dexterity!!
So, can I really be a priest? What is a priest as seen in the New Testament?
Well, it must be someone who has believed the Gospel and accepted Jesus as their Saviour and is now part of God's Kingdom. Someone following the first principle of the Kingdom, righteousness…. and then I believe it is a person who thinks for and ministers to God and also has real empathy and sympathy for God's people, so it could be you or me couldn't it?
You will recall that the most prominent piece of apparel that Aaron had to wear was the breastplate and Aaron had to wear the names of the Sons of Israel on the breastplate over his heart (over his heart) the scripture specifically says. A Priest therefore cares about and cares for Gods people.
So how do you and I become a priest? Well this scripture tells us that we have already been made Kings and Priests but to act as priests and fulfill our role as priests we need to be priestly. If you are thinking for God and care for his people in whatever connection, you are being priestly and at that point you are acting as a priest. You may not be able to sustain that all the time and we all fail but God will restore us and we should restore one another to the level and experience of priesthood.
Love is the basis of all priestly service. Love for God and for our brethren. Praise would be another characteristic and prayer too. Praise we enjoy but some don't find it easy to pray publicly but each of us can ask the Lord to teach us to pray. You remember the Disciples asked the Lord to teach them to pray. It was new to them. We also learn by listening to others pray. I find it reasonably easy to speak in public but that doesn't mean a thing and I find myself constantly exercised as to whether I am relying upon what is natural or whether my prayers are real and in the Spirit. That is very real thing for me. Let me be clear, praying in private or in silence is just as much a priestly service.
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Helping others in matters that have affected their relationship with God, restoring one another's faith and hope, sharing other's burdens. Very importantly, listening to others….. and there are many other ways in which we can minister to God and serve his people and it doesn't necessarily have to be in the public eye.
None of us can meet all of these priestly attributes all the time but we can meet some of them some of the time and in doing so we are acting in a priestly, spiritual way and as Priests, and when we fail, Peter says at the close of his epistle, “God will restore you and make you strong firm and steadfast”
When the going gets tough, as it does, there is this wonderful verse, “Cast all your cares upon him because he cares about you” so there is a whole system of Divine support here for this new heavenly priesthood of which you and I are part and there is a place where it is to find its expression, here in the Company in which God has set us………. for us, that means here in this Church, for we are as much Priests as they were in the Old Testament days, but much more blest. We perhaps just haven't grasped that yet.
Churches don't die because they lack a Priest, Vicar, Parson or whatever the appointed person is called. They die because the members don't exercise their privileges and responsibilities as Priests.
Well, are you able to think of yourself as a priest now? Once this truth takes hold, I believe we will begin to think differently, act differently, begin to fulfill a role we thought was only the privilege of the few and the effect will be felt. It will strengthen the position….. and strengthen the hands of those that lead us.
