In this message we discussed the Priesthood of All Believers and the different views denominations have about Priests and Laypeople and the significance of ordination.
The video is here. https://www.facebook.com/pbthomas1/videos/10158733738808426/
These were the words on the slides.
Priests and People
9 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. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (1 Peter 2:9-10)
Priests in the Old Testament
Deuteronomy 10:8 At that time the LORD set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister and to pronounce blessings in his name, as they still do today.
Deuteronomy 18:1 The priests, who are Levites … are to have no allotment or inheritance with Israel. They shall live on the offerings made to the LORD by fire, for that is their inheritance. 2 They shall have no inheritance among their brothers; the LORD is their inheritance, as he promised them.
Church of England – “High Church”
“The Church of England has three orders of ministry, Bishops, Priests and Deacons. Only Priests and Bishops may celebrate the Eucharist, and only Bishops may confirm or ordain. Many in the C of E (but not all) hold that ordination is a sacrament which changes something at the deepest level of a persons being and can never be undone. All the people of God however share in Christ’s priesthood through baptism. The ordained priest shares in that priesthood in a particular way, making Christ present to the people above all in the eucharist.”
Church of England – Evangelical
“Ministry is serving the mission of God. Every baptised Christian is called and gifted by God for various ministries. Some are called to the ordained ministry (deacons, priests and bishops); their role is public, representative and enabling of the work of others. Lay and ordained constitute the priesthood of all believers.”
Pentecostal Churches
“ “(He) has made us kings and priests to His God and Father..” (Revelation 1:6). King and Priest were among the highest callings under the old covenant. Under the new covenant all believers share these graces. The ‘laity’ have been abolished and we are all ‘ordained’ for ministry and mission. Our mission is to bring the good news of the Gospel to all people in all places by all means. To that end every believer is equipped by the Holy Spirit.”
Baptist Churches
“Baptists do not see a distinction between clergy and laity. Any member of a Baptist Church can e.g. preach, baptise, preside at communion in their church. Accredited Ministers have a “trans-local” ministry as pastor-teachers. The shared task of (ordained) Ministers and locally-appointed Elders and Deacons is “to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:12). Jesus has commissioned all Christians to play their part in the mission of the church. “Go and make disciples of all nations,….” (Matthew 28:19-20)
The Priesthood of All Believers
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession (1 Peter 2:9)
4 As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:4-5)
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, 6 and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen. (Revelation 1:5-6)
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth. (Revelation 5:10)
EVERY Christian is a priest before God
So how are ministers any different?
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?
(1 Corinthians 12:27-30)
11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up, (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Ministers have different gifts and specific responsibilities in the church, but they are certainly not “a different kind of Christian.”
In the New Testament there is NO distinction between “priests” and “lay-people” in the church.
SO what is the significance of ORDINATION?
For Baptists
Ordination is NOT sacramental
Ordination is not “ontological”
“confers an indelible spiritual character” (Catechism of the Catholic Church)
making the priest a different kind of Christian
Ordination is “functional”
equipping the minister to serve and lead
Respect for ministers
Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. (1 Thessalonians 5:12f)
Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you. (Hebrews 13:17)
