Posted on 08/17/2008 6:34:20 PM PDT by guitarplayer1953
"Ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9)
"Each believer is a priest, both before God for oneself and by caring for fellow believers and for persons in the world for whom Christ died."
From We Baptists, James Leo Garrett Jr. (editor-in-chief)
To say that a Baptist is a priest sounds strange to some persons. But we are. Every one of us. In fact, Baptists insist that all who believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior are priests, believer priests. The concept of the priesthood of believers is basic for Baptists. As with some other beliefs important to Baptists, we have varying interpretations of what the concept means, but we all treasure the biblical truth of the priesthood of believers.
What Does it Mean to Be a Priest?
Being a priest involves both opportunity and responsibility. In the Old Testament, a priest held a special place in the worship of God. Priests were responsible for certain aspects of worship, such as the sacrifice of animals. They served as mediators between the people and God.
The High Priest, the head priest, was the only one, however, allowed to enter the Holy of Holies in the Jewish temple. This especially sacred place was separated from the rest of the temple and from the other priests and worshippers by a great curtain or veil.
With the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, all of this changed. No longer was the sacrifice of animals appropriate, because Christ, the Lamb of God, had given himself as a sacrifice for sin. This was a once-and-for-all act.
At the resurrection of Jesus, the great veil in the temple "was torn in two from top to bottom" (Matthew 27:51 NIV), indicating that Jesus, the great High Priest, now mediated between God and humankind. No longer were priests of the Old Testament variety needed. Indeed, all who believe in Jesus become priests with direct access to God. Human mediators are no longer needed. We can go directly to God in prayer, confession, praise and worship. What an opportunity!
But being a priest also carries responsibility. In the Old Testament, a priest in a sense represented God to the people. Today, the believer priest has responsibility to share his or her knowledge of God with other persons, both in word and in deed.
The believer priest has responsibility to bear witness to God's love as shown in Jesus Christ and to demonstrate God's love by ministering to persons in his name. This responsibility is carried out in various ways by Baptists, such as in evangelism, missions, ministry and social action to benefit others.
Where Did the Concept of the Priesthood of Believers Come From?
Martin Luther, a leader in the Protestant Reformation, is often linked with the concept of the priesthood of believers. Luther challenged the Roman Catholic Church's emphasis on the special role played by the Roman Catholic priests.
Luther insisted that every believer was a priest, with direct access to God. He did not call for the elimination of the role of pastors but indicated that all persons, not just pastors, had a priestly function. Even before Luther burst on the European church scene, various Christian groups had stressed the priesthood of believers.
However, the concept of the priesthood of believers for Baptists does not come from the teachings of Luther or any Christian group but from the New Testament. On the basis of various New Testament passages, Baptists have insisted that every person who believes in the Lord Jesus Christ has access directly to God. Each is directly responsible to God. Each is to share the love of God.
The Priesthood of The Believer
The priesthood of each believer in Baptist thought is tied closely to another concept, that of soul competency. Each person has a God-given competence to know and follow God's will. A decision to follow Christ as Lord and Savior is an individual decision; no one can make it for another. Being a believer priest is a gift from God, not a human achievement; it comes with salvation.
Each believer priest is responsible for his or her own actions. Individual believers can go directly to God without the aid of any intermediary. Individuals can and should read and interpret the Bible for themselves without religious officials dictating to them what to believe.
Believer priests are all equal to one another in Christ (Galatians 3:26-28). There is only one High Priest, that is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 7:23-8:13).
Each believer priest has a responsibility to be committed to Christ and to share Christ through word and deed. As Peter stated it: to “declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9 NIV).
Therefore, a church does not have only one priest. Potentially it has many who communicate the love and forgiveness of God and demonstrate concern and compassion of one believer for another.
The Priesthood of Believers
The New Testament also speaks of the priesthood of believers. Believer priests are part of the body of Christ. They form a community of believers. Although each believer priest is individually responsible to God, all believer priests are related to one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
This communal aspect of believer priesthood highlights the fact that being a Christian involves fellowship with other believers. This fellowship functions to encourage and assist the believer in Christian growth and ministry. How sad and difficult it would be to live the Christian life in isolation from other believers.
The fellowship of believer priests also aids in interpreting the Bible and understanding God's will. Although each believer priest can and ought to read and interpret the Bible for herself or himself, the competent and wise believer will seek insight and understanding from other believer priests. By searching the teachings of believer priests in the past and by seeking out the wisdom of those in the present, persons are aided in their understanding of the Bible and of God's will.
The Baptist model of a church rests on the concept of the priesthood of believers. A church is made up of persons who have exercised their God-given competency by believing in Jesus as Savior and Lord and by voluntarily associating with a particular fellowship of believers.
Each believer priest in the fellowship is equal to all of the others. Therefore, no one is in authority over all. Thus decisions are made by the community of priests seeking to know the will of the head of the church, the great High Priest, Jesus Christ. They do this by prayer, Bible study, meditation, discussion and decision.
Conclusion
So, which is it? Priesthood of the believer or priesthood of believers? It is not either/or but both/and.
The term "the priesthood of the believer" communicates the biblical emphasis on the individual and soul competency. The term "priesthood of believers" communicates the biblical emphasis on community and fellowship.
Throughout history in all aspects of life, a tension has existed between the individual and the group. Baptists have not escaped this tension. We do well when we refuse to elevate one above the other, but instead attempt to keep them in balance.
Pap.
Priesthood and royalty!! Sonship too. Prosperous, favored, blessed, loved and fully forgiven.
I’ll take all that grace Lord, thank You very much!
And ... to share incarnation with HIM. Ask this old physcicist to explain that? I can’t but it is as real as gravity.
Not much to have a discussion on. You said it all. Each individual believer, as did the priests of the O.T., offer a sacrifice to God: themselves - see Rom. 12:1.
So why is there this controversy over women as priests ....????
Where at? In the RCC or the other Christian Churches?
There’s a book floating around with all the verses that include the ‘in Him’ phrase and all it’s permutations. It will reset your brain into a very good place.
You know, thinking about the destiny that being in Christ suggests, it’s kind of like thinking about the infinite.
Just who does He think we are anyway?
And if so... who are we to disagree?
Then, once I’m in this state of mind, if I read John 17, it’s just beyond all comprehension.
Baptist ping
That’s in the RCC, and maybe the Episcopalians.
However, many Baptist churches will not ordain or call women pastors. Others do. Baptists then can decide for themselves, as always.
“To say that a Baptist is a priest sounds strange to some persons. But we are.”
This is nonsense. I was raised Southern Baptist and I can tell you that Christ alone qualifies according to the teaching.
Please add me to you ping list, it could be interesting.
The Baptist model is the same as what you see in the early Christian churches. The local congregations selected their elders and pastors and removed them. Decision making within the early Christian churches was done at the local level and big decisions were done as a group.
You have been added. Feel free to use the list
anytime you want to. It’s on the bottom of my home page. Welcome aboard.
With lots of prayer and fasting and waiting on the Holy Spirit for guidance.
I had enough common sense as a 34 year old non-believer to understand no ordinary man can forgive sins.
And yes we can forgive others of sin, Christ warned us if we do not forgive others we will not be forgiven ourself.
Let me ask you if you are a non believer why are you reading this about a priesthood of believers?
“I had enough common sense as a 34 year old non-believer”
Notice that is written is the PAST tense.
I am now a 57 year old believe who was saved
on July 21 1985.
We can forgive others for the sins they commit
against us but I don’t I will be forgiving anyone
else’s sins against God.
Amen.
You are so right!
The problem with the decentralized structure is when it encounters a highly centralized structure.
I think I will let them ask God to forgive them
rather than attempting it myself.
As a sinner, even a saved one, I know I don’t
have the power to forgive one for their sins
against God. If I thought I could forgive sins
I would become a Catholic Priest.
John 00846 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
There is nothing in the NT that forbids women from preaching the word ... Dorcas was the first pastor ... a woman ...
Wrongo!
Timothy 2:11-13 (King James Version)
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
13For Adam was first formed, then Eve.
But there are those who disagree. More power to ‘em.
Do you have chapter and verse for this claim?
Acts 00329 9:36 Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did. Acts 00332 9:39 Then Peter arose and went with them. When he was come, they brought him into the upper chamber: and all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas made, while she was with them.
You just go on forgive all the sins of other people you want
you care too.
I have enough problems keeping my own confessed up.
Mark 2.5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 “Why does this fellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
You are completely mis interpreting this passage, the religious people of Jesus’s day had a problem with Jesus saying He had the power to heal the power to forgive sin which was up to that time in the hands of God. And by the way you are a Priest too.
“And by the way you are a Priest too”
Yes and this is Priestly duty. I’ll let you handle
forgiving other folk’s sins.
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Nonsense! He was talking to the disciples. It applied to them specifically (just as in Math 18:18), and those they ordained as their sccessors.
For the record, there are two Greek words translated as in most New testaments: Hierus and Presbyteros.
“Hierus” referred to the priesthood of Jews (and elsewhere, of pagans). The Hierus offered sacrifices on behalf of the people. The role of the Hierus was fulfilled by Christ, inasmuch as he made one lasting, eternal sacrifice for the redemption of man. The Hierus must be ritually pure. In Exodus, it was God’s plan that all men be Hierus, but the Israelites sinned and God removed the role of Hierus from the people, and gave it to a chosen tribe. With the redemption of Christ, all are now chosen to the life of purity and authority once afforded only to the Hierus; Christ, the Hierarch, has established a “priesthood” of all peoples; we are each an Hierus. The sacrifice we offer is a contrite heart.
Yet, while each of us is an Hierus, there is still a role to be had for leaders of churches. Even Protestants recognize “pastors.” “Presbyteros,” however, is the word from which derive the word “priest” (as well as “preside,”). The presbyter presides over a congregation. He offers no sacrifice of his own, but he only re-presents the eternal sacrifice. Here, we must be careful of shifting word meanings. To “re-present” here means to present the same sacrifice again, not to perform a new sacrifice again. Originally, a presbyter may have typically been an episcopus (bishop). In fact, all bishops are also presbyters. But eventually, authority was given to individuals to preside over communities, even if they lacked certain apostolic authorities retained by bishops.
I wonder who is "shifting word meanings"? The Greek language used in the NT does not make the term "presbuteros" mean "priest". That NEW definition created in the late second century to back up the "shifting word meanings" put forth by influencial men, who were for the most part rhetorical philosophers, changed the offices that the Apostles said were to be held.
A pastor is one who takes care of a flock - Dorcas took care of her/the people who met at her home to hear the reading of Paul’s letters - it doesn’t say who read them ... in any event, there is no reference in the Bible to say women can’t be preachers or pastors ...
Book of Acts - and again, there is no mention in the Bible (NT) where it specifies who can or cannot preach the gospel ... there is no ban on women doing that ... there were no “institute of learning” to prepare someone for spreading the gospel - one heard the Word and spread it ....
11Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection.
(This was in a letter to the Corinthians - there were women who constantly were asking during a reading of Paul's letter or some other Apostle what was meant. No other church group was ever sent a letter to have their women be silent. It also does not say they can't spread the gospel.
12But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence.
(Again, this was >in< that specific gathering - the word “church” is the people, not a building as it is interpreted today.
This is still the atypical men domineering over women.
As with Adam and Eve as you mentioned - didn't matter who was first. They are always used to prove/show men's dominance over women. Men are typically scared when women enter traditional male institutions such as:
Airline Pilot (I'm a corporate pilot)
Surgeon
You get my drift. We're supposed to be school teachers and librarians ...
Respectfully,
Jane
I'm not sure that your interpretation of those verses holds; however, I'm not God's private secretary, nor Paul's either, so you could well be right.
However, the point was that there are Baptist churches that will allow a woman pastor, and those that don't.
And Baptists can then go to the church that suits them best. That's what I do. What's wrong with that?
And Baptists can then go to the church that suits them best. That’s what I do. What’s wrong with that?
I really didn’t intend to be so ‘argumentative’ .... it’s just that I had to fight my way through a man’s world to get where I am now ... and some of those guys constantly used the bible to ‘put me in my place’ - that’s why I get so defensive when men come out and say we can’t be doing this or that ....
In Love
Jane
>> That NEW definition created in the late second century to back up the “shifting word meanings” put forth by influencial men, who were for the most part rhetorical philosophers, changed the offices that the Apostles said were to be held. <<
What you mean to do is to debate whether the evolved authorities of presbyter are apostolically sanctioned, or consistent with biblical theology. When you talk about “new definitions” in the late 2nd century, you just sound silly.
>> A pastor is one who takes care of a flock - Dorcas took care of her/the people who met at her home to hear the reading of Paul’s letters - it doesn’t say who read them ... in any event, there is no reference in the Bible to say women can’t be preachers or pastors ...
<<
By your definition, Martha was Jesus’ pastor. While it is true that a pastor cares for his flock, it is critical to the definition to note HOW a pastor cares for his flock: through instruction, presiding over the service, and providing authority. Not to belittle those who perform such services (all the parts of the body are essential), but homemaking is not what anyone considers the role of a pastor.
OK I understand the male deposition for women to be “homemakers” guess that's Biblical somehow ....
If one read the Book of Acts and noticed how the believers acted (hence the title) it is a long way from what the institution of the “church” is today ... liturgy, and pomp, and this and that .... if one of those people showed up today at any “church” they'd be shown the door ... which begs the question too ... what would the “church” today do if Jesus showed up and people not knowing who He is ....
Respectfully,
Jane
Let me make clear that I do not believe that women’s roles should be limited to what they were in the first century. And I resent the suggestion that my characterization stems from a “male deposition.” (Or disposition, if that’s what you meant to write.) To describe St. Catherine of Siena (who commanded popes), St. Joan of Arc, St. Therese of Lisieux, Sts Felicity and Perpetua, St. Margaret (who slayed a dragon!), or St. Therese of Avlia as “homemakers” would be an outrage and patently false.
But you asserted that Dorcas was some sort of pastor. Beyond almsgiving, however, the only role we know Dorcas to have played was that of seamstress, a role within the tradition of “homemaker.” (I had used the term “homemaker,” however, because I had mistakenly thought she was also said to be a hostess of church services within her home.)
(Incidentally, I should note that I mention religious women because the context has been religious roles. I am also gunning whole-heartedly for Sarah Palin to be our next Vice President, as she is quite fit to be our commander in chief.)
(Furthermore, my mother was a Director of Religious Education, lest you think I subscribe to the notion that women shouldn’t have authority to teach in religious settings.)
>>I never asserted that Dorcas was some sort of pastor <<
Actually, to quote you exactly:
>> Dorcas was the first pastor <<
Misstating yourself is quite natural; for instance, I wrote “homemaker” when I should have written “seamstress.” But understand that people will respond to what you stated, not what you meant to state ;^).
>> that is your catholic view, <<
Heehee. Dem’s fightin’ words to kosta. ;^D
I really dislike (was going to use the word ‘hate’) what the church has become (church meaning the people) - it is a far cry from what I think Jesus envisioned ... but He knew what was going to transpire ... that's why I don't belong to what I call organized religion ... friends of mine meet and that's what the way it was originally .....
Women are to:
Titus 00020 2:4 That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children,
Bishops are to be of one wife not several, Pastors are to be Shepard's over God's flock. All uses of Shepard and Pastor are in the male verb in the NT.
I know that in these modern times women have come a long way in society but the church is not part of humanistic society.
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