Do you believe priests/pastors are closer to God?

1

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

Designed for a specific purpose - yes. Closer to God as a result - no. Let us remember on that last day, those who exalted themselves will be humbled, and those who remained humbled will be exalted.

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

Nope.

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

No. They are ordinary human beings just like us. They have the same challenges and struggles that we have. We are all equal in the sight of God, because we all drink of the same Spirit and worship the same Lord. The difference is that an elder or pastor is a more mature believer who has been given a role to be in prayer for those whom he has responsibility for, and the ministry of the Word of God to them.

If a pastor or priest has the attitude that he is better than the common herd, then he is consumed with pride and is walking in the flesh and not the Spirit.

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

But nonetheless, we need to show respect to the priests and pastors.

YES

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

No one is any ever any closer or further away from God ever...

The only that changes is us, and how we feel/sense/think of His presence, etc...

In which people who are in things of God more often, feel/sense/think of more profoundly a lot of time...

God Bless!

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

I believe in the priesthood of every believer. so the answer is "yes"

Do you believe priests/pastors are closer to God?

Click to expand...

Closer than who?
Some might be; if so it will be because they have, and maintain, a close relationship with him. But having a dog collar does not automatically mean they are super close to God, or super holy.

No. Nor do I believe every pastor or priest was called by God.

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

No, but if priests are not careful and start to see themself bigger than others, then they will be small in the eyes of God. That goes for everybody... you, me, priests, bishops and also the pope.

following

When it comes to our prayer lives and personal relationship with God, I don't believe that our church leaders are necessarily 'closer to God' than the laity. However, I do believe in apostolic succession and that authority was passed on from bishop to bishop through the laying on of hands. Priests also have authority to perform sacramental functions through their ordination by bishops.

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

Mark 10
Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

Mark 10
Calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them, “You know that those who are recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them; and their great men exercise authority over them. 43 But it is not this way among you, but whoever wishes to become great among you shall be your servant; 44 and whoever wishes to be first among you shall be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

In my experience, no. Preachers are rarely humble before God. Some are though.

JackRT said:

Pastor/priests are certainly held to high expectations but history has shown that they are just as fallible as any other human being.

Click to expand...

But are those expectations the same as the standards of the Bible? God's leaders are our "examples", by the way > 1 Peter 5:3. So, whatever is rightly expected of a leader is also our example of all which is expected of us! Jesus Himself is our example >

"And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." (Ephesians 5:2)

So, this is included in the meaning of how a qualified minster is our example.

1 Timothy 3:1-10 shows us what our Apostle Paul says are qualifications for a man to be just considered for ordination to "take care of the church of God". These are the minimum.

What I see here is a pastoral candidate needs to be a man who has learned first how to rule his own home. And, of course, this has been with the help of his wife. So, in a way, I would say, his godly companion is part of his qualifications, plus part of his family example for the people God has trusted to his care. He has become an example of how to rule in our Father's family caring and sharing way, learning this at home, first, so now he can rule God's people > Hebrews 13:17 > in our Father's personal and caring and sharing and therefore family way.

But . . . first . . . is how he has become "blameless" > meaning how God's correction and maturing him as a Christian man has changed his character, so he is "blameless" the way God's love is blameless. So, he is a mature person in Jesus, possibly after growing in Christ for decades while learning how to love and relate with his wife and bring up their children . . . so now they can minister this, feeding their family love example to God's people >

"nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." (1 Peter 5:3)

So . . . @David Cabrera > if such a qualified person is closer to God - - - even so, they are our example of how God expects us also to become and live and love as His family.

However, I think we can see how a number of people have taken shortcuts, not making sure pastoral candidates meet God's standards. The shortcut production products are possibly not closer to God, because they have not matured in "faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6), but have possibly gotten a lot of information and training. But, for ordained ones who are not mature in Christ, there can be the senior mature men and ladies sitting at the back of the church, who can help and mentor the young not deeply qualified ones who minister.

The truly qualified pastors, then, might not be the ones ordained and up front. So, it can be good to find out who are the mentors of whoever is in the pulpit, and feed on their example. We are not experts unless we become examples, I would say

David Cabrera said:

Just curious about what you believe.

Click to expand...

Closeness to God has absolutely nothing to do with being a pastor or priest, and elevating them to any special closeness is idolatry.

This is a broad question looking for a specific answer. Because each pastor/priest has a different heart, so one is not the same as another.

Do I believe that a pastor/priest is closer to God?

The answer is, since they lead people that want to seek God, they SHOULD be, but usually arent.

God isnt about scholarly knowledge, but of relationship to Him. Being a relationship, being closer to God is an issue of the heart, not an issue of position or biblical knowledge.

The position should be respected, but it shouldnt be above questioning, especially if anything the one in that position says, does not line up with scripture.