Husband is 'Prophet, Priest & King'? It's Not In There!

[lesliej]

I am deeply concerned about the hold that this "Prophet, Priest & King" teaching has on the Church today, and especially the charismatic/spirit-filled movement. Everywhere - EVERYWHERE - I turn, I see wonderful, sincere ministers of the Gospel proclaiming that husbands are the "little Jesus", the "High Priest of the Home" and the "Prophet, Priest & King" of the household. And I stress that these are spirit-filled, highly respected ministers that I love & financially support. But this teaching is so unscriptural that it's ridiculous.

Christian literally means "little Christ" - so are only husbands Christians? Do husbands alone intercede for their families? Are they alone allowed behind the holy of holies? Of course not! I Peter 2:9 clearly states that we are all "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession." We must not try to stitch back together the veil that Jesus rent, keeping out the wives, and only allowing the husbands to draw near to God.

Our position in Christ - and therefore our authority - is not based on physical requirements. How could one gender possibly be more qualified to fill any of these positions - prophet, priest or king? The Bible makes it abundantly clear: there are no physical requirements for our status in Christ Jesus. In fact, Jesus Himself didn’t meet the “physical requirements”! Having clearly descended from the tribe of Judah and not Levi, His standing as High Priest was based wholly on the “indestructible life” that dwelt within Him (Hebrews 7:16). And yet we would go beyond Christ, now imposing physical criteria to meet a spiritual position? No, the standing of both husband and wife is also based solely on the “indestructible life” that dwells within them. Or is the servant now greater than the Master?

I beg you - men and women of God - please examine the scripture and put a stop to this dangerous teaching. It has become so ingrained in recent Church culture, that it will definitely take some backbone to stand against it. Be today's Martin Luther. Tomorrow's Christians will thank you.

 

[psalms 91]

Jesus also had Levite geneology as well but that is another topic. I agree with what you say and God does use women as well as men in these offices today. The only basis i can see for this belief is that the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is head of the church so in the home ideally the husband should be the spiritual leader as well but that is not possible in all homes and i have heard and seen very annointed women who preach, prophesy, and are led and used by God

 

[FireOfGod]

Yikes... I don't think that. I think that the husband is the head of the household. He provides for the wife and children and keeps things in order, and he keeps things in accordance to the word of God.

Well, that's what he should do anyway.

 

[chilifrankplate]

I am also in agreement with the current postings here. Although i would have to say that there are gender qualifications to be king. I would never tread on your right to be queen though.

 

[goy]

Yikes... I don't think that. I think that the husband is the head of the household. He provides for the wife and children and keeps things in order, and he keeps things in accordance to the word of God.

Well, that's what he should do anyway.

Also, I think God holds the husband responsible and asks him to account, whenever things go wrong in the family.

 

[lesliej]

Bill, I love that scripture in Ephesians! Let's take a look at it for a moment. Ephesians 5:21 begins this whole passage:“And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”. (emphasis added) So, the very first thing we’re told is to submit to one another in the fear of Christ. And then Paul goes on to demonstrate the Christ/Church relationship as our model for Christian marriage, just as you said. But we sometimes forget just what Christ - as head of the Church, Savior of the Body - did for us:


Jesus:
Raised from the dead and seated at the
right hand of the Father in heaven .
(Ephesians 1:20)

Church:
When we were dead in our trespasses and
sins, God raised us up with Jesus, and
seated us with Him in heavenly places!
(Ephesians 2:5, 6)

Jesus:
Holy, harmless, undefiled (Heb.7:26)

Church:
Made glorious, holy and blameless.
(Eph.5:27)

Jesus:
Far above all rule and authority, power
and dominion. All things put in
subjection under His feet. (Eph.1:21, 22)

Church:
Given the keys to the Kingdom.
Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven,
whatever we loose on earth is loosed in
heaven! And if two agree on earth
touching anything, it shall be done for
them! (Matthew 18:18, 19)

Jesus:
Knew that His Father was always
attentive to His prayers, and whatever
He asked for was accomplished.
(John 11:41, 42)

Church:
Whatever we ask for, in the name of
Jesus, the Father has promised to give.
(John 16:23)

Position, righteousness, power and prayer - what Jesus has earned, the Church has been given! And because of this we have been commanded to do the works of Christ. Jesus went about healing all manner of sickness and disease. The Church is ordered to do the same. Jesus preached. The Church preaches. Jesus cast out devils. The Church is to cast out devils. Jesus made disciples. The Church’s great commission is to go and make disciples all mankind. “The Apostle John summed it up perfectly: As Jesus is, so “are we in this world!” (1 John 4:17) We must not forget that Jesus has always had myriads and myriads of angels to serve Him. What He longed for was a Bride - a companion, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone – one who could walk beside Him in righteousness, holiness and equality. So He that “knew no sin” became sin “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Lifting us up, placing us in a position of authority and sway cost Jesus everything. But because of His sacrificial love, we are now qualified to sit with Him in heavenly places and we, as well, are ministered to by angels. (Hebrews 1:14)

Jesus came to put us back in right-standing with God. From a hopelessly fallen, sin-shackled creature to "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus", "joint-heirs" & "seated with Him in heavenly places". What a transformation! And then Paul says to husbands, 'You are to do for your wives what Christ did for you!' That is absolutely amazing! Because at this time, women were considered little more than property. And in Rome, infant girls were routinely left outside by their parents to die from exposure. But here the Holy Spirit is telling husbands, 'Do for your wives what Christ did for the Church!'

And, unless we forget, all of this inequality was a result of the fall anyway. Before the fall, Eve stood sid-by-side with her husband. In Genesis 1:28 we plainly see that God gave "them" dominion over the garden and told "them" to reign and rule. And then Adam fell. And God said that he could now expect a life of sweat, toil and frustration and Eve was told that Adam would rule over her. How the mighty had fallen! But Christ became a curse so that every curse could be broken! (Galatians 3:13)

 

[psalms 91]

Bill, I love that scripture in Ephesians! Let's take a look at it for a moment. Ephesians 5:21 begins this whole passage:“And be subject to one another in the fear of Christ, wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless”. (emphasis added) So, the very first thing we’re told is to submit to one another in the fear of Christ. And then Paul goes on to demonstrate the Christ/Church relationship as our model for Christian marriage, just as you said. But we sometimes forget just what Christ - as head of the Church, Savior of the Body - did for us:


Jesus:
Raised from the dead and seated at the
right hand of the Father in heaven .
(Ephesians 1:20)

Church:
When we were dead in our trespasses and
sins, God raised us up with Jesus, and
seated us with Him in heavenly places!
(Ephesians 2:5, 6)

Jesus:
Holy, harmless, undefiled (Heb.7:26)

Church:
Made glorious, holy and blameless.
(Eph.5:27)

Jesus:
Far above all rule and authority, power
and dominion. All things put in
subjection under His feet. (Eph.1:21, 22)

Church:
Given the keys to the Kingdom.
Whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven,
whatever we loose on earth is loosed in
heaven! And if two agree on earth
touching anything, it shall be done for
them! (Matthew 18:18, 19)

Jesus:
Knew that His Father was always
attentive to His prayers, and whatever
He asked for was accomplished.
(John 11:41, 42)

Church:
Whatever we ask for, in the name of
Jesus, the Father has promised to give.
(John 16:23)

Position, righteousness, power and prayer - what Jesus has earned, the Church has been given! And because of this we have been commanded to do the works of Christ. Jesus went about healing all manner of sickness and disease. The Church is ordered to do the same. Jesus preached. The Church preaches. Jesus cast out devils. The Church is to cast out devils. Jesus made disciples. The Church’s great commission is to go and make disciples all mankind. “The Apostle John summed it up perfectly: As Jesus is, so “are we in this world!” (1 John 4:17) We must not forget that Jesus has always had myriads and myriads of angels to serve Him. What He longed for was a Bride - a companion, flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone – one who could walk beside Him in righteousness, holiness and equality. So He that “knew no sin” became sin “that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Lifting us up, placing us in a position of authority and sway cost Jesus everything. But because of His sacrificial love, we are now qualified to sit with Him in heavenly places and we, as well, are ministered to by angels. (Hebrews 1:14)

Jesus came to put us back in right-standing with God. From a hopelessly fallen, sin-shackled creature to "the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus", "joint-heirs" & "seated with Him in heavenly places". What a transformation! And then Paul says to husbands, 'You are to do for your wives what Christ did for you!' That is absolutely amazing! Because at this time, women were considered little more than property. And in Rome, infant girls were routinely left outside by their parents to die from exposure. But here the Holy Spirit is telling husbands, 'Do for your wives what Christ did for the Church!'

And, unless we forget, all of this inequality was a result of the fall anyway. Before the fall, Eve stood sid-by-side with her husband. In Genesis 1:28 we plainly see that God gave "them" dominion over the garden and told "them" to reign and rule. And then Adam fell. And God said that he could now expect a life of sweat, toil and frustration and Eve was told that Adam would rule over her. How the mighty had fallen! But Christ became a curse so that every curse could be broken! (Galatians 3:13)

amen, you are very gifted in presenting this issue and God has annointed you. Yes, ideally we are as husbands to do spiritual battle and be the spiritual leader in the house and the wife should follow us but i believe that Paul meant a Godly man whose head was Christ and that he never meant for a woman to submit herself to a godless heathen, if possible live peaceably and if not possible depart or let the unbeliever depart. The other thing that stood out to me is go ye forth into all the world because this is what has me so excited and what i have been saying here for a long time, HEALING IS FOR TODAY! DELIVERANCE IS FOR TODAY! being set free is for today! RAISING PEOPLE FROM THE DEAD IS FOR TODAY! Let us once again go forth and preach the Word with the power thereof being demonstrated. God is getting a remnant ready to do just that in the coming times and it is almost at hand. We are now in a period of judgement on the church and preperation to see who will give up all and follow Him and be obedient. You have mnade me dwell on this once again not that it is ever very far from my mind but I AM EXCITED!

 

[SharonL]

The Bible says we are all PRiests and KIngs (no gender in the Spirit) - anointed to do God's work.One thing we have to keep in mind is in the culture of the 1600 years the Bible was being written did not speak of women very much.

The Pastor I follow the most is a Woman of God - truely anointed in all the gifts of the Spirit. What is misleading people who do not understand the Spirit Filled Walk - the gifts are manifested because of the Spirit within us, which makes some people think we think we are greater than we are - but we must remember - it is not us - it is the Spirit within us.

God moves equally among his children - and yes the man is the head of the house, but the Bible does not say the woman cannot move along side of him moving in the gifts of the Spirit. If God did not intend for the women to be anointed, he would not give them the power to work in the gifts. Just follow the leading of the Spirit and surprise all of them that say it is not happening. We know it is.

 

[Questioning Christian]

The husband IS the prophet, priest, and king. NO ... it's ALL "in there".
And his wife is the prophetess, the priestess, and the queen.

 

[FireOfGod]

The husband IS the prophet, priest, and king. NO ... it's ALL "in there".
And his wife is the prophetess, the priestess, and the queen.

Where's some Scriptuuuuuure? Yeah I know I don't usually ask for it... But I'm curious... If you have some.

 

[Questioning Christian]

When someone asks for scripture on that statement, it makes me wonder if they have ever really read their Bible and understand the place of the believer.

He has made us kings and priests unto our God - Revelation 1:6

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people - I Peter 2:9 ; royal=kings; priesthood=priests

 

[FireOfGod]

When someone asks for scripture on that statement, it makes me wonder if they have ever really read their Bible and understand the place of the believer.

He has made us kings and priests unto our God - Revelation 1:6

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar
people - I Peter 2:9 ; royal=kings; priesthood=priests

Hey now... No need to accuse me for not reading my Bible for not memorizing one scripture.

Thank you. That's all I asked of you. I'm not looking for a debate about it!

 

[Questioning Christian]

I didn't mean it, to start a fight ... I just meant that I get on these Christian forums, and I make statements that are fundamental to our Bible knowledge, and as soon as I make a basic statement, someone jumps on it and says, "OK, book, chapter, and verse" when I said something that has to do with the ABC's, such as "God does miracles".

It wasn't meant as an insult, but I just question the questions.

 

[Questioning Christian]

I just like to challenge the challenges. For instance, when atheists try to disprove God to me, I will make a statement, such as, "How do you disprove a God who does not exist?", or else when they ask me how I can believe in God, I don't debate it ... I just say, "Well, why don't you tell me how you woke up this morning to see this day?"

 

[FireOfGod]

I didn't mean it, to start a fight ... I just meant that I get on these Christian forums, and I make statements that are fundamental to our Bible knowledge, and as soon as I make a basic statement, someone jumps on it and says, "OK, book, chapter, and verse" when I said something that has to do with the ABC's, such as "God does miracles".

It wasn't meant as an insult, but I just question the questions.

No problem bro!! I was just wondering which verse it was. I didn't mean to give you a blood pressure spike of thinking I was asking for a "Bible battle".

We're cool... No worries.

 

[FireOfGod]

I just like to challenge the challenges. For instance, when atheists try to disprove God to me, I will make a statement, such as, "How do you disprove a God who does not exist?", or else when they ask me how I can believe in God, I don't debate it ... I just say, "Well, why don't you tell me how you woke up this morning to see this day?"

Haha! I'm like that too, actually! And somehow, I can make a very productive conversation, and make people think really hard about where they're at, just by asking simple questions. It's odd, but it works!

 

[Questioning Christian]

The next time you talk to an atheist, don't interrupt them ... let them talk and then ask if they're done disproving God ... then say, "I have one statement, and that is all."

Then tell them, that if God does not exist, you cannot disprove Him.

 

[FireOfGod]

Haha... That's a good idea really. Why waste time trying to prove something that doesn't exist??

 

[Simon_Templar]

Leslie,

I have no doubt that the things you are talking about "prophet, priest, and King" have probably been blown out of proportion by many speakers. That is always the way popular movements go. They take a catch phrase, like the one above, and then run with it and soon it has lost whatever elements of truth made it worthwhile in the first place and become a mindless mantra.

However, there is some biblical truth on the issue at hand. Paul says (as you addressed earlier) that Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church.. and wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord etc.. there are a few refrences to this idea in which the husband is compared to the role of Christ and the wife is compared to the role of th church. This is given in a specific context and it doesn't at all deny that women are as much in christ, and "little christs" as men.
However, in its proper context, it is true. We as humans are in the precarious position of having to be in that relationship with the other person not being perfect... whereas Jesus, of course, is perfect. So Jesus never fails the church... but your husband may fail you. The hard part is that your husband's failure doesn't let you out of obedience to the role that God established.. just like a wife's failure doesn't exempt her husband from obedience to the role that God has given him.

Also, you are absolutely right when you point out the things that Christ has done for the church. The role of the husband is to sacrifice himself for his wife, as christ did for the church. That means his desire is to uplift her, to see her attain what God has for her, to make her a partner in whatever Glory and joy God gives to him. And whats more to do all that at whatever cost to himself. Knowing men... thats pretty hard to find.
BUT, on the other side, you guys have a role to play as well... the church submits to christ totaly. His desires become its desires. His will becomes its will. His life becomes its life... The church does not demand equality, the church does not demand its say in Christ's decisions... Jesus raises the church to his side out of love, but were the church to demand such a thing it would be sinful pride. It isn't wrong to desire that relationship... thats what the book Song of Solomon is all about. Desiring is not demanding however.

Christ does not put the church down, or ignore the church, or put the church "in its place".. but neither does the church demand its say, or demand to be placed on equal footing.

We always run into problems with this relationship because we're so very imperfect (some more than others ) and we mess up.. we fall short on both sides. But the more concerned with how the other side is living up to their end of the bargain.. the more likely you are to not live up to yours.

Thats my opinion anyway

 

[habeas]

Wives submit to their husbands. If at a certain point in one's marriage, a husband (who had previously not heeded his wife to his detriment) suddenly begins to approach his wife regarding every important decision he is about to make and says, "Tell me what to do." "I will do whatever you tell me to do."

Is it submissive for a wife to order her husband around, when the husband is convinced his wife is the more spiritual of the two (which may or may not be true)? What if this female is not an "Alpha female," and occasionally would like her husband to speak with authority and have more answers?

What if the female does seem to have more revelation and spiritual insight/discernment with a proven track record to back it up? Should a wife, being submissive to her husband, take on the burden of making all the important life decisions? Should she be the the counselor, prayer warrior, encourager, defender, and spiritual advisor to her husband? Is this a fair burden to put on the wife, or an unscriptural twisted relationship?

How does a wife who desires to be submissive and believes the husband should take the role as head of the household /spiritual leader, respond? Should she rebuke her husband and tell him to develop greater insight and discernment so he can lead? What if the husband consistently just can't immediately "see" what the Lord shows his wife, and both of them know it, but once the wife speaks, the husband "sees" the issues from a spiritual perspective and is grateful. Surely Paul did not envision this type of relationship?

Man, I have flubbed up some stuff too like a bimbo, so much for discerment in the area of finances. I don't have all the answers or even most of them -- not even close!. I just realized something I misled my husband into doing by reading another thread. Men, please step up to the plate and be leaders in your households!