The office of the priest

[sunlover1]

Sunlover has made some really valuable points on the Priesthood of All Believers.

To me this does not malign the value of ordained clergy -- a church needs everything it can get, to most effectively do the Lord's work as He gives it to them. Teaching, presiding at worship, and financial administration and practical one-on-one evangelism are all roles -- that we may have people set apart for some of those roles fits with I Cor. 12.

Certainly He has given each of us different skills and gifts.
All to His glory.

I agree with this entirely. The question is, in military terms, what is to be our rally point today?

Did you mean physically?
I'd say that we begin by getting into our huddles on Sat or Sun or
whichever day your tribe chooses to huddle, for the equipping
of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
then going out and getting our uniforms dirty.
Obviously we dont save that one day alone for worship and edification
especially if we're going into combat.
Each of us has our circle of influence that God has ordained for us
to touch, be it the workplace or the family etc. But we can always
be fighting in the heavenlies for our local governments, schools, etc.

That's how I understand it anyhow.

But then, it's easy to say it.
Now I need to put my money where my mouth is.

 

[MamaZ]

We rally at the cross in rememberance of Him.. Knowing that it is He who empowers us to walk His way and be witnesses to the world.

 

[Albion]

Sunlover has made some really valuable points on the Priesthood of All Believers.

To me this does not malign the value of ordained clergy -- a church needs everything it can get, to most effectively do the Lord's work as He gives it to them. Teaching, presiding at worship, and financial administration and practical one-on-one evangelism are all roles -- that we may have people set apart for some of those roles fits with I Cor. 12.

I agree...and I've come belatedly to realize that one aspect of this issue that we should have cleared up earlier is that the word, priest, is used in several different senses. The priesthood of all believers refers to one thing, the OT Hebrew priests are another, and the Christian ministers we find in the NT who have no direct connection to them BUT WHICH WE HAVE LATER COME TO CALL "priests" are another.

As most of us know, the word is actually presbyter, not priest. That, however, was corrupted over time in common talk into "priest." When we say it (in preference to presbyter or minister) we still mean the same thing. And we are not likening it to Jesus' high priesthood, in case that gets mixed up in the conversation as well.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

I agree...and I've come belatedly to realize that one aspect of this issue that we should have cleared up earlier is that the word, priest, is used in several different senses. The priesthood of all believers refers to one thing, the OT Hebrew priests are another, and the Christian ministers we find in the NT who have no direct connection to them BUT WHICH WE HAVE LATER COME TO CALL "priests" are another.

As most of us know, the word is actually presbyter, not priest. That, however, was corrupted over time in common talk into "priest." When we say it (in preference to presbyter or minister) we still mean the same thing. And we are not likening it to Jesus' high priesthood, in case that gets mixed up in the conversation as well.

QFT!

The office of laity can baptize if needed, they are the Priesthood of all believers!

This is very important for what does it mean?

It means that a Christian trusts your answer to the Lords call. Any Christian who is of the laity can bring you into the family. A Presbyter with proper training or a Bishop can complete the further tasks later as needed. (Chrismation and tonsuring where you are formally given your Christian name)

What other task do the laity fill?

Preacher

Teacher

Office managment

etc. etc.

This is the office of Priesthood of all believers.

I am exercising my office just by being here and speaking as a Christian.

Forgive me...

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

We rally at the cross in rememberance of Him.. Knowing that it is He who empowers us to walk His way and be witnesses to the world.

QFT!



This I agree with... but we must realize we are going to arrive together and at the same time, and from all different directions and from different points of progression towards the Lord.

Only one thing is truely important. That we continue toward Him.

The direction we choose will be our eternal direction.

Forgive me...

 

[Standing Up]

I agree...and I've come belatedly to realize that one aspect of this issue that we should have cleared up earlier is that the word, priest, is used in several different senses. The priesthood of all believers refers to one thing, the OT Hebrew priests are another, and the Christian ministers we find in the NT who have no direct connection to them BUT WHICH WE HAVE LATER COME TO CALL "priests" are another.

As most of us know, the word is actually presbyter, not priest. That, however, was corrupted over time in common talk into "priest." When we say it (in preference to presbyter or minister) we still mean the same thing. And we are not likening it to Jesus' high priesthood, in case that gets mixed up in the conversation as well.

Right, see post #6. We're now at #146.

You know, if God confused language to stop Babel, if God wants unity now, then it might behoove us to understand this (clarify the definitions now).

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Ah... what a blessing that would be. To have perfect understanding of language.

Forgive me...

 

[E.C.]

What you have described is a system where everyone is a General and nobody is a Soldier. That Army is destined to eternal argument as to which General is in Charge and will lose the battle and be overrun while sitting in their tents arguing about who is in charge.

Seems to be a pretty accurate description of modern Christianity.

American Protestantism at least.

It is like I've said before, we're all baseball players, but not everyone is Babe Ruth.

I agree with this entirely. The question is, in military terms, what is to be our rally point today?

Christ

Or if one looks for some earthly figure I would say a bishop or emperor. Then again I'm a bit of a monarchist

I agree...and I've come belatedly to realize that one aspect of this issue that we should have cleared up earlier is that the word, priest, is used in several different senses. The priesthood of all believers refers to one thing, the OT Hebrew priests are another, and the Christian ministers we find in the NT who have no direct connection to them BUT WHICH WE HAVE LATER COME TO CALL "priests" are another.

As most of us know, the word is actually presbyter, not priest. That, however, was corrupted over time in common talk into "priest." When we say it (in preference to presbyter or minister) we still mean the same thing. And we are not likening it to Jesus' high priesthood, in case that gets mixed up in the conversation as well.

QFT

 

[Giver]

American Protestantism at least.

It is like I've said before, we're all baseball players, but not everyone is Babe Ruth.



Christ

Or if one looks for some earthly figure I would say a bishop or emperor. Then again I'm a bit of a monarchist


QFT

There is no Babe Ruth in God’s Church other than Jesus. We are all brothers. The Holy Spirit gives us different gifts to help the whole.


(Matthew 23:8-9) “You, however must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.”

 

[E.C.]

We're all evangelists, but not everyone is St. Paul.

 

[Giver]

We're all evangelists, but not everyone is St. Paul.

Paul was given the gift of being an apostle. That did not make him perfect. That did not make him any better then any one else. Paul had faults along with the gifts of the Holy Spirit. None of those gifts were given to Paul because Paul was special. The only glory in Paul was God. The giver of Paul’s gifts get all the glory.

 

[E.C.]

Yet another point has been missed.

Ah well.

 

[Giver]

Yet another point has been missed.

Ah well.

When one gets old we overlook a lot of things.

 

[E.C.]

When one gets old we overlook a lot of things.

It is not just the old, the young and in college as well!

 

[Standing Up]

Ah... what a blessing that would be. To have perfect understanding of language.

Forgive me...

QFT

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

QFT

Perhaps we should pray for that... "in his name"!

Forgive me...

 

[Giver]

It is not just the old, the young and in college as well!

I believe some people believe posting and sparing about religion/God is just a one up man ship game. I hope that some how those people start to realize that what they are doing is the most important game that will ever be played by them.

There were cultures that had games where the losers were killed. That is the game we all are playing. It is the most serious subject any person will ever take.

 

[E.C.]

I believe some people believe posting and sparing about religion/God is just a one up man ship game. I hope that some how those people start to realize that what they are doing is the most important game that will ever be played by them.

There were cultures that had games where the losers were killed. That is the game we all are playing. It is the most serious subject any person will ever take.

Perhaps. Perhaps some are here to attempt to learn as well or to bolster their own faith. In the end, only God knows

Okay, back on topic.