I broadly agree with your bigger point in your post.
But clergy/laity are not separate levels of holiness. I am not holier than the rest of my congregation. There will always be, in my congregation, people who are more faithful servants, people who are more devoted in prayer, more learned in Scripture, more wise, more gifted, and so on, than I am.
Being clergy is to have a particular role; a "job" in the body. It's a role we take on for life, at God's calling, but it doesn't make us any holier or better than anyone else.
I don't know whether it's history repeating itself or just that basic human nature doesn't change, except by grace. But we have God's grace available to us, and so we also have hope.
Yes Sister, we do hope for grace but apparently the way of truth will be evil spoken of. So maybe God's grace would be a bit of soul searching by us , the Church. Those who are called by His Name. May women be pastors ? Can preachers be pastors ? Can administrators be pastors ? Can clergy be pastors ? I am not really sure ...I think the truth may have too large a cost ..particulary if someone has much invested ...and those who have the most invested are clergy. Jesus ran into the same thing. And who do you think it was who crucified the Truth ? Scholars.
I obviously know nothing about your walk, what your faith has cost you, how far along you are and what our Lord Jesus has shown you along the path of your journey ...you have seen different things . I can only speak about my walk and what I trust that the Lord has demonstrated to me ..both through His Word and examples of the faith of the early saints ....not to mention studying early church history with the various splits and schisms. I think there is a danger of ecumenicism and on the other side of the ditch of " Our group has it right " and thereby becoming self-centered, holier- than- thou. And No one seems to be able to say " Hey , I wonder where I am wrong ? "
There are countless examples of the "church" not being " harmless" nor true. William Laud on the High Church/ Armenian side and John Calvin / Knox and others on the Calvanistic Side. I am quite certain each side always think they are right and has the proof of scripture and a belief in Christ. Belief in Christ does not seem to keep us from error it appears. It does seem to me that we interpret scriptures through the lens of society and tradition, both of which can and do shift like the sand. We extol love but isn't truth a form of both love and mercy ? When John the Baptist told Herrod , It is not lawful for you to have your brother Philip's wife. Was that not a form of love ? Even when Christ said , You are of your father, the devil. Was that not a potential mercy ? ( Had they been able to hear and see how contrary their spirit was with the spirit of truth , they would have humbled themselves like Nicodemus . ) Peter was not offended when Jesus said " Get behind me satan , for thou savorist not the things that be of God but be of man . " Peter was aware that he had been duped and let his emotion get the best of him . I say these things not to " throw stones" but I hope to pursue Truth . Our Lord Jesus made it quite clear that the church needs to repent in revelation ..not what we would deem "the wicked" but the body of believers. I ask a lot of questions and have fellow shipped with followers from many backgrounds and cultures.
What is clergy ? Has history defined the role and is it the right definition ? Do deacons receive pay as well and why not . If I am also the body of Christ 24/7 as Christ body was always His body and I serve my master in all I do, should I receive pay ? (I ask this rhetorically... My payment is actually being in the body of Christ Jesus our Lord which is so far beyond what I actually deserve. ) I know the levites had no inheritance and was given a portion from the others tribes in the old covenant so they could minister to God but under the new covenant , we are all in the priesthood and none of us has an inheritance here in this world but we seek a city who's maker and builder is God.
Regarding history repeating itself, it is not lost on me that Christianity is a multi-trillion dollar business with book sales , choir robes , yard maintenance , worship music , worship leader salaries , restaurant revenues for the after church crowds ...particularly after Easter , Mothers Day , etc. and etc. Pastors salaries , secretary's salaries ..etc. One Trillion was spent this year on Christmas alone . Easter Sunday clothes , Sunday best clothes ..etc. I do not believe Christ Jesus could afford to be a Christian in today's society. I say these things not to " throw stones" but I hope to pursue Truth . Our Lord Jesus made it quite clear that the church needs to repent in revelation ..not what we would deem "the wicked" but the body of believers need to repent. have we added a lot of unnecessary things to " The time is coming and now is that true worshippers will worship in Spirit and Truth . Jesus ran into a bunch of worshipers doing a lot of things deemed necessary but not doing truth ( The sacrificial doves , lambs were necessary because of tradition but it had become a seriously big business. It makes you wonder who would be thrown out of the "temple" today ...although I know what we deem "churches " are just buildings.....very , very expensive buildings.
