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Tuesday, November 26, 2013

The Priesthood of Believers

A comment by Bart Barber on SBC Voices is instructive regarding the priesthood of believers versus the priesthood of the believer.
“Priesthood of THE believer” is utterly and entirely absent from the Bible. Every biblical reference to the priesthood of all believers is plural, not singular.
1 Peter 2:5 “you [plural…"y'all"] also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”1 Peter 2:9 “But you [plural…"y'all"] are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”Revelation 5:10 “You have made them [the believers, in plural, considered collectively] to be a kingdom and priests to our God.”
As Bart notes, the priesthood of THE believer has been used to support not being accountable to other believers, having a right of private interpretation of scripture which cannot be challenged, and there being no authority in the church. Moderate to liberal Baptists have used this as a sword to assault biblical inerrancy.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I just had a Primitive Baptist minister tell me an outright lie. It started about 3 and a half weeks ago, when I contacted him about a certain matter. He said he would definitely get back with me "within a week", one way or another, to tell me what he found out. Via email or phone. Still haven't heard from him. This is not the first time I have had similar experiences. Only difference being a promise within a timeframe this time. Evidently, all is not well within the kingdom. As my granny used to say.......... "A preacher is just human like anyone else." All too human unfortunately.

I think about the upcoming Thanksgiving season, and all that many conservative, evangelical Christians have to be thankful for. Thankful for NFL football, college football, last round of high school football, running over each other in stores and camping out in tents over what they call "Black Friday Madness," over-indulging in food and drink, frivolity,trying to act like some goofball in East Louisiana who somehow became a star over a stupid duck call. Yes, all is well in the kingdom here in 2013.

We have a lot more in store, however. As this generation is now in full control of running the country, we haven't seen anything yet. Not too many of that "greatest generation" left. The ones who still believed that pride, honor, and other things mattered most. Of course much has been made of the 50th anniversary of the Kennedy assassination. There were of course many opinions of Jack Kennedy. One thing he said though, can cause us all to stop and ponder within. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country." Sadly, there is an element of people today, that have prevented me from doing so much that I would be honored to do.