Priesthood of the Believer

[Crabtownboy]

I am creating a subject index for the back issues of the Journal of European Baptist Studies and would like your opinion on the following quotation:

Too many people in the church behave as though they believe not in the priesthood of all believers, but in the papacy of all pastors. There are too many gurus, there are too many autocrats who lay down the law in the local church in defiance of the teachings of Jesus. The great need amongst Christian leaders is less autocracy and more affection and gentleness (John Stodd)

Vol. 1, Issue 1, p12

 

[Jarthur001]

I am creating a subject index for the back issues of the Journal of European Baptist Studies and would like your opinion on the following quotation:



Vol. 1, Issue 1, p12

It sounds like he is talking about what many call today as the Messiah Complex. The church pastor takes or the complex, thinking he is the one that keeps others from sinning and lays down the law for others to follow. His group will never do any thing unless they ask Him 1st. This includes even things such as buying a car and going on vacation.

 

[skypair]

Crabtownboy,

Too many people in the church behave as though they believe not in the priesthood of all believers, but in the papacy of all pastors.

This is an example of church politics -- same as Paul described in 1Cor 1:12. The pastor does have the responsibility of a "shepherd" but only, like Moses, to lead where scripture takes him. When he goes beyond that to "make law" of the particular "doctines of men" -- as did apparently Cephas, Apollos, etc. -- these pastors err because the "Great Shepherd" is Christ, not man.

And we quite easily see this in the development of Christianity in the "traditions" of Catholicism, in the systematic theology of the Reformers, in extrabiblical writs such as The Book of Mormon, etal. The OT similarly saw the imposition of the Talmud on God's people. IMO, it is often man's effort to make God's kingdom (hence this "political" characterization of mine) more visible and relevant to daily life -- which it should be -- but in ways that are beyond the bounds of what scripture calls for. This puts it under the heading of "legalism" -- "You WILL practice your faith like this!" sorta thing.

skypair

 

[Rippon]

And we quite easily see this in the development of Christianity in the "traditions" of Catholicism, in the systematic theology of the Reformers, in extrabiblical writs such as The Book of Mormon, etal. The OT similarly saw the imposition of the Talmud on God's people.

SP, you are going to be called on these unwarranted throw-away lines of yours. ( And they indeed need to be thrown away!)

The so-called Systematic Theology of the Reformers should in no way be compared with the heresies of the RCC, The LDS etc. You would be a whole lot closer to biblical truth if you would have one tenth of the wisdom and knowledge of the Reformers.

 

[TCGreek]

SP, you are going to be called on these unwarranted throw-away lines of yours. ( And they indeed need to be thrown away!)

The so-called Systematic Theology of the Reformers should in no way be compared with the heresies of the RCC, The LDS etc. You would be a whole lot closer to biblical truth if you would have one tenth of the wisdom and knowledge of the Reformers.

Rippon, Skypair is at it again. He failed miserably at trying to be subtle. Well, I'm invoking the figurative here.

 

[skypair]

SP, you are going to be called on these unwarranted throw-away lines of yours. ( And they indeed need to be thrown away!)

The so-called Systematic Theology of the Reformers should in no way be compared with the heresies of the RCC, The LDS etc. You would be a whole lot closer to biblical truth if you would have one tenth of the wisdom and knowledge of the Reformers.

Perhaps that was a little harsh. But seeing as how there was politics in the churches they began in Geneva and Germany, I think you will see my point that in some ways the theology thought to govern the actions of their people.

skypair

 

[JustChristian]

SP, you are going to be called on these unwarranted throw-away lines of yours. ( And they indeed need to be thrown away!)

The so-called Systematic Theology of the Reformers should in no way be compared with the heresies of the RCC, The LDS etc. You would be a whole lot closer to biblical truth if you would have one tenth of the wisdom and knowledge of the Reformers.

In my view, we get into difficulty when a great deal of emphasis is placed on learned treatises and detailed theological positions. Jesus said:

Luk 18:15 And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when [his] disciples saw [it], they rebuked them.
Luk 18:16 But Jesus called them [unto him], and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luk 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

The gospel message is quite simple, simple enough for a child to understand.