I was reading an interesting article in a pdf and wanted to share it here for comment. Coming from the Catholic Church, I can see his point.
I will post his points and then ask a question, specifically of what I highlighted in bold:
Quote:
The early Church understood that the Levitical priesthood was dead. If there was any doubt, God resolved it with the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD just as Jesus prophesied. However, as time moved on and the teachings of the early Church were corrupted the idea of a Levitical style priesthood was introduced into the Church during the time of Constantine. While patterned after the Roman ruling hierarchy, elements of Levitical procedure and heathen concepts were added to what was to become the Roman Catholic priest system. The people of God were divided into two groups—those who were priests and those who were not. This was a step backward to the Law and the Scriptures tell us that grace becomes ineffective to those under the Law (Galatians 5:4), which is why so much abuse of God's people has occurred under the Catholic priest system.
The Protestant Reformation sought to correct the wrongs of the Catholic system and restore Truth that had been lost to those walking under the Catholic legal system. The goal of the Reformation was not to eliminate the priests but to eliminate the laity because we are all priests to our God. The desired result was only partially achieved. The Protestant Reformation established our modern Pastoral model of leadership, which is actually a slightly modified priest hierarchy of Roman Catholic origin. Although different titles are used, in functional application our pastor system is styled like the Levitical system with the “pastors” doing the praying, the teaching, the care of the “house”, and the other priestly functions. With the Catholics the people of God are divided into priests or not priests; whereas, with the Protestants the people are divided into clergy or not clergy. We need to continue the Reformation by eliminating the Levitical style of priest and restoring the Melchizedek style of priest.
The Scriptures make it clear that there are no priest mediators anymore. There is one and only one mediator. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.
(1 Timothy 2:5-6 NASB)
http://www.lifestreamteaching.com/Pr...%20Priests.pdf
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I started out reading this file first, for anyone interested.
I agree with his view that the pastor is styling himself after a priest in the Catholic Church, after the Levitical Priesthood. It might just be me, but it still feels, in many ways, like the Catholic Church.
However, I also find that the Bible does delegate specific functions for the church, i.e., apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers,
Ephesians 4:11-12.
I am for these offices as they are for the perfecting of the saints. The church would be weak without being perfected.
I guess I just wonder how a pastor could function and not style himself as the writer of the article describes as " doing the praying, the teaching, the care of the “house”, and the other priestly functions."
I have watched for over 30 years and these various congregations, seem to be largely paralyzed unless the leadership instructions them on how to respond. That doesn't mean there hasn't been free worship, gifts in operation. It is just that overall, it seems people allow him to do almost all of the thinking for them.
This isn't a bashing of any specific organization as I have seen that to be true in other's organizations - Baptist, etc.
I am sure the simple answer is in the knowledge of the leadership, but if I had to lead, I am not sure I would do anything different.
Just rambling after reading a comment that stuck a chord....