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:
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....