When I was
still a member of the Roman Catholic Church I recognized two distinct
categories of people and these were the priests and the laymen. The priest was
a custodian of the Word of God and even absolved the Papists of their sins.
When I was still among the Papists I did not question the hierarchical
religious priesthood since I never knew much about the Bible in the first
place. Later on when I started studying the Word of God I discovered that a
special class of priests was not mentioned in the New Testament. The priests
are mentioned as a special category separate from the rest of the congregation
only in the Old Testament. The Priests were chosen from the tribe of Levi and
were the direct descendants of Aaron (Exodus 29:29). The Priests of the Old
Testament had various duties including offering sacrifices, keeping the light
burning in the temple, blowing the war trumpets, mediating cases and instructing
the people in the law. The one scripture that summarizes their main duty states
that, "For every high priest taken
from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may
offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins" (Hebrews 5:1). This shows us
that since men could not reach God directly in the Old Testament they had to
pass through the priest who would offer a sacrifice that would cover the sins
of the transgressors.
Throughout
the New Testament, in the early church no mention is made of a special order of
priests distinguished from the rest of the body of Christ. The root of this
priestly fiasco is mentioned in Revelation where Jesus spoke about one of the
doctrines that he hated most, "So
hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I
hate" (Revelation 2:15). The doctrines of the Nicolaitans can be
derived from the meaning of the Greek word “Nikolaiton” which means victory over the common people or victory
over the laity. The word also means destruction of
the people. This was a dangerous doctrine that resulted into the abominable
deeds of the Nicolaitans which Jesus firmly said He also hates (Revelation
2:6).
"John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible" states that
the doctrine of the Nicolaitans
seems to design the doctrines of the church of Rome, which in this period took
place; which forbid marriage to the priests, and recommended celibacy and
virginity to others also; which were the source of all uncleanness and
abominable lusts; for which pardons and indulgences were given, and, in process
of time, brothel houses were set up, and licensed and encouraged by authority.
The doctrines of the Nicolaitans included the destruction of the laity through
denying them an opportunity to study the Bible for themselves and limiting
their Biblical knowledge to what they heard from the seclusive and mysterious
Priestly order. The Nicolaitans also mixed several pagan rites with the
Christian ceremonies.
The office of the Priest who offered sacrifices on
behalf of the people became defunct after Jesus' sacrifice but it was revived
by the Roman Emperor Constantine 300 years after Jesus' ascension. Constantine
saw a flaming cross in the sky and then decided to ban all other beliefs in the
Roman empire and introduced his new religion that later came to be called the
Roman Catholic Church. Constantine was actually the first pope and later
appointed Priests from among the idolatrous religious leaders. This Roman
Catholic system created special costumes like cassocks and ceremonies for its
priests to perform that included splashing holy water, waving incense smoke
about, receiving confessions and killing Christ afresh at each mass through the
sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. All these practices did not have any Biblical
foundation. This was done to impress the followers and the people at large
loved it but only their leaders really understood the religious phraseology and
psychology used to control their followers who number close to one billion
today.
In the New Testament, church
leadership is not dealt away with but the offices mentioned do not include
priests. The Church was given leaders by Jesus Christ, "And he gave some, apostles; and some,
prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). These five leadership offices are
sometimes called the five-fold ministry with the apostles and prophets at the
helm (Ephesians 2:20). These leadership offices are assisted by deacons and
others in the helps ministry (1 Timothy 3:10). The local churches were planted
by Apostles throughout the book of Acts and the Apostles either ministered in
these churches permanently or appointed a team of presbyters or elders who were
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors or teachers then moved on. When the
veil was torn apart in the temple at Jesus' death on the cross, it signified
that the order and ministry of the Old Testament priests was dealt away with
(Mark 15:38). Now every believer could enter into the Holy of Holies for
themselves without the mediation of a Priest. Every born again Christian became
a Priest as Apostle Peter elaborates, "Ye
also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to
offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. But ye are a
chosen generation, a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5,9). This scripture
sets us free from the yoke of a special class of Priests that the Nicolaitans
tried to enforce. All Christians are referred to as kings and priests of Jesus
Christ throughout the book of Revelation (Rev 1:6, 5:10 & 20:6). This
universal priesthood of the believer gives every believer the liberty to offer
their own sacrifices of worship and finances to Jesus Christ without need for
mediation. The Roman Catholic Priests who preside over the sacrifice or death
of Jesus at every mass are aptly described in the scriptures where, "every priest standeth daily
ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take
away sins" (Hebrews 10:11). The sacrifice of Jesus Christ was made
once and for all and does not have to be repeated by any priest. We can all
partake of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross without the need for a mediator since
the Holy of Holies and throne of grace are accessible to the universal
priesthood of every born again Christian. As a Christian you are now your own
priest with Jesus as your great High Priest. Away with the hierarchical
religious priesthood!
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