by devil » Tue Aug 07, 2007 2:22 pm
There is a doctrine called the Priesthood of all Believers. Although this is strongest in some of the major Protestant sects, it is also accepted in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches. Briefly, it states that a priest is not necessary as an intermediary between the faithful and God, but can communicate directly because of the Sacrifice of Jesus. This is why many prayers end, "...through Jesus Christ our Lord" or similar. Jesus himself recommended in Matthew ch 6 the short, simple prayer, said privately "in a closet". So priests are not there to be the "estate agent" of prayer.
Who can celebrate the Sacraments? The common case of lay celebration is the baptism of a new-born baby dying before a priest can be called: any believer has the right to perform this act. Whether it be called Mass, Holy Eucharist, Holy Communion or whatever, and whether the individual's belief is transsubstantiation, consubstantiation or a symbolic commemoration of the Last Supper, all the established Churches accept that any believer may celebrate it in cases where an ordained priest or minister is not able to do so. I think some churches impose a minimum number of persons present, others don't. So, if the case arises, any Tom, Dick or Harry can legally consecrate the bread and wine. So an ordained priest is not essential to celebrate a Sacrament.
Anyone can pronounce the Doxology, which is a blessing, therefore any believer can bless a person or object, by extension. Even saying goodbye (God be with ye) is a blessing, so this is a common, everyday, lay blessing.
Anyone can interpret and teach others Christian doctrine, read from the Bible and debate the meaning (within the dogma of the particular branch of the Church to which he belongs. A priest may give guidance, but so can a lay person.
Anyone can help and comfort their neighbours, so pastoral work is not a monopoly of the ordained priest, either.
The Priesthood of all Believers is therefore a clear indication that ordination is not an essential part of the Christian faith. Peter himself wrote to the early Christian Church, "But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.", implying that all (you) are priests. Indeed, some formal churches don't have any form of ordained ministers or priests (e.g., the Society of Friends or Quakers, where every believer is equal in "rank").
AFAIK, the formal ordination of priests probably started only after the Council of Nicea, certainly not before the 4th century. Before that, the early church had three classes of leaders who were elected by the congregation: the episkopos, the presbyteros and the diakonos. The episkopos (literally, the bishop) was the part-time spiritual guide, rather like the Jewish rabbi. The presbyteros or elder(s) was(were) the leaders of the church services and also advised the bishop if his doctrine strayed. The deacons looked after the material welfare of the church, receiving and dishing out money. The notion of Peter being the first Pope and the continuum of the Papacy is strictly a 5th century notion.
As for the Church's riches (Catholic, Orthodox or Protestant), as someone pointed out, Jesus said, "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves" and chased the moneychangers and those who became rich with the blemished lamb scam. "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." The formal Churches are composed of rich men who defy the teachings of Jesus with each breath.
This is why I no longer belong to a formal church, despite having been "ordained" into the diaconate.
Reading the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles with an open mind will show that the early church was VERY different from any church as we know it today. Reading the Gospels will show that the church today is not what Jesus prescribed. Unfortunately.
.
