The Priesthood of all Believers

[Machiavelli]

What should this mean to a Baptist?

What does it actually mean to a Baptist?

The reason I ask this question is because I'm not sure that most Baptist churches really pay much more than lip-service to this principle any more, despite it being pivotal to the traditional philosophical underpinnings of the Baptist movement.

Thoughts? Comments?

[mesue]

:scratch: Explain your view of the Baptist Church's "Lip service".

[aReformedPatriot]

What should this mean to a Baptist?

What does it actually mean to a Baptist?

The reason I ask this question is because I'm not sure that most Baptist churches really pay much more than lip-service to this principle any more, despite it being pivotal to the traditional philosophical underpinnings of the Baptist movement.

Thoughts? Comments?
I was wondering this myself the other day. Can someone on top of this, explain the doctrine to me.

[Machiavelli]

In short, the "Priesthood of all Believers" suggests that as Christians, we have all been endowed with the Holy Spirit. Accordingly, we have not only the capacity, but the obligation to take responsibility for our faith. We decide what we believe and what we don't, and must do so with good conscience. That is we must choose to believe what we actually think is true, not what we would like to be true. This ultimately means that we are held accountable for the decisions that we make.

Perhaps a central element of the "Priesthood of all believers" is Luther's attitude to the Bible. Luther states that the Bible should not be the sole possession of one great and powerful church, but that it belonged to everyone, and that everyone is not only were entitled, but obligated to read it for themselves deciding, again with a good conscience what Scripture means, and how this will be applied in our lives. Again, we are personally responsible for the choices that we make.

[BT]

Well I think you've summed it up accurately. I can't speak for all Baptists but I can tell you that at least at my church we hold to this doctrine very strongly. The believer-priest doctrine is held in a very high regard in our fellowship and it is often preached on (or mentioned in sermons).

[Crazy Liz]

Hmmm....

Anabaptists would say the priesthood of all believers means that each believer may approach God directly in prayer, without the need for an intermediary. A corrollary is no requirement of apostolic succession to consecrate the sacraments - but that also has to do with a non-sacramental view of baptism and communion.

The basic principle, though, is that each human being may represent him/herself or another (through intercessory prayer) before God. One need not be part of a special clerical class.

Now, I have seen the idea argued (lip service?) as having something to do with the degree of authority accorded to pastors. The phrase, "Touch not th eLord's annointed," is much argued, pro and con. Those who say this phrase applies to pastors and tehrefore precludes all criticism of a pastor are said by others to deny teh priesthood of all believers, but I think this is a red herring. Neither phrase is correctly used in this argument.

[rural_preacher]

The priesthood of all believers relates specifically to Jesus Christ being our High Priest and only mediator between God and man (I Timothy 2:5; I Peter 2:5, 9).

The offices of pastor/elder and deacon are offices of leadership, not mediation.

The offices of pastor (elder/bishop/overseer) and deacon are Scriptural positions that should exist in the local church...I Timothy 3 outlines the qualifications of one desiring such a position. I Timothy 5:17 even requires that the pastor/elder be held in high esteem for the job he does..."Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine."

However, God's Word is always clear when referring to these positions that they relate only to preaching, teaching and administrating; but never to priestly mediation. The curtain in the Temple was torn in two when Jesus died (Luke 23:45), thus opening the way for each believer to enter the throne-room of God the Father directly through faith in Jesus Christ, the High Priest.

[Machiavelli]

Basically, the lip service that I'm referring to regards the way in which such a principle is esteemed, while in reality there is a tendency to be overly dogmatic and authoritive. Membership tends to be contingent upon believing a lengthy set of doctrines with the precision and exactitude demanded from the church community. If one falls outside of this doctrinal prism, their membership is on shaky grounds, and they aren't really one of the team.

My point is that Baptists tend not to be so Baptist anymore - the same argument could be applied in terms of separation of Church and State, and the way in which this once pivotal principle is now viewed in Baptist circles in contemporary society.

[Crazy Liz]

My point is that Baptists tend not to be so Baptist anymore - the same argument could be applied in terms of separation of Church and State, and the way in which this once pivotal principle is now viewed in Baptist circles in contemporary society.

Not to hijack this thread, but I'm so glad to see someone who's not American mention separation of church and state.

[mesue]

Basically, the lip service that I'm referring to regards the way in which such a principle is esteemed, while in reality there is a tendency to be overly dogmatic and authoritive. Membership tends to be contingent upon believing a lengthy set of doctrines with the precision and exactitude demanded from the church community. If one falls outside of this doctrinal prism, their membership is on shaky grounds, and they aren't really one of the team.

My point is that Baptists tend not to be so Baptist anymore - the same argument could be applied in terms of separation of Church and State, and the way in which this once pivotal principle is now viewed in Baptist circles in contemporary society.
Oh, I get it. Maybe for the more "organized" Baptists, like the Southern Baptists and the American Baptists, and the like. I don't know, because I have only visited these churches and not regularly attended one to know for sure. When I was searching for a church, I had visited some of these churches and found a lot of the to be almost like the church I had left, very regimented. I'm not saying that all the organized churches are like that, just the ones that I visited.
I belong to an Independent Baptist Church, we govern ourselves. Nobody from outside the church can come in and tell us how to run our church. The KJV Bible is our only authority and source of doctrine. I am held responsible for my faith and how I conduct myself. I am held accountable for my knowledge of Biblical doctrine and my spiritual growth, or lack of it, whatever the case may be.
But to be honest, :sorry: I don't know what a Baptist is supposed to be. I chose the church I attend because it is a sound Biblical church, not because it had "Baptist" in the name. I don't know a lot about a lot of religions and their individual doctrines.
I do know what God's word says and how I can apply it to my life and help others. If that counts for anything.

[ZiSunka]

The priest was to be the intermediary between man and God, a gate or go-between so to speak. He represented humans to God. This man would go into the holiest place in the temple where he would serve God on behalf of all the faithful people. This holy place was protected against commoners by a thick veil that was hung between the ark of the covenant and the worshippers in the temple. But when Christ died, the veil in the temple that separated the people from the priest while he served God was torn apart, giving every person access to God. That is why we say there is a priesthood of Believers, because we have direct access to God as only the high priest did back in the OT days.