The reformation did not take the priesthood of believers far enough. The hierarchy of the professional clergy and the rest of the believers remained intact even after the reformation.
Thus when many people think about the ministry, the clergy are the main actors and actresses and the rest of the church are the supporting actors and actresses who are there to enable the main actors and actresses to do their thing.
But what if we take the priesthood of believers seriously? What if we took Ephesians 4:11-12 seriously?
"It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for the works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up" (Ephesians 4:11-12).
How would it impact the way most of us do church and organize ministry if we saw the church as the field team, and the clergy as the support staff? How would we shape our ministry and church if we thought of the congregation as the Jack Bauers and the staff and clergy as the Chloe O'Brians?
Isn't this more faithful to the vision painted in Ephesians 4? Isn't this the natural conclusion to the priesthood of all believers?
What do you think?
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