a priesthood of pigs
Let me ask you a question. Are all believers equal before God? I assume you would say yes. If not, I would be very interested to hear your opinion. Most Christians know that the right answer to this question is yes, we are all equal before God. We have all been redeemed by Christ and are seen equally through his righteousness. It is good when we know the right things to say, but sometimes our actions, and structures expose what we really think.
I have no right to be saying the things I say because I am a mere laymen. I was a semester away from getting my bible college degree and making it into the upper echelon of the clergy or ministry or whatever you want to call it, but I fell short, so I am not a pastor in their system. So, having said that, you must understand that my words are written in ignorance and immaturity as I am a meager layman. My responsibility is to get my friends to come to church to hear the pastor proclaim the gospel to them. Maybe I should also sponsor an orphan and maybe even sing a special song during the offering on Sunday, but I should leave the teaching up to the pastors. Why?
Because, even though we all have the Spirit of God in us, and even though we all have the scriptures available to us, and although we are all cleansed and redeemed through the blood of Christ, and although when God sees us we all are clothed in the righteousness of his son, and although scripture tells us that we are all priests, that we are all the temple of the living God, that we are all his children without distinction, in spite of ALL this, what the Bible REALLY means is that the pastor is above the rest of us in some way. I don’t know what way. Maybe he is smarter (although I would say most pastors are of average intelligence) or maybe he is holier, or maybe he is a better leader or better speaker or better human being. I don’t know why, but even though we are all equal, the pastor is more equal. he alone is set apart to lead the rest of us.
Have you ever read Animal Farm by George Orwell? The animals were sick of the oppression of the farmer so they made a plan to get rid of him and have a free and equal farm. Soon after the farmer got the boot, the pigs took over as the natural leaders as they were the smartest of all the animals. Everyone had work to do, theirs was just to lead, but all animals were equal on this farm, and their leadership was just a service to the other animals. Soon these leaders started having special privileges to help them focus on the Word and prayer, sorry, I mean focus on leading, they could not take part in the lowly services the other animals performed, as it would reduce their ability to lead, a role they were set apart for. One day the pigs announced a modification to their original claim that all animals were equal. Now “All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others.”
I think these pigs would make good pastors. They understood something that I can’t. How one group can be more equal than others. Pastors get this. They are set apart to serve the flock. They must not serve tables, as they are called to peach and pray and lead. Sure we are all equally equipped and equally enabled and equally righteous before God, but they are special, they are more equal. At the end of the day we end up with a priesthood of pigs.
My last church (not the abusive one) was led by only 5 elders (no pastor), yet they would ask men in the congregation to do sermons as well. When there was work to be done in the church, the elders were in the midst of the work. They also did not have a salary. We moved and I miss that church. It’s hard to find a church that doesn’t “oink”.
Thanks Julie. I think it is important that we remember that the Scriptural example is that leadership is demonstrated through serving, service is not demonstrated through leading. It seems this often flipped around and that is very dangerous.
so sorry you were not allowed to preach some where…. My husband does frequently with no Bible degree
I preach all the time. Do you preach Diane?
Animal Farm is one of my favorite books. I first read it in High School and had no idea as to what it meant. I actually thought it was a story about a farm! It took an annoying teacher to point out that I was missing the point of the book and that I should read it again. You kind of remind me of that teacher. You’re annoying and you keep reminding people that they are missing the point. I like that.
I am rather annoying. Thanks for that compliment Bob!
It is interesting that the word Pastor is only mentioned once in the entire Bible. When the people in the old testament cried out for a king – God finally gave them what they wanted, but that did not work out so well most of the time.
Thanks Polly
I find the parallels between the Jew’s desire for a human king and the Church’s desire for human leadership quite fascinating actually. Thanks for bringing that up! It seems to be the nature of humans not to trust God to lead them.
There is a connection, between the connection to submitting to humans claiming spiritual authority over other humans, and the disconnection to the One True Head, and that is Christ. You can not have two masters, you will love the one and hate the other….
I feel like I have heard that before?
I have a Bible college degree and my words are written in ignorance and immaturity too.
Well your degree must not have taken then. That happens from time to time. Let me guess, you were probably one of those pesky question asking type of students.
Yep. I was also one who had serious reservations about the rules we were supposed to follow. Almost got kick out twice.
Third times the charm, at least it was in my case!