Church and Priest

Church and Priest

In the time of the old covenant in Israel there was a temple made with hands according to God’s will and commands. There was also a priesthood according to God’s will.

In the new covenant, after the work of Christ was completed and the Holy Spirit was poured out on the day of Pentecost, all these things were abolished. Therefore, no such things are even commanded or mentioned in the writings of the apostles. Of course not!

No temple and no church built with hands. Each individual body, the body of each saint, is the temple of the Holy Spirit and all the saints together are now the house of God. “Whose house we are . . . .” Heb. 3:6.

We gather together in any kind of house, whether it be a private house or larger or smaller meeting halls or outside in the fresh air—whatever is practical or meets the purpose. To accord a building made with hands some kind of holiness, and call it a “church” or a “temple” or a “tabernacle” and furnish this “church” with some stained glass, and crosses or some other solemnity must now be considered to be idol worship and sorcery or paganism. This makes it blatantly clear that they have misunderstood everything.

In the old covenant the altars were made with hands according to God’s will, but now in the new covenant this is utterly superfluous. There is no visible place that we can call an altar so we can invite someone to come up to the altar. To do so reveals a complete misunderstanding of the entire work of salvation.

Salvation in its entirety and all the sacrifices take place within us, for there the temple and the altar are found. What takes place there on the inside is manifest in our lives in all kinds of ways.

What people now call “the priesthood” is a terribly offensive practice that has no place either in the old or the new covenant. It is a fruit of apostasy from the life and teaching of the apostles. It is quite simply a blasphemous act of tyranny that has been perpetrated against the rest of God’s people on the basis of having had some education or possessing eloquence etc. The people are usually so foolish that they are happy to allow someone like that to be a “priest” for them. They pay them, in part, to do what they themselves should be doing.

We do not learn to be a priest by going to school. Neither are we equipped to be a priest because of our eloquence, musical giftedness, or handsome appearance.

No, and again no! We are saved, born, and transformed to be a priest! In the new covenant the church does not consist of one individual or only a few priests and a group of people who are not priests but only “laymen.” No, absolutely not!

This is written to the entire church, to all the members of the body of Christ: “You [all together] are . . . a royal priesthood.” 1 Pet. 2:9. In agreement with this, Paul writes, “How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has . . . .” 1 Cor. 14:26. We are members of Christ and members of one another. As long as the body is healthy and strong, and if everything is in order (even though we are far from perfected), each single member is indisputably active according to the leading and commands of Christ, who is the Head.

The so—called priesthood, the so—called priest, usually sits on a platform exalted over the others in an extra-large chair, often dressed in more or less peculiar garments, wearing a hat with an especially broad rim—alas and alack! What megalomania!!! This priest and these priests cause more harm than all “laymen” put together!

Spiritually speaking it is criminal. In addition, they demand to be paid for harming and leading souls astray in this manner.

It is sad that it should be necessary to mention such ABCs of Christianity. Unfortunately it needs to be done.

Down with this asinine darkness! Away with this tyranny that is opposed to Christianity! Away with this priestly rule! Away with the concept of the “church,” meaning a house built with hands! Away with investing outward things with a false significance!

Away with all the unbiblical inheritance from the Catholic Church, the Protestant Church, and what is becoming increasingly prevalent in the Pentecostal Church. Yes, away with all the work of man!!!