LIVES WORTH LEADING
WE ARE ALL PRIESTS
FROM CHRISTENDOM TO BIBLICAL CHURCH BY COLIN MCCARTNEY
I
often use the picture of the young/ old woman illusion as an example of the work needed for us to change our old, handed-down paradigms of church so we can embrace a more Biblical model. This is important to me as my ministry plants unique expressions of church that often look different than the more traditional model. In a sense, we are trying to shift the view in the picture from old to young, outdated to relevant, Christendom to Biblical church. One of the common toxic paradigms we face is the separation of clergy and laity. I saw this clearly while watching a pastor on television seated on a large throne on the podium of his church. Why wouldn’t he? After all, he is the called one, the pastor of the flock and God’s anointed to lead his people. Seeing this reminded me of my younger years when the pastor of my church sat on a large, ornately carved wooden chair plush with soft cushions. Surrounding him were smaller but similar chairs for associate staff while the rest of us sat on hard wooden pews. Though most churches no longer have thrones for their pastor, the clergylaity divide still exists and this toxic paradigm harms the spread of the gospel in our culture today. The Early Church understood Christ is the head of the church, the Good Shepherd (Pastor) who leads the flock. They didn’t need paid pastors with seminary degrees to lead them. In fact, they didn’t even need cool worship bands and church buildings. All they needed was Jesus and a house
to gather together to worship and be and worship band. I love various empowered to be Christ in their world. ministries that a good building can The Early Church had no clergy- facilitate. None of these are wrong. laity divide. They lived We are blessed to have PROCLAIM THE out the priesthood of all these wonderful tools at believers; EXCELLENCIES our disposal. But never “You yourselves like forget that this is exactly OF HIM WHO living stones are being built what they are — tools to CALLED YOU OUT help us in our priestly up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to OF DARKNESS duties to “proclaim the offer spiritual sacrifices excellencies of him who INTO HIS acceptable to God through called you out of darkness MARVELLOUS Jesus Christ…But you into his marvellous light.” are a chosen race, a royal LIGHT. Stop seeing yourself as priesthood, a holy nation, a spectator and join your a people for his own possession, that pastor in serving the church. Instead you may proclaim the excellencies of of seeing your work as a 9–5 job, be him who called you out of darkness your company’s pastor and minister into his marvellous light.” - 1 Peter as a priest to those around you. Who 2:5,9 knows what might happen — you This is the New Testament could eventually have a church form paradigm, and it works. All one has right there in your office! I have to do is go to China or India to see seen this happen before in stores, this principle in action. Christianity prisons, office towers, etc. It just is growing profusely through little took one Christian to understand underground house churches with their priestly calling and in time a no professional seminary educated church was birthed in their place of clergy doing all the work. These work. No separation of clergy and churches are royal priesthoods. In laity — all a royal priesthood serving fact, I heard recently that the majority our one true Shepherd. of underground churches in China are led by teenage girls! Good for them as they live out their priesthood / COLIN MCCARTNEY is an ordained to “proclaim the excellencies of him minister, speaker, and a bestselling who called you out of darkness into author. He is also the founder of his marvellous light.” UrbanPromise Toronto and now leads Please do not misconstrue what Connect Ministries in Toronto where he, I’m saying. I love paid pastors that can his wife Judith, and their two children focus on preparing solid sermons. I am reside. For information in booking Colin grateful for seminaries. I love church as a speaker, please visit buildings with a great sound system connectministries.org.
SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2019 SEVEN 31
