The Methodist Understanding of the Priesthood of All Believers - Essay Example

Topic: Priesthood of All Believers What do Methodists Believe? According to the Methodist belief, their faith focused on three main areas namely: the Bible as the most authoritative book, salvation through faith in Christ and the Priesthood of all Believers (Methodist Belief, 2004). The Bible as the Supreme Authority The Methodists recognize only 66 books of the Bible, 30 in the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament) and 27 in the Greek (New Testament). Additional books such as the “Apocrypha” (comes from the Greek which means those having been hidden away but not divinely inspired), are additional books of the Catholics which they refer to them as deuterocanonicals because they were canonised later than the rest (Akin, 19?). This is why the Protestants do not regard these books as “authority.” Many Protestants deny the biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers. If Roman Catholics have only one pope, the Protestants have many, but not literally having popes with the same roles and position in a church. For the Catholic Priesthood, ordinary believers in Christ are not worthy to talk directly to God and that they need someone more deserving to mediate for a fee (Mathew, 1996). Traditionally, Catholics and their members follow the custom of confession—the act of using intermediary such as the priest to confess one’s thoughts or feelings in order to be forgiven because they regard the priests as “holy” and “authorize” to relay your plea to God. Salvation The Methodists believe that the only way to get to heaven is to put faith in Jesus as the Saviour. But plainly believing in Christ is not enough. You have to be baptised and do good works to profess your faith as such when Jesus performed good works and preaching in his time. Moreover, if they sin, they ask forgiveness in Christ and try not to commit the same sin again. The Protestant reformers emphasised that this salvation is a product of God's grace alone. Ephesians 2:8-9 (King James Version Bible) gives evidence to this doctrine as it says, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast,” and asserts that "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law" (Romans 3:28, King James Version Bible). God’s grace through salvation is not just about the forgiveness of sins but also liberation from death and hell. Since God bestows on the people His undeserved kindness, neither good works nor pious religious practices in themselves can earn salvation. For the Methodists, faith means trust in God through Christ thereby accepting His loving kindness whereupon Jesus laid his life on cross to save those who accept Him personally. The Methodists strongly adheres to the fact that Jesus is a son of God. The Christ is the only intermediary in a Christian faith. The idea that a Christian comes to God directly is that he does not need a priest or a human intermediary to approach God. A Christian comes to God the Father directly. Still according to the article of Mathew, a Christian is free from the yoke of popes and priests. Jesus Christ already served as the High Priest and Mediator because He is the One Messiah worthy of leading the people to God. What Protestant Methodists believe is almost likely the same with other Christian faith in which adhere greatly from the scriptures. Analysis on the Priestly Calling Martin Luther said that everyone who put faith in Jesus Christ is a priest. This is far different from a Catholic priest who holds position in the church. He noted that "'Every truly contrite Christian has plenary remission from punishment and guilt due to him, even without letters of pardon. Every true Christian, whether living or dead, has a share given to him by God in all the benefits of Christ and the Church, even without letters of pardon. Luther’s doctrine of the priesthood contradicts the doctrine of sacerdotalism and existence of the priestly class within the church. He further rejected the idea that an individual’s life could be controlled by a priest. As he studied the Scriptures, affirmed that it is the only sacred doctrine and no other. He criticised the Roman Catholic priesthood and discovered that a person putting faith in Christ and considering Him as the only way to God defies the idea of getting salvation without passing through the arrogant priesthood. In Acts 16:31, it states that a Christian is not required to have a bridge because Jesus Christ is Himself the ‘bridge’ to the Father. New International Version bible (1984) cites Jesus saying, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. Martin Luther said that everybody is a priest as long as he is a Christian (Streich, 2009). According to 1 Peter 2:9, believers are a royal priesthood and sons of God through faith in Christ on chapter 1 verse 3. As Paul writes, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all of are one in Christ Jesus. The Priesthood of all believers did not mean, ‘I am my own Priest,” according to Luther. It means that ‘we’ are all priests to each other having the obligation to profess the truth to those innocent about the salvation of life. We become witness of the Bible because in fellowship and praise, we follow Christ, the greatest witness of the Father. Jesus has called the Christian congregation out of darkness because He alone is the light of the world (George, 19?) Regarding papacy, the New Testament does not regard Peter as a pope but as a fellow elder whom Christ considered. This also dissuades the idea of Jesus’ handing out of the key to Peter making him as the founder of Christianity. Rather, this explains how Jesus formed the church built not upon the foundation of Peter but upon Him (1 Pet. 5:1-3). In Revelation 5:10, “Through your blood you have made us into priests and kings.” This idea adheres to the fact that Christians never indulge in war or any battle that takes away life. While Jesus’ preaching calls for everyone “to love our enemies,” this calling to become priests and kings is entirely different from the Catholic priesthood which requires hierarchy. Pagan philosopher named Celsus accused the Christians that they were a threat to the Roman Empire since they refuse to neither use arms nor join the military (Vinning, 2009). Marginal to this belief, this is the very reason why priests in the Catholic faith never enlist in the army but ironically, their members do. Christians strongly upheld Christ’s teaching to ‘love our enemies’ and ‘turn the other cheek’ when someone slaps you on the other side. Marvin Vinning wrote on the “Priesthood of All Believers,” that it is essential that all Christians think of themselves as priests, pointing to that one evangelising or preaching the Gospel. Since all are priests in this sense, no man may boast that he possesses the power of a priestly position (Altheus, 1966). The Methodists doesn’t accept any mediator aside from Christ. Not even an angel or a saint. In the article “Characteristics of the Universal Priesthood,” Althaus quoted that “When Christ bears our burdens and intercedes for us with his righteousness; he does the work of a priest…” (Althaus, 1966). Just like Luther, the Methodists reject the Catholic Church tradition and the hypocritical device it uses to build the Spiritual Estate of priests, bishops and the Pope. They claim that all Christians are no different from one another and that everybody holds the same position in an office. Thereby, the Gospel, faith and baptism—these alone comprise the Spiritual and Christian people. As quoted in the book of Revelations, “and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests,” it did not refer to the Catholic priesthood alone. Thus, Apostle Paul adds on 1 Corinthians 4:1, “Let a man so account of us as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.” Jesus is High Priest The Great High Priest was ordained by God and not by man. Found in Hebrews chapters 5 to 7, Jesus Christ is our Eternal High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. Hence, our priesthood should be rooted in Him from beginning to end. His sacrifice and death had made us into priests to Him and to the Father. The priesthood would be meaningless if we do not proclaim that we are the chosen people of God, to speak the truth to one another, to profess our faith, and to walk in obedience to His covenant. Priesthood is Vocational The priesthood of all believers should be a cornerstone of Reformed theology which should change how we live our lives everyday, including how we go on with our daily vocations. This concept teaches us that all believers are priests, no matter what their vocation -- their calling -- in life might be (Hagopian, 1990). Everyone deals with his manual occupation and works in everyday, and still, at the same time, everyone is eligible to act as a priest. God calls everyone in his vocation to be useful. Hence, God has called all believers to be His royal priests. God displays no partiality in all His creations and there is no job that is too lowly for a man to be able to work out the purpose of God. As priests, believers are given the great opportunity to be ministers of God. Yet, this is no basis to become arrogant just because he was chosen to be God’s people. No believer has a greater status to God because of the vocation he pursues. All have equal dignity and integrity in the eyes of God. And nobody can do anything for his own glory. Without Christ, we are nobody. But by His grace, we become somebody because we can do everything in His name. (Jn. 15:5) (Phil. 4:13). References: Akin, J. “Defending the Deuterocanonicals.” http://www.ewtn.com/library/ANSWERS/DEUTEROS.htm (accessed November 14, 2009). Althaus, P. “The Theology of Martin Luther,” 1966. Philadelphia: Fortress Press. Biblos.com, 2009. “John 14:6 New International Version,” 1984. http://bible.cc/john/14-6.htm (accessed November 12, 2009) George, T. “The Priesthood of All Believers and the Quest for Theological Integrity.” First Printing, 1989. Founders Ministries. http://www.founders.org/journal/fj03/article1_fr.html (accessed November 10, 2009) Graham, D. “Basic Methodist Beliefs.” http://www.seekinggod.org.uk/Main/preacher/method4.htm (accessed November 10, 2009). Hagopian, D. “Priests in Our Vocations.” 1990. Trading Places: The Priesthood of All Believers. Covenant Community Church of Orange County. http://www.reformed.org/webfiles/antithesis/index.html?mainframe=/webfiles/antithesis/v1n5/index.html (accessed November 14, 2009) Hooker, R. “Martin Luther.” 1996, Updated 1999. http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/REFORM/LUTHER.HTM (accessed November 12, 2009) Leslie, J. ed.” On Luther & Calvin and the Priesthood of all Believers.” 1961. http://www.darkfiber.com/ulc-tn/luthercalvinpoab.html (accessed November 13, 2009) Mathew, P.G. “The Priesthood of All Believers.” 1996. http://www.gracevalley.org/articles/Priesthood.html (accessed November 13, 2009) “Priesthood of All Believers.” (2009). 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