The Upside Downers
Anna at Deep Soil recently posted this great commentary on current churcy politics in ECUSA. I thought it was excellent- here is a snippet...
Here’s where the issue in ecclesiology comes up. Apparently, the clergy think that since they are clergy, people should automatically listen to them, and the lay people think that the clergy should listen to the scriptures.
Nowhere in scripture is it supported that the clergy are the end-all in teaching, in fact, the opposite is true. Otherwise, the language of the priesthood of all believers (2 Peter 2:4-9) and the role of the Christian as an ambassador of reconciliation with God (2 Cor. 5:18-21) would be nonsensical. Also, Ephesians 4:11-12 makes it very clear what the role of church leadership is: “The gifts that he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” So who has the work of the ministry? The entire church, not the clergy alone.
Read the rest here.
Here’s where the issue in ecclesiology comes up. Apparently, the clergy think that since they are clergy, people should automatically listen to them, and the lay people think that the clergy should listen to the scriptures.
Nowhere in scripture is it supported that the clergy are the end-all in teaching, in fact, the opposite is true. Otherwise, the language of the priesthood of all believers (2 Peter 2:4-9) and the role of the Christian as an ambassador of reconciliation with God (2 Cor. 5:18-21) would be nonsensical. Also, Ephesians 4:11-12 makes it very clear what the role of church leadership is: “The gifts that he gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.” So who has the work of the ministry? The entire church, not the clergy alone.
Read the rest here.
posted by MM at 10:32 AM
<< Home