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A Kingdom of Priests
Sitting in a congregation here I was listening for the hundredth time. The pastor was preaching the usual Sunday morning message. “You must be born again!” or “Jesus is coming soon!” Or it could have been any one of his fundamental favorites. We never went beyond the basic doctrines of the Christian faith.
As I looked across the sea of members I saw scores of women. A sprinkling of men were scattered here and there. The children had already been dismissed to Sunday School in the hall next door.
My eyes began to flutter. I had had a very difficult week. There was nothing that could stimulate my interest as a man. I have a hunting instinct. I like a battle, a real fight. The pastor was not saying anything that could challenge me to a contest in process of my thoughts. I had heard it all already.
Besides all this, the “stage” had already been set with beautiful flowers, the songs we sang felt very feminine. We had sung “I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses.” I don’t mind roses, but I would rather watch a soccer match, or even a good fight between two men, or be out myself trying to catch fish, or knocking up a wooden outhouse for my tools at home.
After I read David Murrow’s book “Why men hate going to church” I think I see what he was talking about. We do everything in church to drive away the men then we expect them to come.
I’ve been going to this church since I was in Sunday School. I could tell you what will happen at each step. The Praise Team will come on, the secretary will give the notices, the offering will be taken, someone will give a special solo, the pastor will take over, preach, make an altar call and the service will be dismissed. It flows like clockwork. There’s no variety. And I feel I am watching a show, 52 Sundays every year.
O.K. so you see what I mean. I’m an active young man. I work hard at my job in drawing plans to constructing city housing. I work out every other day at the gym. I go cycling every morning before going to work. What am I doing just sitting down and watching a show week after week?
I understand that many young men are leaving the church scene and becoming Muslims. Why? There’s some challenge there. There’s opportunity for a fight. They can defend a cause. They can risk their lives. Adventure attracts them.
When I read my Bible, the Early Church seemed exciting and adventurous. Saints were being martyred for their faith. They were a part of an expanding body of believers. Here nothing seems to be expanding. It’s the same group that meets week after week. I don’t see that we are bringing new people in. Most believers seem comfortable to just listen to one man week after week.
Where have we gone wrong? Can someone tell me?
Perhaps I can. Years later I attend a conference in Bognor Regis in England.
There I see the Spirit of God moving upon a thousand or more people. The minister says, “God is about to liberate those molested sexually or those with deviant behaviour. Young men and women come hurrying to the front seeking deliverance from demons.
On Monday night at an elders’ meeting in a home in Malden along with elders from our Jamaican fellowship, a brother walks across the room and prophecies to me; “Brother, don’t worry about those six people. They are like six shoots that will spring up!” How did he know what was in my heart? I had been worrying about six of the members I had been pastoring. He was dead right!
Later, at a fellowship in Bristol along with my wife, best man and his wife as a visitor I decided to keep my mouth shut and just listen. Suddenly a young woman with a guitar began ministering under the anointing. We were blessed. Someone else prophesied that God would provide for three or more people who needed jobs. All three stood up and were ministered to. While worshiping, the Spirit falls upon me and I begin singing a song God had given me years before. Near the end of the service a brother stands up and remarks, “Brethren, when I came in I was sick, but when that West Indian brother sang, I was healed instantly!”
At another point there was dancing and rejoicing as we moved around sometimes arm in arm in tremendous joy and free worship. At the end I asked, “So who is the pastor?” I had not heard a word from anyone who was projecting himself as the leader and was curious. Somebody pointed to a black brother, “That Nigerian brother over there. And that Irish girl is his wife!”
Funny! But he had not spoken a word. This was a New Testament assembly like the Early Church. They also met in homes like the early disciples. Each person was a priest and could rise and minister. The pastors and elders were all priests. Jesus was the High Priest, and everyone had his role to play as in a soccer game. No one was more important than the next. Each person was important and played a role and the game was going well. The Spirit of God was in complete control.
Then I understood what God had wanted from the days of the Old Covenant: a kingdom of priests…and the fivefold ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers were to be each one fulfilling a role as a priest. And none were seen as the high priest except Jesus.
He said, “I, if I be lifted up will draw all men unto me!”
When I returned to Jamaica I began to teach the church how a New Testament church should function.
References: 1 Pet 2:5; Eph 4:11, 12; John 12:32
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