RISE OF THE ROYAL PRIESTHOOD

The Royal Priesthood: Why, What, When and How?

It began one day when I stumbled upon a Biblical verse:

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.
1 Peter 2:9

I noticed that 1 Peter was written as a letter to pilgrims. Pilgrims are people who go on a special journey, usually religious. Pilgrims are also people who are “just passing through,” as they say, not belonging to any particular nation or denomination. The Apostle Peter continues to say that as Christians, we should be pilgrims in the world since we are children of God, citizens of heaven. That simplified my point of view.

I thought to myself, “The Apostle Peter is saying that all Christians are not ‘just Christians’, but that we are carefully picked out to “proclaim the praises” of God. That’s a lot more than just the standard “pray, do good and go to church” attitude I’ve learned from society… which is, needless to say, booooooring. I mean, compare Christianity with Islam, Buddhism, or any other religion. We’re embarrassing, because they know they’re different, with different beliefs and faith and purpose. Their organized discipline is seen in the way they think and live.

Now, Christians weren’t always this docile. They didn’t call it The PASSION of the Christ for nothing. Jesus was persecuted, burdened and crucified for being powerfully vocal and uniquely rebellious, and so did the other early Christians. Yes, throughout the years we had to be discreet because a Christian understood that he or she had a very short life expectancy, but eventually we got comfortable and complacent with just sitting down and being spoon-fed Church & Society Status Quo 101. The Enemy has kept Christ on the cross instead of being risen again, so we see a helpless man on crucifixes instead of a victorious God in Heaven. We can pray the prayers, do the sign of the cross instinctively, but now only out of tradition.

The Royal Priesthood recognizes that we are just here for a little while, but our focus should be our true home – Heaven, with our Savior and Lord Jesus (who, may I remind you, is alive and more powerful than ever). Understanding that we are merely ambassadors of Christ on Earth, we are free from worries and fear, and we can focus on knowing, loving, and serving God. Not to mention “proclaiming the praises of Him who called us out”… God wants us to broadcast the Light of the world with a candle doused in rocket fuel.

The Royal Priesthood seeks to set people free from self-centered lives that end up becoming insufficient and dissatisfying. Only with a realignment of our point of view and priorities can we realize the fullness of life, love, purpose and pleasure of a God-centered life. Think about it: Who do you think originally invented life, love, purpose and pleasure? Do you really think man made itself and the universe?