priest [preest](plural priests) noun
1. ordained Christian minister: an ordained minister, especially in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox churches, responsible for administering the sacraments, preaching, and ministering to the needs of the congregation
2. minister of non-Christian religion: a spiritual leader or teacher of a non-Christian religion
3. descendant of family of Aaron: somebody descended from the family of Aaron of the house of Levi, appointed as priests in the Hebrew Scriptures
[ Old English preost, via Germanic <> presbyter [prézbitr](plural presbyters) noun
1. member of early church administration: in early Christianity, an administrative official of a local church
2. member of clergy: an ordained member of the clergy in many Christian churches
3. lay official in Presbyterian Church: any layperson chosen by the congregation to govern a Presbyterian or other Reformed church
4. powerful self-appointed leader: a powerful, self-appointed or self-anointed person, e.g., a leader of a group or faction or a backer of a major movement (disapproving)
[Late 16th century. Via ecclesiastical Latin <>
Microsoft® Encarta® 2007. © 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
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Recent responses relating to the Royal Priesthood have been mixtures of surprise, curiosity and confusion. After all, a Born Again Christian like myself can't be a priest, right? Well, to clear things up a bit, I quoted some definitions from the Encarta Dictionaries (above).
Since it is clearly stated that the recognized denominations are Roman Catholic, Anglican, or Eastern Orthodox churches, that leaves being a normal Christian very little to hold onto. This, I gathered, is a very dangerous situation, leaving any new believers in a whirlwind of rules and regulations and devout conflict with other religious groups. Most of these believers would quickly lose their faith and be caught up in the turmoil of life again, lost and confused and cynical. Compared to the recognized religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, or Taoism, our Lord's faith has devolved into a Pharisaical regimen of burdens.
I am not a minister of a non-Christian movement, nor am I a descendant of Aaron. But digging deeper, the word "priest" comes from the Latin "presbyter" which describes one of early Christianity's leaders. It also means "a leader of a group or faction or a backer of a major movement." The Royal Priesthood is not a rebel faction, but a movement back to Jesus' original desire for religion.
When Jesus walked the earth, religion was a back-breaking tyranny, ruled by the church leaders - the Pharisees. The Pharisees had immense sociopolitical power, and had a great influence over the people and even the Romans who had control over most of the world. Remember that the Pharisees manipulated the people and the Roman governor Pilate to crucify Jesus without cause. Fear kept the populace in line. Romans feared the Pharisees would cause an uprising, and the people feared eternal punishment if they did not obey their "holy" leaders. Jesus changed all that.
"Love one another. Love your neighbor. Love your enemies." Jesus was a threat to the luxurious lifestyle of the Pharisees for attempting to reveal God's true intentions for mankind. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." The Pharisees did not want the people to live full, happy, free lives. They wanted the people under control (sound familiar?). Jesus left, but not before leaving a legacy that survives until today. The Royal Priesthood aims to reclaim those teachings of love, life and freedom. The true teachings of God.
Today, the church has returned to it's original, Pharisaical state. People are expected to keep performing penance for sins, keep fearing the Law of God, keep living in self-imposed slavery. Jesus said he came "to set the captives free." But who among you know that? Jesus died, and only a few remembered. One of those who remembered was the Apostle Peter. He said we are "a royal priesthood." Bingo.
How many Christians nowadays live like priests? Or royalty? Tell me. Some may flash royal jewelry but act like a royal pain. And priests... well, they have enough scandals in their own fold. So why hasn't the great machine of the Church been able to prevent this? Or solve this problem? Maybe because we focus on living "by the Book" and forgot that life is more than words. Or maybe we know this fact, and ignored God completely. Either way is disillusioned and WRONG.
Jesus said, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." He also said, "I am the bread of life." Do you see what He's saying? He didn't say "I am giving you rules on how to live life," but HE IS THE LIFE. We have strayed far from God. Jesus knows that. But rather than allowing us to traipse off to Hell, Jesus was the Good Shepherd that leads us Home, and even died for us. The Royal Priesthood aims to honor The Good Shepherd, by following Him.
Jesus knew the rules. He wrote them. He told the crowd, "Before Moses was, I AM." People couldn't believe that God could take the form of a man. But then, God couldn't believe that people had to be told things that was common sense. "Thou shalt not kill." "Thou shalt not steal." What level of depravity did mankind descend to, that we needed to be reminded that killing and stealing, among other sins, were BAD? Jesus knew that telling people what they should do wasn't going to help them learn. So he LIVED THE RULES. He is the Life - the ideal, the Superman, the role model, the idol. If we grow closer to Jesus, we grow closer to the original design God wanted. Because Jesus was God's son, but ALSO human. The Royal Priesthood wishes to imitate God by being God's children while becoming conformed to God's original human design.
In summary, the Royal Priesthood is composed of Christians who want to take their faith to the next level. To become what the Pharisees feared, what they were not able to be. To live the free life that Jesus fought and died for. To live the eternal life that Jesus proved when He rose again. To slowly develop into the children of the King of Kings - Royalty. To fulfill the Laws of God out of love for Our Father in Heaven - Priests. To ultimately show that Christianity is worth standing out for; Christianity is worth defending and fighting for; Christianity is worth dying for; Christianity is worth everything.
