Priesthood of all Believers
Terri Stewart · I Peter 2:9 · July 2, 2006
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.1 I Peter 2:9
A few years ago, in 2003, my grandfather was dying. It wasn’t a surprise to anyone. He had senile dementia, a long-lasting, mind-decaying disease. However, this was “the” time. He lived with my aunt and uncle in upstate New York and I was here with my family. My aunt called me to let me know that things were very bad. He was at a point that he had a perforation in his stomach so he couldn’t eat. And he was too fragile to have surgery to repair the perforation. They gave him just a few days to live. I flew to New York right away. Not only to see my grandfather before he died, but to be with my aunt and uncle and to love and support them. In those final days of my grandfather’s life, I was able to show my grandfather that I loved him by playing songs on the piano and praying for him. I was able to help my aunt get ready for his death—this was her father—and get ready for the social protocols that follow a death. I helped make sure that the house was clean, that a scrapbook of memories was available, that we remembered to eat, and I prayed while my uncle performed Native American cleansing ceremonies. After it was over, my aunt, my mother’s sister, asked me how I grew to be so wise—I don’t think it was wiseness that she saw, but love. I can only say that I could show love because Christ first loved me. God sustained me during that week.
Christ has been calling us throughout our lives. We can come here and experience joy and love, but the world goes on in pain. We may be more aware of God, but the world continues to live as though God does not exist. War, murder, starvation, and all forms of ugliness happen while we live our lives contained within our small communities. People still treat each other like strangers rather than the family that Christ demands we create. Love your neighbor as yourself. The world is so close to life saving water and yet we are unable to save ourselves.
Christ is calling us to be part of God’s mission. God reached out to us in Christ. In Christ, we see God’s ideal. We can begin to develop faith in God, accept God’s love, and to die with Christ to the things that keep us from God—just as the caterpillar dies in its cocoon, we die with Christ. Then, we rise with Christ to a new life of hope by growing—just as the caterpillar is growing in its cocoon. We become Christ’s disciples, begin to share his heart and mind, begin to grow in his grace, and to live in his presence. Finally, we learn how to go forward with Christ as a Christian community in action. We learn to fly on the wings of the Holy Spirit that empowers us to be Christ to each other. To share love with others. To carry on Christ’s ministry to the world. We become like the butterfly.
Christ is counting on you. He is calling all of you, each of us, everyone everywhere to ministry. That doesn’t mean you have to be a pastor or even head a committee at church, it does mean that you actively share or minister God’s love. You make Christ’s love real for the people you can reach. There is this old saying “You may be the only Bible that some may ever read.” It is so true! Just by being kind, loving, and gracious, you will share Christ’s love. You can provide a healing presence to the hurting...just as I was able to ease my aunt’s burdens when her father died, you can ease someone’s burdens through a loving presence powered by God’s love. Christ is demanding that we carry forward a ministry of love in today’s world.
Do you ever get that “funny feeling?” Or a “nudge?” You know you should do something, but aren’t quite sure. I think it is one of God’s ways of telling us to keep open, get ready to do something. Christ is counting on us to put verbs in our sentences and be an active part in the Priesthood of all believers. So are you ready? It is so daunting to look at just one community, for example, just look at Tent City. It houses about 80 homeless people. I only have two hands, two feet, and limited income. I can’t do all that is needed just for this small community. None of us can do all that is needed. We are simply called to do our part. Christ’s way of reaching people is through his friends...us. Christ may only be present to the people in your life through you. You are the only Jesus some will ever know.
Therefore, I bet you’re wondering about the “priesthood of all believers.” What does that mean? It is an extravagant title. The priesthood of all believers is people who represent God’s love in this world. A priest doesn’t necessarily mean you wear a cleric’s collar and dress in black. A priest is simply someone who has experienced God’s grace and friendship and who helps others experience God’s love too.
Jesus is the model for priesthood we should follow. He is God’s representative to the world. Jesus made his own life a sacrifice of love for us. For me. For you. How awesome is that? Jesus is the ultimate high priest. Through Christ, we share in the priesthood. The Christian community makes up a royal priesthood. Like Christ, we give of ourselves to make God’s love real to people, to help them become God’s friends too.
Okay...take a moment here...I bet y’all did this when you were young...
This is the church, this is the steeple, open the door and you’ll see all the people!2 “Here's the Church—Finger Rhyme” Source Unknown
Did you ever do that? Well, I’m here to tell you that this building is not the church. The people are. We could take down every single wall and if the Priesthood of all believers exists, then the church exists. We are the church. Believers working together to be Christ’s example to the world. You can always remind yourself who is the church by finding the two letters in the middle of the word church. C-H-U-R-C-H. What are the two middle letters? U-R. You are the church. You are the church when you are making Christ’s love real for others.
The priesthood is a mission. You don’t have to go far to go on this mission trip—it starts right here at home with you. What are the requirements of this mission?
One, it’s personal. Start with yourself. Be real.
Two, it’s spiritual. That means it is not worldly—it focuses on a greater measurement of success than your bank account. Spiritual means it is open to God’s presence among us.
Three, it’s servant-oriented. We are to serve as Jesus served.
Four, it is shared. It requires teamwork. Teamwork means that we each use the gifts that we have together. We work alongside the clergy as partners. We cannot do it alone.
Five, it calls for our best. God gave his best for us; that demands that we give our best for God.
I have a friend who has many health issues. There is no way I can even grasp her pain and discomfort. When she tells me all of the difficulties she has, there is a part of me that doesn’t understand, but I keep listening because I know that is what she really wants. Just someone who will listen without judging. Without putting other things ahead of her. Just listen and love. That is how I model Christ for her.
For others, it may be the Children’s Worship. Have y’all been in church and near a child that won’t sit still or be quiet and the parents look like they’re about ready to pass out from embarrassment? I have. I might have even been one of those parents at one time. This year, God told me that he wanted me to be involved in a Children’s Ministry. So things percolated and we began a Children’s worship service. This worship service allows children to experience a worship message at their developmental level. And you know what? I love it. I get totally jazzed. Even though, in the beginning, I thought God was nuts.
Oh—and a perfect example of many hands coming together to accomplish something one person could not do is the Leyva family in our church. Do you remember when they put out the call that they needed furniture for their home? Within two days, they had enough furniture offered to furnish two apartments. I don’t know about you, but I could not afford to furnish their whole house, but the living church—the priesthood of all believers—furnished their living space.
So this priesthood is a call for us to be the hands of Christ. Have y’all seen pictures of the statue of Jesus where he is standing with his hands outstretched like this? <do it> This statue is in Germany. In World War II, the hands were broken off. After the war, the church members where the statue is located hired a sculptor to repair the statue...but they decided not to replace his hands. Instead they put a small plaque at the base of the statue that says “Christ has no hands but yours.”
You are called to be the hands of Christ. To share the forgiving and reconciling love that God has. As you walk around, performing your daily duties, going to school, playing sports, going to work...you have the opportunity to make your life a modern-day translation of Jesus. You can show his love through your loving actions, kindness, and graciousness.
So here’s my call to you...go and be the hands of Christ. Engage in Christian love and action. Be good examples of a Christ like life in your daily living. That is kind of an intimidating thought isn’t it. Sure—go ahead—be just like Christ. Easier said that done! How can we do it? We have to focus on one-step at a time. The first step may just simply be listening to a friend tell you about a difficult relationship. It could be helping with a community food drive—like one our church did called “Souper Sunday.” It could be that you join friends at school for prayer around the flagpole. Or you may join a mission trip like the one this church is doing to White Swan Indian Reservation. Or you can go all the way to Africa like the Kuykendalls have.
Just to summarize, you can share Christ’s love through:
- Your personal relationships
- Community projects
- Work or School activities, or
- Church-sponsored activities
Each one of us has a personal mission that only we can do. You have your mission and I have mine. You can’t transfer your mission to me and I can’t give you mine. God gives each of us gifts and talents to help us represent Christ’s love. These gifts and talents help each of us, in our uniqueness, share God’s love with the people that each one of us knows. Each generation, God calls forth leaders. Martin Luther King Jr., Billy Graham, Pastor Dave, Randy Garrett, Nicole Gleadle, me, you... God calls us to leadership. Isaiah, in a vision, saw God. God said to him: "Whom shall I send? Who will go for us?" Isaiah answered "I'll go. Send me!"
Christ is counting on you to carry on his ministry. God is still asking...whom shall I send. What will your response be?
Shalom and Amen.