"Yourselves also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ" (I Peter 2:5).
"By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His Name" (Heb. 13:15).
One of the most precious truths recovered to us in these last days is the priesthood of all believers, a truth which seems practically unknown among the mass of Christians around us. And while I hope that not a single believer among those gathered out to the Name of the Lord would be ready to give up that truth and God be thanked for this yet, practically, is it not slipping from us, or we from it? I believe it is so, and for this reason I write to my beloved brethren on the subject.
There were certain central truths recovered to God’s people by the Reformation; there were others, likewise basic, recovered to the Church about 140 years ago. The priesthood of all believers is one of these latter. This truth, in company with that of the oneness of the body of Christ, and other truths which might be mentioned, would stand, as it were, for the sum of precious truth given afresh to us; and if we are practically, even if not theoretically, resigning it, how serious a sign it becomes; for truth is one, and it is doubtful if a single truth only is ever given up. Certainly, one scripture-doctrine which has lost its preciousness for the soul, or among a body of believers, is a sure indication of other doctrines being in danger for the individual or the company.
Beloved brethren, I ask in all earnestness, can there be a question about the freshness and power of the wondrous truth of our common priesthood in its broadest meaning, privileges, and responsibilities having been lost among us? A visit to almost any meeting anywhere, or better still, a month’s stay in any meeting you choose, will, I think, justify but one answer to the question. If the meeting is small, there may be say two or three brethren, out of half a dozen, who are ever heard; if the meeting be larger, perhaps out of a dozen or more brethren, three or four may be heard from time to time. I believe the average would not be above what I have indicated_ although there are exceptions that I thankfully acknowledge. Can there be any doubt about the story this thermometer tells? _ that there is a drifting away from maintaining our priesthood, and toward clerisy? Do not misunderstand me as saying that we are only priests when we give audible expression in praise or prayer or reading of Scripture or the like in and for the assembly. I would intend no such meaning. We may be exercising our functions as priests in silence as truly as in speech. The sister’s place of silence in the assembly surely does not, therefore, rob her in any way of the priest’s place. All this I fully recognize; and I trust it would be as far from my thought as that of any one to make little of the praise, thanksgiving, and worship which may, and surely does, go up to God in silence. But, owning all this, still the fact that it falls to a certain few brethren in almost every meeting to be the vehicle of expression for the assembly, instead of each brother realizing that he has responsibilities of this character in connection with his priesthood ("the fruit of the lips") can, I believe, admit of but one interpretation _ that there is in fact a great lack and a dangerous tendency among us along this line. I ask my dear brethren if this is not so. I write not to criticize, but to appeal. Where are we, brethren! A large part of us are settled down and letting brothers A and B and C offer praise, lead in prayer, give thanks at the table, or give a word from Scripture, without a thought as to the responsibilities we are shirking on the one hand, or the privileges we are forfeiting on the other.
Let us look a little more closely at the prevailing conditions in connection with our subject.
| 1. Are we not confronted with unmistakable evidence that many of the especially important truths, long since recovered to us, are not laid hold of as generally and firmly by the saints gathering to the Lord’s name, as they once were?
2. And is it not so that there is a smaller measure of understanding and appreciation among us of the precious and soul-uplifting truth of the universal priesthood of believers than was to be found when the doctrine was first recovered or even a few years back? 3. Thus it surely follows that God the Father and Christ the Lord are robbed of praise. When our souls are robbed, especially of the practical enjoyment of a truth bearing directly on praise and worship, God is necessarily robbed of His portion from us. 4. Again, if some brethren hold back and fail in their priestly privileges and responsibilities in the assembly, does it not, of necessity, force others forward? Each is spiritually unnatural, the one as much as the other, and neither according to the Spirit of God. I believe I but speak the experience of many when I say that brethren often feel burdened and constrained on account of this very thing an undue sense of responsibility in connection with being a voice in and for the assembly. 5. This condition must inevitably lead to clericalism in principle, even though we may be unconscious of it. What is clericalism but an exaggeration of this:all the priests giving up their office and electing one to fill it for them? And if half, or two-thirds, or three-fourths of the brethren regularly by silence consent to a few taking all the active parts in the assembly meetings, yea, by their silence, forcing them to do so, how much short (in principle, and the soul-condition which it indicates) is it of electing them to fill their offices for them? Here we have then, surely, the root of clerisy. And as to a corresponding clerical position, can it be wondered that some naturally, and perhaps unconsciously, drift into it? Others perhaps against their will, as already suggested are almost forced into it; while some again, sad to say, may rather covet such a place and find a ready opportunity to assume it. O brethren, "suffer the word of exhortation." If the Word of God is our food, if Christian doctrines, liberating and giving wings to the soul, are more and more apprehended, if nearness to God is enjoyed in our hearts, if the Sanctuary is our abiding place, can we assemble together and not by audible expression reflect these conditions of soul and share with each other the Christ, and the things of Christ we are enjoying? "Fellowship with us" _ Christian fellowship (and what is sweeter) "Truly . . . is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ" ( I John 1:3)
May the Lord revive His truth and grace among His people. Is it not a real spiritual revival that is needed, that we may lay hold afresh of this precious doctrine of the priesthood of all believers, and that it may lay hold of many who, it would seem, have never practically enjoyed it? |
| Before closing, I mention one reason often given by brethren as to their slowness, and that is that they have no gift for anything in public. Let it be remembered that gift is a different line of things entirely, it being from Christ to the Church; whereas priestly functions, which we have been considering, are from the Church to Christ. Gift, properly so-called, therefore, is not in question. It is not a matter of edifying the saints, but of offering praise to the Lord Jesus Christ. While there will always be differences as to the extent of liberty that brethren feel in giving audible expression of any kind in the assembly, yet it is not conceivable that anyone can be growing in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, realizing in his soul his happy place and privilege as priest, and not have somewhat to offer, yes, and to offer audibly. The vessel filled to overflowing must certainly overflow! It may be in a stammering way, and it may be only in Paul’s five words _ how much is said is not the point. Let the heart go out without constraint and without any thought as to eloquence, or time occupied, or any such considerations which would only hinder the natural and simple overflow of the heart’s praise.
O fill me with Thy fulness, Lord, "Study to shew thyself approved unto God." 2 Timothy 2:15 |