Is there no higher calling than priest?

Guest post by my friend...

Luis Rey 

Most of the time, people are "alert" to the major doctrines that lead people down the obvious path of destruction. We often see "doctrines of demons" as the things that lead people to live radically different from what we view as "normal Christianity."

I would say that the most difficult false doctrine to discern is the one that actually enforces a "typical Christian life." In other words, the teachings of much of the Church today tell people that the typical Christian life is based on following certain steps to be a more effective Christian. It may sound good and even spiritual, and may even be used with Scripture to support it, but it in fact, has more to do with Spiritual self-help or works-based sanctification than as something that is accomplished through Jesus alone.

If there is still "work" for us to do regarding our salvation, righteousness and sanctification, then we can never fully rest in what Jesus has accomplished, and here is the danger. There are many men, who continue to preach what man must do to be "right" with God, and it usually involves pointing out problems in people's lives, and then giving the answer. It is a constant state of self evaluation, instead of a man or woman pointing to the constant state of beholding Christ. These teachings force people to constantly look at themselves in the mirror instead of beholding Christ.

As long as I can get you to look at yourself, you will always need me to tell you when and where to look, and how to fix it. In doing so, I have enabled you to live your faith in a form of voyeurism through what I believe, in which you are looking to me, and living your faith through what I am telling you should and shouldn't do. This makes faith passive, and relegates our faith to: going to church, tithing, joining a small group, serving in the church, trying to be a good person, etc. These things in themselves when understood are not bad, but they are not the totality of our faith.

Whenever a pastor or priest or whomever sees himself as the "bridge" between people and God, or when we see these men or women with "higher callings" than ourselves, then we have fallen to a form of man-made philosophy that is found in the doctrines of demons. These doctrines leave people watching someone else in front of them "perform" the service for God, while they sit and either applaud or complain. 

Posted via email from Archie's Life Stream