Monday, October 20, 2008
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood . . ." (1 Peter 2:9)
EVERY CHRISTIAN A PRIEST
"Did you know that you are a priest?" That's a question pastors love to ask their catechism students. When the question is asked, most of the students look at their pastor as if he's lost his marbles. Aren't priests those guys with black robes and funny haircuts?"
The plain truth is that every believer in Christ is a priest before God. By definition, a priest is someone who represents God. Every Christian is called to represent God before the world. A father serves as a priest whenever he leads his family in devotion and prayer. A mother serves as a priest when she takes time to answer a question her little one has about Jesus and the Bible. A student is doing priestly work when he shares with a classmate the forgiving love of God in Christ. The average Christian is doing the work of a priest when he performs an emergency baptism.
It's true, not every Christian is called into the public ministry. Not all are called to preach from a pulpit, teach in a classroom, publicly administer the sacraments, or take the Gospel on behalf of the Church into a foreign mission field. "And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers" (Ephesians 4:11). Yet every believer is privileged in his daily life to "declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
" . . . every Christian has the right and the duty to teach, instruct, admonish, comfort, and rebuke his neighbor with the Word of God at every opportunity and whenever necessary" (Martin Luther).
Yes, dear Christian, you are a priest. What a joy it is to represent our Great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, by sharing His saving Word with those He brings into our lives.
