Priesthood of all believers. A personal Doctrinal Believe

Recently a close relative of mine received a prayer cloth from a self styled bishop with prayer requests. In return the bishop requested that the cloth be returned to him and he will pray for the requests. What made me doubt the need for the bishop to want to pray for my relative was the request he made. In his letter in which the cloth was enclosed, the bishop asked my relative to enclose send the cloth back to him with $ 35.00. His implication was that he, as a minister, was closer to God than ordinary Christians like my relative. Therefore God would hear him and grant the requests.

This self styled bishop was offering to act as an intermediary between God and those who would write to him. I am sure he also expected “Seed planting” to be sent along with the prayer requests. A couple of years ago I was invited by a self-proclaimed charismatic "apostle" to come under his apostolic convention. He also like the bishop was offering to be my intermediary between God and I, pointing that he will pray for me during the convention and God will answer to my long awaited prayers. I declined this offer very gracefully since I believe in the priesthood of all believers. Needless to say I am an ordained minister of the word which he did not recognize. I am sure he also hoped to get some money for this apostolic service!

The biblical doctrine of the priesthood of all believers is not practiced by many churches, in fact it is denied by many Protestant churches. This denial is based on the assumption that ordinary believers in Christ are not good enough to approach God and that they need an intermediary to look after them for a fee. Thus there is money to be made in evangelical popery today just as it was in the middle Ages through the sale of indulgences. See my article under “LUTHER DVD SUMMERY” As long as there is little sharing of the word of God, self styled “Evangelists” will thrive in the soil of evangelical ignorance. It is a shame.

The doctrine of the priesthood of all believers opposes the unbiblical doctrine of sacerdotalism (acerdotalism is belief that priests act as mediators between God and humans) When Martin Luther the reformer posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door of the Castle Church of Wittenberg on October 31, 1517, he was declaring war against the idea that salvation was mediated through the priesthood via the sacraments. His theses were anti-sacerdotalistic1 and spoke against the theology that ex opere operato supernatural life could be created through baptism, brought to growth by confirmation, nourished by the Mass, and healed of all diseases by penance and extreme unction. Luther rejected the idea that through sacraments a priest could control an individual's life both here and hereafter. According t the Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sacerdotalism is the idea that a propitiatory sacrifice for sin must be offered by the intervention of an order of men separated to the priesthood. This system of the priesthood is taught in the OT

In Christ every Christian is a son of God. Clothed in Christ's righteousness, a Christian comes to God the Father directly. As a royal priest, he serves God in gratitude for his salvation all his life. He is anointed by the Holy Spirit, (1 Cor. 12:7) and in the Anointed One, he functions as prophet, priest and king. (1 Pet. 4:10). A Christian is free from the tyranny and yoke of mediating priests, self styled bishop, apostles, evangelists and the like. He recognizes Jesus Christ alone as his Mediator and High Priest whose sacrifice alone has ushered him into God's presence. Everyone is given grace, everyone is a priest, and everyone must serve God as a priest together with all others. Sacrificial service to God results from enlightenment from the Scripture and is empowered by the Holy Spirit and performed in relation to Christ's church. The Bible says: "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved" (Acts 16:31). It does not say, "Look to the priesthood and the church." As a royal priesthood, then, may we live and die in the presence of God knowing that it is by Grace that we are brought closer to God

Work Cited:

1. Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield, Studies in Theology, Vol. 9 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1981), 485.
2. 
   Luther's Primary Works , ed. Henry Wace and C. A. Bucheim (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1896), 399
3. The Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Web Pages. No date. No Publisher. Not relaible.
4. NIV Bible

Hospital "Blessing of Hands" rite gives spiritual boost to its employees

Many received blessings at OakBend Medical Center Hospital Wednesday, but the focus fell not on the patients but on the doctors, nurses and staff members.

This preceded Ash Wednesday, with the chaplain providing "Blessing of Hands" an event that brings the opportunity for recognition for the many who work quietly to help heal patients.

The occasion began with a prayer, a hymn “Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine”, followed by scriptural reading from Matthew 28:19ff.

There were different faith represented and various denominations. The chaplain held the hands of each attendee (those who heal the sick) and blessed each of them individually. They too need renewal and affirmation. The chaplain blessed the hands of healers who touch many people.

One of the participant said, "It actually puts a very relaxed feeling with what you're doing, and it kind of gives you the inspiration for the rest of the year." This participant appreciated the ceremony of Blessing of Hands, hence giving it meaning, “A Spiritual encounter for staff.”

After the ceremony there's that spirit that helps heal you to know that you can go forward and you can take care of others, that no matter what you're facing, that you actually have gentle hands to take care of patients with, making you an instrument of Gods healing through touch. This “come and go” celebration of service has become very important to the hospital staff at OakBend medical Center for the last three years.

There have been some studies that people who have had their hands blessed or have been blessed, they do well and their patients do well. For the chaplain (the blogger) it's kind of a privilege to be here, to do the Blessing of Hand ceremony with the staff. They feel appreciated and valued as they provide care to patients. In the prayer the chaplain mentioned to each, that the hospital appreciates what each one of them is doing. After the ceremony the chaplain felt blessed too.

For me as chaplain to see the chapel full with health care providers coming for Blessing of hands, is to know that spirituality is being recognized as a necessary part of medical care. I saw a lot of new faces and of course old once (regulars on Wednesday chapel service) and that touch my heart, that I can touch the hearts of many.

Each year, this "Blessing of Hands" becomes more popular with both the caregivers and the interfaith representatives and OakBend Medical Center attending.