The 3 weak segments of the protestant life

..and their restoration

This article is part of the "Vitalize" pack

Pre

Protestantism have seen many changes, variations, (and ramifications) since Martin Luther. Even in the early days, Calvin himself modified (theologically developed) Luther's original prophetic vision. Meanwhile, the ever-ubiquitous Catholic culture continues to "keep pace with the world" and with its needs in various human activities. I think We, faithful folks are not to be like them... We can see many strong, portfolio building trend: "come as you are" we hear "and do not change for the purse sake!" is the reason why.
The result? Growth-centered mindset and technique, aiming quantity at the expense of quality. We have seen this before and although we repeat the warnings, this is a thriving practice for the sake of the church budget. The Portfolians are on the threshold, brothers!

New strength and vitality

In the following note, I would like to highlight some aspects that bring new strength and vitality to the daily life of believers. These points of reference are not revolutionary, nor new or progressive. These only shed light on apostolic aspects often neglected or not practiced in the daily life of modern Protestant communities. Our 3 main subjects here are: Priesthood, Pastoral work and Teaching.

We will start from the invisible –faith works like that –, approaching the visible tasks from there:

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it.
By faith we understand that the universe (aeon) was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible.
Heb 11:1-3 {Holmann v.}

0. Our base is the Redeemer and His life

Our new base is not stand on religious acceptance, nor by human goodwill. Our base is the essentially new status before the Mighty Gd. When we understand our new base, we have the step 0.
If we call ourselves "Christians" we are to accept the free gift of the eternal life in God.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Rm 6:23

If we call ourselves "Christians" we are to accept the followers' life as it is fully revealed in the Christ's life. This is a life which is not possible in the World or according to the World. This is a saved life in God, it is saved for God - not simply for us. On the other hand: This is a representative life - for the lost. This is a suffering life - for others.
Remember! Back in the days of the Mosaic Law, this is how we heard the word of God:

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt,
out of the place of slavery.
You shall not...
You shall not...
You shall not...
Exodus 20:2

Believer, do you understand that even the Law begins with God's deliverance? "I brought you out – and you shall not..."
How much more things happened in the New Testament! Man and Woman, do you understand that you did nothing for your life? You can not keep it, you can not "offer" it. You can accept the redemption. You are bought. Before your personal history, there was a plan to restore the relationship between you and Gd Almighty! Adam committed sin. Humankind became orphan. And the Redeemer stood up, saying: send me Father!
If the Ten Command started with Gd's action – how much more Godly action happens in the Christian life! We Christians are unique folks. We are accepted through Christ. We are adopted. We are in Christ. (1Jn 5:20 /b) We are the royal family and the royal priesthood. (1Pt2:9)
But we are called to grow up into this position. The saved nation is a family, and the family has a special, "Search and Rescue" job among the nations.

The mission of the church, described in Acts 13:1–3, involves three elements: the worship of God (v. 2), the edification of the saints (cf. prophets and teachers, v. 1), and the proclamation of the gospel to the lost (vv. 2–3).
_{Luke Wesley}

Even if I only highlight 3 aspects here in this article, our ID is a very complex one. Our character is to be transformed according to Christ's personality. And He is the fullness of the Deity.

For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
Col 2:9-10 NKJV

We have such kind of authority behind the scenes...!
We should make decisions. We are shaped by the influence of the Holy Spirit – or by the way of the World.

I. Priesthood

I would like to highlight a couple of things about the priestly ministry:

24/7 service

The earthly, human priestly ministry reflects the continual worship and praise before the Throne. This is why Jesus Christ prays in this way: "Your kingdom..., Your will... as it is in heaven". This simply means that all priesthood activities (=believers: 1Pt 2:9) on Earth are to be shaped, formed and represented by the activities as they exist in the Heaven. They are activities, not theories.
What happens / has been happening / will happen in the Heavenly realm? Heaven is timeless, the eternal Everlasting Gd sits on the timeless Throne & eternal beings have been courting before Him there. This is their role since the beginning of their creation.
In this way, the earthly priesthood also performs this activity, in addition to intercessory prayer, preaching, teaching and various forms of helping people. Let us dig deeper into the details.

Representative teamwork

In terms of representation, the priesthood has a number of important roles to play on the Earth.

a. The priesthood has a constant holy ministries

The team of the priesthood is to hold constant worship along with praise, pleas, and thanksgivings. The priesthood is the one who offers, presents various consecrated sacrifices. It is the highest holy ministry and requires sanctification and humility, which is only possible through the blood of Jesus Christ.
Holy or Consecrated (on our side) means: introspection, mutual caution and confession of sins.
John says:

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1Jn 1:9-10

Those who neglect the priestly services often confuse salvation with sanctification. The latter is a process, a progress. When Peter refers to Isaiah he explicitly points to the Christ who is the Lord of Hosts. He is the ultimate authority and the source of the fear & holines. Fear is not a "dismissed" word in the New Testament, Paul also has a few words about it:

..in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.. (of Hosts! → Is 8:12-13)
He will be your sanctuary..
1Pt 3:15
..as you have always obeyed, so now,... work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Phil 2:12-13

b. The priesthood is the link

The role of the priesthood team is to be a link between Gd of Heaven and the peoples of the earth. If we scrutinise this aspect of the activity, it means: interceding for the nations before the Throne and proclaiming the Kingdom of Heaven & its answer here on Earth. It is therefore a two-way ministry: upward and downward.

c. The priesthood is the representative model

The priesthood team is the representative of the Word (Devar) voice of Gd. In this way they represent the incarnate message, the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. He is the base model – the Christian is the reflection. He is the Redeemer who saves us, who restores, who strengthens, who teaches. And we who are the priesthood - that's exactly how we are: doing these things, it's our vocation. In Christ, there is no longer a listed agenda to be kept, but love reigns, which reign is unthinkable without actions.

the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law..
Gal 5:22-23
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?
Jms 2:14
Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”
Jms 2:21-23
the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
Jms 3:17-18

These are mostly: actions. James says that faith must be active, completed and he connects this with our righteousness. We can firmly say that we have got faith freely, by grace, we have a new redeemed life, righteousness from Gd through the Lamb – and our faith has results: "the fruit of the Spirit" is a new, heavenly character in action - not in theories.
Doctrinal preaching is not the doctrine of Life. God is the Life and God is Love. (1Jn1:1-2; 1Jn 4:16) The Priesthood always represents the redemptive, authorative, proactive, restorative power and the healing-Life of the Messiah/Christ in Agape love. The Priesthood gives teaching, example, Christ model with this wisdom.

..but the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action. And the wise among the people shall make many understand...
Dan 11:32-33

The Priesthood is a culture

A culture of praise, prayer, worship and adoration, above priestly activities.
God's Word practically talks about the priesthood that it is to be educative vertically. It means, representing the Heaven and pointing to the Heaven.
The Old Testament priesthood was very active in the area of spiritual and physical purity and education pointing to the Holy One. The New Testament priesthood has the same functions, although at a much higher and more broader, comprehensive level than the Levitical order. We are the priesthood according to the order of Melchizedek. It has nothing to do with the Mosaic Law. This priesthood works according to the closest connection with Gd, works by the fruit of the Spirit. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

The priesthood has an impact

Impact in the next generations through it's culture

You, O Lord, remain forever;
Your throne from generation to generation.
Lam 5:19

The next generations need a solid foundation on Gd's written and proclaimed Word and a solid model of Gd's incarnate moving spreading, acting, able word, because as believers they will be followers of Jesus the Rabi (teacher) and Jesus the Word incarnate.
Prayer and worship are to be restored. Actions are to be restored as well. They are not degraded to Sunday gatherings or congregational campaigns at Easter and Christmas. They have an impact in the Heaven (Isa 62:6-7) and impact on every human talent, on every gifted, skilled activity in human society - starting in the workplace or in a personal vocation.
Inside Prayer is the constant business of the priests'. The adoration and worship are offered for the Lord. This place - if it is acceptable* to the Lord - would be a nurturing background for believer individuals. And a nurturing background means a constant background from Monday to Sunday.
Outside: It is a varied and diverse activity, pointing to the Lord by his nation, by the priesthood (believers), according to the vision received in the prayer tent.
*Yep. I wrote: "acceptable". We know that believers are acceptable to the Lord through the blood of Jesus Christ, they are redeemed by Him. But I refer here to the process of sanctification and confession and repentance. I am pointing out that it is of KEY importance: what attitude we have towards God's cleansing, the sanctification. It is a process. This brings humility and obedience. It makes us trustworthy servants. Then we are in sync with heaven. The diverse, talented, humble, merciful and holy activity has a huge influence in the society - where it is practised.
His grace and power is restorative, healing power. The mercy in action, in sync with the Incarnate Word has a moving, unifying effect when its humble, merciful and holy character is made visible in us. At such times, the people around us forget the religious outlook. Then they see not us but our Lord. These are the inner spiritual powers that Jesus revealed in the Incarnate Word. He has no need for sacral activity without love and compassion:

I desire mercy* - not sacrifices
the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Hos 6:6
*steadfast love

This is actually a rhyme, an inner teaching about Gd's character, his heart.

When Gd's glory, life and compassion spreads, the whole environment thrives:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad;
the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus;
it shall blossom abundantly
and rejoice with joy and singing.
Isa 35:1-2

Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
then shall the lame man leap like a deer,
and the tongue of the mute sing for joy.
For waters break forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the desert;
...
And a highway shall be there,
and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;
Isa 35:5-6, 8.

II. Pastoral work

Hygiene
Caring
Mentoring

III. Teaching

Sound doctrine in sync
Reciprocity
Humility

To be continued...


- The Divine Path of Teaching and Learning
- Our Incarnate Word
- God dwells in the praises..
- Distinguishing between morally good and bad
- Reset
- The Creeping Plant and the Wall

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