Upward and Outward
Biblically, the priesthood of all believers has just as much to do with our posture toward God than our work for others.
I have heard the term “priesthood of all believers” a lot. I had the chance to study it as homework for an upcoming conference and there was a key aspect of being a priest that I had never noticed before.
We use the phrase ‘priesthood of all believers’ with a focus on the things that we, as said believer-priests do (or ought to do). It can be communicated like: “Everyone in the pew gets to play.” This means that whether you are a seminary-trained pastor or a 1-day (1-hour!?) old new believer you can participate in the work of God. This is all true and I do not want to take anything away from it.
What I want to give us pause to consider is this: What if our primary posture as a priest is not outward towards things we do, but upward toward God?
Exploring this has required a little bit of rewiring because I often had thought of priests and the “priesthood of all believers” as our actions outward toward people. I thought of the priests from the nation of Israel as performing sacrifices for others, accepting offerings from others, etc. And I thought being part of the priesthood of all believers meant that anyone could be involved in the work of the great commission. We all get to participate in things like evangelism, baptism, discipleship, church planting, etc. These are true, but as you can see, very outward-facing.
As I studied passages on priests and the priesthood, a theme stood out to me from Scripture: A priest’s primary posture is actually upward, toward God before it is outward toward others. He or she should be in a right standing before God before anything else. The outward nature of being a priest flows from this upward posture.
Let me attempt to build this case Biblically. (Note: Throughout this article all emphasis in Scripture is mine.)
Genesis 14:18 - Melchizedek was a priest of God most high.
Exodus 40:15 - Aaron and family minister as priests to God
Isaiah 61:6 - Jesus’ reign and redemption leads to people being called ‘priests of the Lord’ and ‘ministers of God.’
Revelation 1:6 - Believers are priests to God
Revelation 5:10 - People from every tongue, tribe, and nation have been made priests to God.
The idea of the priesthood of all believers is largely grounded in 1 Peter 2:9, where Peter calls the believers to whom he is writing several things: “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people for God’s own possession.” But then after Peter gives believers those amazing titles he says two words (in the NASB) “So that”.
“So that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”
Yes, other people will hear those praises but don’t miss that we are proclaiming His excellencies. Elliot Clark explains:
Peter tells us we’ve been set apart for this special service. We’re called to declare God’s praises to the world. So if we’re not faithfully proclaiming the gospel to those around us, it’s owing to the fact that we’re not overflowing in praise to God. If evangelism doesn’t exist, it’s because worship doesn’t. John Piper famously wrote, ‘Missions exists because worship doesn’t.’ But Piper does more than suggest that worship is the goal of missions. He also asserts that worship is the fuel of the missionary endeavor. This is the sense that I am emphasizing, suggesting that our lack of evangelism is the byproduct of weak worship.1
This brought to mind the beginning of the first missionary journey to the Gentile world. Paul, Barnabas, and three other leaders in the church of Antoich are praying to the Lord and fasting. (Some versions say “ministering to the Lord”). Their primary posture was upward toward God, and from that place He sent them outward to the unreached nations.
In Exodus 19:6 God speaks to the nation of Israel and tells them “You shall be to me a kingdom of priests.” (Let me again emphasize the posture: “To me” not “to them”.) God’s plan was for all of Israel, each person in the nation, to be close to God. As Schnabel says in Early Christian Mission:
“The entire people of Israel ‘is being dedicated to YHWH and is thus so close to him as only priests can be close to Yahweh… Georg Beer suggests that Ex 19:6-7 marks the origin of ‘the idea of the priesthood of all believers…’ J Philip Hyatt links the two ideas: “As a ‘kingdom of priests’ the Israelites were all to have access to Yahweh, and the nation was to serve as priest for the rest of the nations.”2
The book of Hebrews has some amazing truths about Jesus being the ultimate, perpetual priest-king. Towards the end, though, we see these verses:
'Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, ' Hebrews 10:19
What is the result of Jesus’ sacrifice? A place reserved for only one priest a year is now open to all believers. We, the sinners that we are, can now do something that only one priest could do once a year. We can enter the most holy place by Jesus’ blood. It is open to you. Being this close to God has very little to do with the work we do for mankind (yes the priests did enter the most holy place to offer a sacrifice) but more about our posture, relationship, and standing before God. Being made a priest is an incredible privilege that God has now given to all of his sons and daughters.
Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16
What are our duties as a priest on this side of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice? Just like in 1 Peter, we begin with praising God, giving thanks to His name. After that, we should do good and share: God is also pleased with these sacrifices.
So yes, do the work of a priest. Point people to God. Show them the sacrifice of Jesus. Help them connect to Christ in amazing ways.
But first, remember that being a priest is about your posture toward God. Are you seeking him first? Or are you too busy working for him to realize your relationship with God is more important than any task you could complete?
Evangelism as Exiles by Elliot Clark, page 103, quoting John, Let the Nations Be Glad, 11.
Early Christian Mission Volume One by Eckard Schnabel, p 71. Quoting various other sources.