The priesthood of all believers: is it really what you think it is?

‘Gosh, that was marvellous, I could never do that’ said the woman next to me at an evangelism seminar.

We had just watched an excellent evangelist run a 90-minute training session on leading others to Christ. We both agreed that the session was terrific and we both agreed that we could not do what the evangelist had just done (and I say this as someone with ‘Evangelist’ on my business card). But I think we can all recognise the sentiment.

What do we make of it? How should we handle the perceived difference between ‘the gifted evangelist’ and the rest?

Remove the distinction?

Many want to remove the distinction. ‘We’re all witnesses’, they say. After all, we believe in ‘the priesthood of all believers’, and ‘priesthood’ is about bringing God to the world (and the world to God). So we’re all priests, right? Each of us are go-betweens, equally tasked with leading the lost to Christ, yes?

Well… let’s consider 1 Peter, where the idea of a ‘priesthood of all believers’ is found. In chapter 2, verse 9, the church is called ‘a royal priesthood, a holy nation … that you may declare the praises of’ God. So each member of the body of Christ belongs to the priesthood. There is no distinction between, for instance, the Levites and the rest. We are all equally a part of church – this giant ‘witness’ sent into the world.

Not in isolation

All this is true. But Peter is not telling us that the church is a club of individual evangelists who get refuelled on a Sunday and then run off to our individual mission fields. My priestliness does not exist in myself at all. It exists in Christ and in the body. Unfortunately we have individualised so many things in the West and this is one more example: we have made evangelism into a task for individuals – a task which each individual must equally fulfill. But in the Bible the church as a whole is God’s go-between in the world. It’s not the priesthood of each individual believer, it’s the priesthood of all believers – together. Big difference.

There are many implications of this truth, but one is this: not everyone within the priesthood will have the same gifting, calling or opportunities. In chapter 4, Peter gives us the shortest ‘gifts list’ in the New Testament: some are ‘speakers’ and some are ‘servers’. Even though, at some point, all believers are expected to put words to their faith (3:15), some Christians have the gift of the gab. And even though all Christians are expected to serve (4:10), some believers are particularly good with hospitality (the Greek word for ‘serve’ has heavy connotations of ‘opening up your homes and tables’). We are not all wired the same. And that is by design – God’s design. Yet, in the weaving together of distinctives, we get a wonderful vision for evangelism. Imagine homes and tables opened up to the world. And then imagine, liberally sprinkled around the dinner table, Christians who are particularly good with words. You’ve just imagined one of Jesus’ favourite evangelistic strategies (e.g. Luke 5:27-32), and the way mission unfolded in Acts and the early church.

So of course some people are more gifted verbally than others. And of course we’ll look at some Christians and say, ‘I could never do that’. That’s OK. Not everyone is meant to do that. God has not given me someone else’s part to play, He’s given me mine. And He’s given me the different-giftedness of my brothers and sisters for a reason. None of that is an accident or a pity: it is intended. Next month we’ll consider what kind of words we can use when words aren’t our thing, but for now, let’s rejoice in the multi-faceted character of the church. I don’t need to do your part, and you don’t need to do mine. Different gifts are not a threat, they are an opportunity so that: ‘If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.’