Do I act like a priest? 01/09/2023

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We have almost come to the end of our series of blogs on the subject of koinonia or community in the Bible. In today's blog we are spending a short time thinking about how Peter deals with this subject in his two letters in the New Testament. In the same way as we have found out in other parts of the Bible, Peter does not use the actual Greek word, but he expresses the concept in his teaching. He does this in two ways.

Firstly, Peter addresses his readers as part of a community of priests. You might begin to think of a retreat such as a priory or a monastery. There were many such buildings in different parts of Scotland. Here are some of them listed by Historic Environment Scotland: Crossraguel Abbey; Kelso Abbey; Culross Abbey; St Ninian's Cave; Iona Abbey; Holyrood Abbey; Melrose Abbey; Dunkeld Cathedral; Whithorn Priory; etc. etc. We immediately think of a building. We immediately think of a small group of individuals who have decided to cut themselves off from the rest of the world.

Here are two verses where Peter introduces us to the concept of a community of priests.

[4] As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, [5] you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. [1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV]

Peter is telling us that people are the stones in this building - they are described as living stones. As members of Historic Environment Scotland, which we refer to as Historic Scotland, Janie and I have witnessed many large stones which formed part of the ruins of a monastery or an abbey or a priory. But Peter is making the point that the people are more important than the building. We share this community with the head of the church who is not Peter. Jesus Christ is the Living Stone and we are described as living stones. When Peter talks about his readers coming to 'him', he is referring to their coming to faith in Jesus Christ and that was what made them part of this community. They are being built up as a spiritual house. He then uses another term to describe this community or koinonia - a holy priesthood. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you are a priest according to Peter's letter. This applies to women as well as men and to all ages and to all locations and generations. When we think of priests, we surely associate them with prayer and worship of God. And that is the primary function of this priesthood of whom you are a member, if you are a believer in Jesus Christ. We are being formed into a community of priests so that we will offer up spiritual sacrifices to God. Peter is not suggesting that we kill an animal in the way that priests did in the Old Testament but he is envisaging that we will engage in worship from the heart. We may worship as we are singing hymns or spiritual songs or praying or reading God's word. We may worship silently and in isolation but there is great benefit from collective worship which is Spirit led and spontaneous.

In the same chapter of his first letter, Peter describes another function of these priests.

[9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. [10] Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. [1 Peter 2:9-10 ESV]

He now chooses the term 'royal priesthood' to describe his readers and he describes another function in which this community should be engaged. We are given the task of 'proclaiming the excellencies or declaring the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light.' He wants us to tell the world about the Saviour and what he has done for us. He wants us to tell the world about the change he has made to our lives.

What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought

since Jesus came into my heart!

I have light in my soul for which long I had sought,

since Jesus came into my heart!

If our lives have been transformed, it is our duty to let others know what has happened but we have not to take the credit for this change.

Secondly, Peter talks about how these priests who are part of the this great invisible building, the church will relate to each other. So, like Paul, Peter uses the phrase one another.

[22] Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, [1 Peter 1:22 ESV]

Notice that Peter moderates our loving one another by adding two vital ingredients to the recipe - 'sincere brotherly love' and 'a pure heart.' These are essential additions. We are sinful people and the old nature or flesh is always lurking around. What can start off as genuine care and Christian love can degenerate into something undesirable. The term 'brotherly' love or 'sisterly' love is a good reminder that we are part of God's family and we should not allow our sinful desires to take over. We should behave like brothers and sisters with each other. Sadly, our hearts are not always 'pure'. We need to pray constantly that the Holy Spirit will keep our hearts pure.

Peter also talks about how we communicate with each other.

[8] Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. [9] Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing. [10] For

“Whoever desires to love life

and see good days,

let him keep his tongue from evil

and his lips from speaking deceit; [1 Peter 3:8-10 ESV]

There is much material here for deeper meditation and discussion. Let me suggest headlines for these two verses

We need to have unity of mind - which does not mean that we will all think the same thing.

Sympathetic - we should have a fellow-feeling for each other (Greek word is sumpathes); we should be commiserating with one another - if someone is suffering, we should suffer along with them.

A tender heart - having compassion for others

A humble mind - the idea is that we are courteous with each other. We do not consider that we are better than other people.

Not rendering evil for evil. This is what Jesus referred to as 'turning the other cheek.' This is going against the grain and our inner feelings. "He did this to me so I am doing this to him." That is not the Jesus way.

Watching our speech - this has been dealt with in other blogs but it is very important.

I want to finish today's blog by simply quoting Peter's words to us which are as relevant to us today as they were when they were written - God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

[5] Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” [1 Peter 5:5 ESV]