Replies

G Larry has it pretty much right. On Planet Protestant, the clergy are the hired help, coming and going at the say of the congregation — which is not amused when the help gets up on its hind legs and behaves like it has authority. This is an ecclesiological problem common to all reformation sects. Pope Francis has spoken more than once about clericalization of the laity.

Bottom line: on some level, you believe in the Sacrament of holy orders. Your congregation, like most protestants, does not. Think about that for a while.

I’ll pray for you.

You do not speak for most Protestants. My Southern Baptist pastor has been there since 1978. We know a great teacher when we hear one. This whole city will miss him if he ever decides to retire. He walks the walk and people know that.

G Larry has it pretty much right. On Planet Protestant, the clergy are the hired help, coming and going at the say of the congregation — which is not amused when the help gets up on its hind legs and behaves like it has authority. This is an ecclesiological problem common to all reformation sects. Pope Francis has spoken more than once about clericalization of the laity. Bottom line: on some level, you believe in the Sacrament of holy orders. Your congregation, like most protestants, does not. Think about that for a while. I’ll pray for y

That is absurd, for in reality, is your church - if it even can be called that (yet even the church of the Laodiceans was) - that does not have Scriptural holy orders, as the NT nowhere teaches,

1. Ordaining a class of clergy distinctively titled "priests." (See post 180 before you try to defend it)

2. Ordaining pastors who uniquely offered sacrifices, in distinction from the "laity."

2. Ordaining pastors whose primary function was dispensing physical food which gave spiritual and eternal life, interpretive of the last supper gospel accounts, versus preaching the Word of God.

3. Ordaining clergy who are almost all required to make and keep a vow of celibacy, which is a gift, in contrast to being physical fathers.

Meanwhile, rather than rejecting ordination, it is evangelical churches such as ordain men according to the Scriptural requirements of 1Tim. 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9 that are the ones which believe in Scriptural holy orders.

And which government was part of historical Protestantism, as seen by the affirmation by Westminster:

The Lord Jesus, as king and head of His Church, has therein appointed a government, in the hand of Church officers, distinct from the civil magistrate.

Church censures are necessary,..For the better attaining of these ends, the officers of the Church are to proceed by admonition; suspension from the sacrament of the Lord's Supper for a season; and by excommunication from the Church; according to the nature of the crime, and demerit of the person.

It belongs to synods and councils, ministerially to determine controversies of faith, and cases of conscience; to set down rules and directions for the better ordering of the public worship of God, and government of his Church; to receive complaints in cases of maladministration, and authoritatively to determine the same;.. - http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/wcf.htm

Your objection must be that these magisterial authorities are not held as assuredly infallible, as per Rome, and thus it is possible that the "laity" can be correct and that they are not.

And which means that an assuredly (if conditionally) infallible magisterium is essential for determination and assurance of Truth (including writings and men being of God) and to fulfill promises of Divine presence, providence of Truth, and preservation of faith, and authority. (Jn. 14:16,26; 15:26; 16:13; Mt. 16:18; Lk. 10:16)

And that being the historical instruments and stewards of Divine revelation (oral and written) means that Rome is that assuredly infallible magisterium. Thus those who dissent from the latter are in rebellion to God.

But which is not Scriptural but fallacious, as can be shown by God's grace if you care to argue it.