I have had the privilege of meeting people from around the world who have come to Christ. We have been from different (or no) denomination, have had different native languages, and come from very different socio-economic backgrounds... yet the God through His Word has spoken to us equally. You speak of ‘what our teachers’ have taught us. Our teacher has been God, through His Word, tested by the Holy Spirit within a body of believers. He is the only good teacher.
You place much store in theologians and people. But men can only affect your body. There is One who has power over both your body and your soul.
The divisions you seek so hard to find are in your own heart. I do not say this to criticize you, but to remind you that there will be a judgment by One who sees the heart of men.
May Our Lord's peace and grace be with you, and may He lead you to paths of righteousness.
“Grig, with all due respect, the text is clear.”
Yes, and nowhere does it say in any wording that one becomes endowed with any kind of priesthood simply by being a believer. It also clearly lays out that one must be called and ordained as Aaron was and give several examples of church leaders (including Christ) ordaining individuals.
Be honest with yourself and look at what I posted objectively. The whole idea never even existed before the Reformation when it became necessary to establish some kind of claim to authority separate from the authority claimed by the Catholics.
I have no fear of standing before God to be judged, I hope to see you there too, and I hope that by that time you will have ceased to put your faith in the interpretations of men and accept the true prophets that God has called in these latter days.