Being Conduit

Posted by Doug on Aug 3, 2011 in ALL POSTS, Most Recent Posts, With Your Latte | 0 comments

We tee-off this edition of With Your Latte in Exodus chapter 19. The NLT translates the 6th verse as follows: “you will be my kingdom of priests, my holy nation. This is the message you must give to the people of Israel.” In that text God declared that the Israelites would be the one and only race of people that would have the privilege of talking with Him, and to make sacrifices on behalf of the people. These priests were the conduit between God and man. They held a special place and had the right to receive a tithe from the people. Without these priests serving and ministering before The Lord, the people were without hope. Fast forward to the New Testament where we find these words, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1Peter 2:9).

These 2 verses meet in a man by the name of Jesus. Essentially, God came down from that mountain, so-to-speak, and dwelled among men, (John 1:14). Through the power of His death and resurrection, He made a new nation (literally, a “separated ethnicity”). Although each culture may have its own unique flavor and preferences, in The Kingdom we are all one ethnic group (See Galatians 3:28).

My I rant for just a paragraph?

This is one of the areas where organized religion has harmed the Body of Christ. Religion’s many “leaders” see themselves as the New Testament priests and the primary channel between God and man. The people of the congregation tend to concur and promote this idea and are glad to do so. We in the church teach that we are all priests but our actions, at times, seem to dictate otherwise. We even refer to our gatherings as “service.” This further drives home the concept that much in that manner of the Old Testament, we go to a place and the trained few perform the service.

OK – Back closer to the point

You and I are in fact the priests of this new nation. We therefore are the conduit between God and man. Paul describes as ambassadors (2Corithians 5:20). We are a nation of people who are here to represent The Kingdom of God and influence our surroundings on its behalf. As priests we serve The Lord. As the verse says, “As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. (1Peter 2:9).” To give the people hope, you and i must serve the people just as in the days of old.

One last thought – this kind of messes with the whole “tithing to the priests” and “bring your tithe into the store house” theology.
Until next time…

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