What is the "clergy"?
1. Most of us have heard someone use the word clergy.
2. This is a broad term that is used to describe religious workers.
3. We may be familiar with this word but we may not know where this term comes from.
4.
Moments ago a few verses from Acts 1 were read.
IF THE TEXT IS STILL IN FRONT OF YOU TAKE A
CLOSE LOOK AT VERSE 17.
A. The KJV and NKJV have the word “part.”
B. The ASV uses the word “portion.”
C. The NIV translates the original as “shared.”
D. The word in the original text is kleros.
E. Our word “clergy” comes from the Greek word kleros.
F. A study of the people who have been called the clergy is rather revealing.
G. In the past those who were considered to be clergy were exempted from prosecution.
i). The “clergy” could not be brought before secular judges (McClintock & S, 2:388).
ii). In the past there was another little rule that applied to the people known as the “clergy.”
iii). If a church member struck a clergyman that church member was excommunicated.
2. In the past those who were known as clergy were told they didn’t need to pay taxes.
3. This rule has changed, though there is still a break or two for those who preach.
4. The people who were known as the clergy were exempted from military service.
5. They also could not be drug into civil court (McClintock and S, 2:386).
6. In the past many believed that the idea of a “clergy” is found in the New Testament (Acts 1:17).
7. If you were present last week you were exposed to an adverb that is used 12 times in the New Testament.
8. Eleven of the twelve times this adverb is used it is in the book of Acts.
9. This adverb shows that the first century church was united; together; a cohesive group.
10. In light of last week’s material how can we reconcile a “clergy” with the New Testament church?
11. From last week’s material we saw how God’s people were one and working together.
12. In Acts the picture is that of people working side by side and meeting together on a daily basis.
13. Members of the church became very good friends with each other.
14. The word clergy, at least as it is commonly used, describes a separate class of people.
15. As the term is currently used there is the clergy and there is the laity (regular church members).
16. The word clergy does not convey the idea of unity.
17. It is not consistent with the type of oneness found in the book of Acts.
18. This term speaks of one group that is actually in contrast to the rest of a congregation.
19. This word cannot, therefore, be reconciled with the oneness in the New Testament church.
THERE WAS A TIME WHEN PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO ARGUE THAT THE IDEA OF A “CLERGY” IS SUPPORTED BY ACTS 1:17. THIS TIME HAS PASSED. MOST NO LONGER MAKE THIS ARGUMENT.
A. Our English word clergy did come from the term that is used in Acts 1:17.
B. However, when Luke used this word he did not describe the modern day clergy system.
C. Tonight I want to share with you some other verses that use the word kleros.
D. We can find this term in the gospels (it occurs one time in each book).
E. The word kleros is found 5 times in the book of Acts, once in Colossians, and once in First Peter.
F. I am going to use only two references from the book of Acts
G. This passage is in Acts 8.
H. According to Acts 8:14 Peter and John were sent into Samaria.
I. Christians in Jerusalem learned that some Samaritans had obeyed the gospel.
J. It was determined that these Samaritans should be given some spiritual gifts.
K. Two apostles went to Samaria to pass along some supernatural abilities.
L. In Samaria there was a man named Simon.
M. Simon had been immersed; he had become a Christian.
N. Prior to conversion this man had been a sorcerer (verse 9).
O. He had been accustomed to deceiving people and perhaps using magical spells.
P. This man saw that the apostles had real power. He knew that these men were not fakers.
Q. When he realized this he made a request – verses 18-19 – READ
R. With this man’s request in mind let’s move to verse 21 – READ
S. Do you see the word “lot”? The NKJV has “portion.”
T. This is the same word that is used in Acts 1:17.
i). If the term means clergy in Acts 1:17 it means clergy here.
ii). All recognize that Simon was not a member of what people call the clergy.
iii). This man had recently been baptized and he was still full of worldly thinking.
iv). Peter used the word “lot” to describe a lot, a share, a portion.
v). The word kleros frequently described an association with something.
vi). In this case the “portion” (lot, association) was the miraculous abilities.
vii). Instead of describing the people who preach the term kleros was applied to spir. gifts.
viii). Miraculous gifts were the “lot” or “portion.”
ix). Instead of describing an office, in this passage kleros described an ability (gift).
2. Another place where this term is used is Acts 26.
3. This chapter is one of the places where Paul described his conversion.
4. In this chapter there is another occurrence of the term that is used in Acts 1:17 and 8:21.
5. The place where this is found is verse 18 – READ
6. The word “inheritance” is from the same word (kleros) that is used in Acts 1:17.
7. All of God’s people who are saved get an “inheritance” (a lot, a portion, a share).
8. All of God’s people are the kleros.
9. Why is this true? Why do all of God’s people get to share in the riches God has?
10. This question was answered last week.
11. In the church of the New Testament there is to be unity; oneness; togetherness; closeness.
12. We are close in this life and we are going to be even closer in eternity.
13. Some seem to think that at the present time there is a “clergy and laity” system.
14. It seems that some think this system exists on the earth but it will vanish or be overcome in heaven.
15. The truth is that no such system exists in the church of the New Testament.
16. This type of distinction will certainly not exist in heaven.
17. Acts 26:18 applies the word kleros to everyone who is saved.
18. If someone wants to say that the Bible teaches that there is a “clergy,” Acts 26:18 says we all qualify.
IF WE LOOK AT THE RELIGIOUS WORLD (AND I AM
INCLUDING THE CHURCH IN THIS STATEMENT), WE OFTEN FIND TWO VERY
DIFFERENT EXTREMES.
A. On the one hand there are those who believe in and practice clergy-laity system.
B. There are the “religious professionals” who perform religious duties and worship services.
C. This type of approach to religion is a departure from New Testament teaching.
D. After the first century church was established some time passed.
E. In places like 1 Tim. 4:1-3 Paul warned that people would begin to teach other things.
F. Inspiration warned that people would apostatize.
G. One of the changes that occurred with time was a return to some Jewish practices.
H. The Jews had special people like the Levites who performed religious tasks.
I. People who professed Christianity decided this was a good idea.
J. People began to use so-called professionals in worship and this was a departure from the truth.
K. We may not see this too often in the church but it is very real in the religious world.
L. People rely upon a priest, a minister, or another person who is viewed as a church official.
M. This is wrong.
2. There is a second extreme in this area. This is the one that we generally see.
3. In the church some have said, “We are to be one.”
4. Members of the church have realized that there is no clergy laity system.
5. This has caused some to conclude that women may preach.
6. With the passage of time more and more are defending this conclusion.
7. The reasoning for this thinking goes something like this.
8. If we are all one we cannot have distinctions like the clergy system.
9. If we are all one we cannot have distinctions such as men and women.
10. Since we do not have these distinctions, why not have women evangelists?
11. Why not have ladies preside at the communion table?
12. Congregations often have ladies who can sing very well.
13. Why not put their talent to use and employ them as song leaders?
14. Other women excel in prayer.
15. If the church is one and we do not have an official prayer person, why not use ladies?
16. At the present time there are plenty of Christians who are asking these questions.
17. There are even some places where these things are being done.
18. How should we view the things that were just described?
19. We must agree that the church is to be one.
20. In the church men and women are equal.
21. The New Testament does not say, imply, or even hint that women are second-class citizens.
22. We must also agree that each person is obligated to serve God to the best of his or her ability.
23. However, we must also include this fact.
24. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all equal.
25. In Jn. 10:30 Jesus said I and the Father are one.
A. Notice the word one.
B. If you have ever studied a foreign language you probably learned about the gender of words.
C. Some words are masculine, others are feminine, and still others are neuter.
D. If Jesus had used the masculine gender He would have said that He and the Father are identical.
E. This is, He is the Father and the Father is Him (this is the doctrine of the UPC).
F. Jesus used the neuter gender when He said we are “one.”
G. "This means that Jesus and the Father have the same qualities and characteristics.
H. In other words, if the Father is the all powerful God the Son is the same.
26. The three members of the Godhead are both united and equal to each other.
27. Do the members of the Godhead, however, carry out the same functions?
28. The answer is no.
29. The Son was the right member of the Godhead to die on the cross.
30. The Holy Spirit was the right one to reveal this death to mankind.
31. Why didn’t the Holy Spirit assume a body, go to the cross, and let Jesus tell the story?
32. I don’t know.
33. The Godhead has equality but each member of the Godhead assumes different roles.
34. The Bible says that this is true in the church.
A. According to 1 Tim. 2 and Eph. 5 men have been given the role of leadership.
B. This is true in the church and in the home.
C. There are some people who are not satisfied with their God given role.
D. Women want to do things that God has not authorized them to do.
E. There are men who do not want to fulfill the responsibilities God has placed upon them.
35. When I look at the Godhead I do not find that the Son complained about His role.
36. The Holy Spirit didn’t say to the Father “I want your job.”
37. Yet, in the church, this is what we can sometimes see with the people of God.
38. Some Christians are not content with their God-given roles.
39. There is no kind way to say this but I will try to be as gentle as possible.
40. The men and women who are not happy with their roles are spiritually immature.
41. The women who are trying to take some type of leading role in a congregation are misguided.
42. The people in a congregation who tolerate this type of thing are still in need of spiritual milk.
43. We are all equal but we do not all have the same roles.
44. Our equality only entitles each one of us to an inheritance.