Internet ordination

"You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, 

in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."  1 Peter2.9

My oldest daughter is an educator.  She is very good at what she does.  She also has 100+ people who, at any time, are certain they know how to do her job better than she does, or as they say in education circles, everyone who has ever been a student believes they know how to be a teacher.

I'm sure this dynamic is present in lots of professions....amateur car mechanics, internet medical experts, especially parenting!  The Church has this as well and it is grounded in biblical passages like 1 Peter 2.9 where we are called 'a royal priesthood.'

For many, this means that anyone who can #1 read the Bible, #2 has ever been in a worship service or #3 has listened to talk radio hosted by 'religious' hosts can be an expert of one on any given topic.  There is no expectation of depth of learning or logical reasoning.  There is no expectation of serious thought.  Every one can be a priesthood of one and expound on what God is saying.

[I pause just to point out that it amazes me how quickly folk figure out what God is saying or what God wants.  The Church has been discussing this for 2000+ years and still the discussion continues.  I much prefer to say, 'this is what I read and what I think it is saying.'  What God wants is ultimately mystery.]

So for those who think that being called to the priesthood means pontificating I want to point out the second half of Peter's statement......'in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."  That is God's purpose in calling us....so we might proclaim.  Our proclamation is not to be our evaluation of right and wrong but rather to tell others about the mighty acts of the one who calls us, the same one who rescued us from darkness and brought us to light.

This is everyone's calling - to bring light into the darkness by bringing Jesus and his love with us.  We are not called to be the moral police or adjudicators of religious aesthetic.  Tell others about where you were when Jesus found you.  Tell others how grateful you are for Jesus' love.  Tell others how much Jesus wants them to come to the table.

That should keep you busy enough, right?