THE CLERGY

The depiction of religion by our TV and movie media tends to give us a mirror at least on their perception of reality. While we might suspect that these mirrors are straight out of the fun-house, the images might bear our measured attention.

First, they rarely, if ever, reflect pure and undefiled religion, which would show those individuals who are so influenced by their relationship with God that they: "visit the widows and orphans in their affliction and keep themselves unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).

Instead, good or bad (but mostly bad), the image is of a "clergyman." This oversimplification is readily accepted by a public which has little interest in grappling with the details of their religious beliefs. Professing to be bible-based, most cannot explain the rudimentary "rightful division" between the Old and New Testaments.

As a result, a clergy class has arisen in this country which has as its primary function to "do the religion" for the rest of society. Modeled closely to that of the Roman Catholic church, this un-royal priesthood dominates religious thinking.

That such a class of individuals is totally foreign to the New Testament is not given a second thought. Indeed, it seems that the primary goal of this class is to convince the rest of us that we cannot understand the bible (or at least we cannot understand it alike). As long as they are successful in getting this message across, their position is assured.

The bible says "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12). And, it gives to each of us the responsibility for making sure that our leadership is teaching the truth (Mt. 7:15-23, Acts 20:29-31, 2 Pet. 2 and many, many others).

Those who have vested interests (Phil. 3:19) in keeping people from learning the truth have always been the enemy of Christ. Jesus reserved his strongest words of condemnation for the clergy of his day (Mt. 23). The spirit with which these men led the crucifixion of Christ still dominates the religious world today.

When we think of our religion, do we think of an organization? a preacher? a clergy? Or do we identify it with those simple folk who have given their lives to Christ? Do we have the deepest love (1 Jn. 4:20) and respect for our fellow Christians who are striving to "work that which is good toward all men, and especially toward them of the household of the faith" (Gal 6:10)?

If we fail to realize this we will be enslaved, not just in this life, but throughout eternity; for only the truth can free us (Jn. 8:32).