What's a priest? (Hebrews - Day 21)

Sermons are tricky beasts...they can get away from you sometimes. And with the kindest respect to our vicar, Paul, I think his sermon back in October on Hebrews 7:23-28 rather got away from him. As I've read back through my notes of the sermon, and as I re-read the passage I'm forced to conclude he tried to say too much..breaking my personal rule that a sermon should be summarisable in one sentence (see here for a rather brutal critique of a service I attended).

I think Paul was trying to summarise a number of Hebrews-related themes:
1. The High Priest
2. Sacrifice
3. Sin
4. Exaltation and Acension

Now as it happens I've already picked up the theme of ascension in Hebrews here. And I've spoken about sacrifice here, amongst other references. And sin get's an expose in other places too. (This is why it's useful to do a journey through the book - not an edited highlights approach of the lectionary)

This then leaves us with the High Priesthood to consider.

(It's certainly worth saying at this point that I have, as someone who is seriously interested in ordination, found this study of Hebrews very helpful in deepening my understanding of the priestly function of a vicar...who's other main functions might be seen as pastor and prophet...or is that chaplaincy?...)

It's worth, while we're thinking about Priests to pause and consider what Hebrews notes they do:
- They represent the people (Heb 5:1) and in a sense vicars do still do that. They are not mediators - Hebrews streses this later in the letter - Jesus is the only mediator. But priests stand alongside people, almost like a union rep, petitioning and standing up for them.
- Intercessions (Heb 7:25): we see Jesus in heaven offering prayers for us, and so priests on earth would be expected to do the same.

- Sacrifices...perhaps of praise (Hebrews 5:1; 13:15), but also the role of our priests is to preside at communion which is an enactment of Christ's sacrifice. They are recounting the passion of Christ.
- Gifts: I think priests do unlock our potential and talents, but they also practically receive and offer to God our monetary offerings (Heb 5:1)
- Pastoring (Heb 5:2) is part of being a priest - like Jesus the shepherd - where the ignorant and those going astray are cared for by the priest.
- Worship (Heb 8:1-2) is part of making God present to us. We are brought more consciously into the very throne room of God when our priests lead us in worship of God.

But Hebrews makes it very clear that Jesus is a FAR superior High Priest to those who served in the Tabernacle, or in the Temple.

In these six verses in Hebrews 7:23-28 we review six ways in which Jesus is shown as totally adequate to meet our needs:

Hebrews 7	Jesus	The High Priests
v.23	One	Many
v.24	Permanent	Temporary
v.25	Saves completely	Saves incompletely
v.26	Holy, blameless, pure, set apart, exalted	Earthly, sinful, profane
v.27	Once-for-all	Repeated
v.28	Perfect	Weak

There is only one JESUS, but he is totally sufficient.

Our response?

Come to Jesus, through God (Heb 7:25) and he WILL save you completely. That's a promise!

Ration your prattling...

Visited my childhood church this morning...woah!...what a lot's changed: people, pews, worship, ages (for instance, how is it possible that my ancient sunday school teacher is a) alive, and b) even more ancient...she must be impossibly old now)


Sadly, I feel prompted to blog after this service for negative reasons. Now I realise this is my personal take, and the minister I'm describing does not have the opportunity to speak back (to try and protect identities I've not named the church or minister, although I will establish they are male), but I think it important for my ongoing reflection to think through what I experienced. I am also, and as always, open to criticism myself - or even a response from the unnamed minister.

So my problems were as follows:-

1. The minister led the entire service - not leaving the 'stage' at any point, and throughout the nearly hour and three quarter service he spoke at length. Now, please don't get me wrong, some churches do have a lack of leaders, but clearly this is a church that both in the past and present have people perfectly capable of leading.


2. As I've said, the chap was far too wordy: he said too much too often

3. He remained stood by the lectern throughout all the sung worship and, as a consequence of his proximity to the singers, appeared to be part of the band. I saw no reason for his continued presence on 'stage'. It gave the impression he was simply hanging around for this quick activity, that he couldn't wait for the music to finish. He was also positioned immediately below the screen so that it wasn't even like he was out of your eyeline. For me, this was distracting. As a worship leader it makes me think afresh about how us 'leaders' look...are we distracting or enabling.

4. He led and preached. Again, this is unavoidable in some churches...or is it? I am inclined to think this is lazy - there are plenty of people in every church who are capable of being used by God to simply lead the service - welcome people, explain what will happen, ensure those doing readings or prayers get up, etc...you need no theological background to lead a service - but it might mean we have a break from the same person - and if a member of the congregation is likely to be a great encouragement. I think it is far better to have different people lead and preach. I was (frankly) tired of listening to the minister by the time he started his sermon.

5. Prior to the sermon however he did two mini-sermons in prayers! This is something I have often been accused of - long prayers that become theological treatise. This can be especially damaging after a sermon when the leader starts to pray their own sermon, or qualifies what's been said. There is a difference of course, in taking the sermon issues and praying into them, asking God to teach us, but another thing entirely to say 'new' things. Before the sermon even started the minister prayed two long prayers that whilst addressed to God included lots that (even to my visitor's ears) sounded like rebukes and reminders to the congregation. For example, "We know Lord that you call us to deal with one another in open and honest ways not gossipping behind one anothers' backs..."(just an example).

6. The longest pre-sermon prayer came at the start of free prayer, which stunted any congregation participation. A good while into the service, the minister invited the congregation to join in a period of open prayer, including prayers in mother-tongues. I was quite excited by this all member participation. However, the minister launched into a long personal prayer that felt preachy in tone (see point 5). When finished there were a few prayers from the congregation that didn't amount to the same length as his...and I wondered if his 'professional' prayer dissuades people...?

7. The sermon itself was one of the first I've observed for quite a while that wasn't either scripted or at least thoroughly planned with a definite explicit structure. Again, this might simply be a personal homiletical (theory of sermons/preaching) point of view, but despite this my rule of thumb failed. This rule of thumb is simple: can you explain the theme of your sermon in one sentence? I could not answer this question, nor my Mum, or my aunt. The sermon was long - easily over 30 minutes; repetitive; and neither narrative or exegetical. I think I could see where he drew his theme from the passage (Romans 5:1-11) but I struggled...

8. At the end of the sermon he prayed the ending prayer, we sang a final song (he stayed on stage), he read verses from Jude (vv.24-25) and the service ended. But instead of retreating from the lectern he just stood there... Again this may just be personal preference, or maybe by this stage of the service I was so cheesed off anything he might do would annoy me...I don't know. Either way, it was yet another example of the need for less of him. Had he stepped back two metres and sat on the chair, or dropped off the stage and sat on the front row, or even immediately moved to the back of church to greet those leaving...I don't know...something, anything that might clear my field of vision...

All in all I left feeling really disappointed. The minister did not minister to me, in fact he came across as deeply insincere, not least when during the sermon he invited the congregation to speak with him afterwards about his failings. This was delivered in such a spirit of insincerity as to have almost felt arrogant, by which I mean, it sounded like he would welcome criticism, but doubted a) that there would be any, and b) that any criticism was a reflection on the other person... When I go to church, I've realised I want to have space to meet with God, worship Him alone, to see my church family ministering to one another, and to hear God clearly from His word. I do expect ministers/pastors/vicars to be professionals, but I am not attending a show.

...phew...

Now....this minister may do all of this without being aware of anything being amiss. It could also be entirely likely that I am fundamentally wrong and getting my knickers in a twist over things that only annoy me.

So, let me rephrase this entire blog - maybe God was simply making me mad about those things I see in me. Am I too often the centre of attention in worship? Am I too wordy? Am I inprecise when speaking in public? I hope not to all of these. Certainly, I felt like certain 'rules' crystallized in my mind:
1. No one person should be visibly present on stage for the entire service - a surreptitious chair placed off centre might even suffice
2. The key is simple, straightforward speach. Every link need not be accompanied by deep explanation. I think this is part of a life lived in simplicity.
3. Let the worship band - if you have one - lead worship. Noone wants to hear or watch you sing - step off stage and enjoy the way the band/individuals lead the congregation.
4. A second voice is critical - you should always try to have a second person lead the service.
5. Prayers are not sermons!
6. Let people pray if you want them to - don't put people off with 'professional' prayers. In my experience people are not inspired by long prayers, they are intimidated.
7. Sermons must be easily and precisely explained, even if they are long - what is your theme?
8. You should step away from the stage as quickly as possible after the service, either to minister or meet & greet.

Harumph...having said all of this I'm probably wrong. I'm not even sure why I'm blogging about it...just got me all worked up.