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Five Things Catholic Priests are not Qualified to Do
Five Things Catholic Priests are not Qualified to Do
Why did God provide priests? When a person sins, he is estranged from God. It requires someone else to sacrifice blood for him (Heb. 5:1), to mediate between him and God, so that his sin may be atoned for and his fellowship with God restored. Under the Law of Moses, God set apart the sons of Aaron to perform this function as priests (Exo. 28:1), assisted by the tribe of Levi.
How is this priestly function to be carried out in the NT? Jesus’ once-for-all sacrifice and abiding priesthood fully satisfies the need for atoning blood and for a mediating priest. Jesus is the reality of which the OT system was but a shadow.
One major problem with Catholic doctrine is a separate priesthood (CCC 1544ff). Jesus is our perfect high priest, and any thought of a separate human priesthood, which continues to offer sacrifices or mediate between man and God, diminishes the role of Jesus, and dishonors His deity. Nowhere in the NT is mention of a separate human priesthood. Here are five things that, according to Scripture, the Catholic priest is unqualified to do:
He is Not Qualified to Stand Apart in a Higher Class. Jesus insisted, “Do not call anyone on earth your father, for One is your Father” (Matt. 23:9). Now, there are certainly father-son relationships Jesus does not prohibit—in a family (Matt. 7:9, Heb. 12:9), figuratively of those who guide in the gospel (1 Tim. 1:2). However, Jesus does prohibit taking “Father” as an ecclesiastical title, warning against ascribing to any person a role that is rightfully God’s. Even those who lead do so as God’s servants (1 Peter 5:1-5, 1 Cor. 3:5-7). There is no clergy-laity distinction in the New Testament.
He is Not Qualified to Offer Atoning Sacrifices. Hebrews 5-10 contrasts the Aaronic priesthood with the Son,
- who was appointed priest by God personally (5:10),
- who “holds His priesthood permanently” (7:24),
- who ministers in God’s presence “at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens” (8:1),
- whose death on Calvary put away sin “by the sacrifice of Himself” (9:26) so that no additional sacrifice is useful,
- and who perfected His followers for all time (10:14).
No other priest is necessary when atonement is satisfied by Jesus!
He is Not Qualified to Mediate between God and Man. “There is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5). Jesus is uniquely qualified for this role because He partakes of both natures, human and divine. He is the only begotten
Son of God (John 3:16) one with the Father (John 1:1, 8:58, 10:30) dwelling in Heaven (John 13:3, Phil. 2:6). At His incarnation, He took upon Himself flesh (Matt. 1:20-23) and experienced life as a human (John 1:14, Phil. 2:7-8). Jesus was “made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest” (Heb. 2:17).
Jesus so perfectly bridges the gap between God and man there is no point in looking for another bridge. No person needs to go through another to get to God. We simply pray to God through Christ.
He is Not Qualified to Prescribe Restitution for of Sin. In Catholic doctrine, a priest hears confession, prescribes acts of penance, and pronounces absolution. While Christians do pray for one another (James 5:16), only God offers salvation (1 John 1:9-2:2). Only Jesus “has authority to forgive sins” (Luke 5:24). The blood of Jesus is so effective that no other act of restitution or penance is necessary to obtain full atonement.
He is Not Qualified to Counsel Families. In the NT, the role of priest in church is never mentioned, nor how they would be appointed and function. But God did ordain church leadership. Bishops or overseers (episkopoi) supervise congregations and lead souls (Phil. 1:1, Heb. 13:17). They are the same as elders (1 Peter 5:1-5). They are qualified by leading their own families (1 Tim. 3:1-5). They must be married with children, not celibate.
--John Guzzetta
