Historical criticism has performed an inestimable service to true religion by clearing up the historical antagon- Xism between priest and prophet in the Old Testament, and labeling the literary documents of Jewish religion according to
the religious interest which produced or reedited them. This antagonism is a permanent element in the Christian religion, and part of the conflict between •'-the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Evil. A comprehension of the difference between prophet and priest is essential to a clear understanding of Jesus and to intelligent discipleship. The priest is the religious professional. He performs religious functions which others are not allowed to perform. It is therefore to his interest to deny the right of free access to God, and to interpose himself and his ceremonial between the common man and God. He has an interest in representing God as remote, liable to anger, jealous of his rights, and quick to punish, because this gives importance to the ritual methods of pla- ^ eating God which the priest alone can handle. It is essential to the priestly interest to establish a monopoly of rights and functions for his group. He is all for authority, and in some form or other he is always a ^The importance of prophecy within the Christian religion has been discussed in part in Chapt.... so tempted is James to paste in the next 20 paragraphs but the book is free and online and available at archive.org.
the religious interest which produced or reedited them. This antagonism is a permanent element in the Christian religion, and part of the conflict between •'-the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Evil. A comprehension of the difference between prophet and priest is essential to a clear understanding of Jesus and to intelligent discipleship. The priest is the religious professional. He performs religious functions which others are not allowed to perform. It is therefore to his interest to deny the right of free access to God, and to interpose himself and his ceremonial between the common man and God. He has an interest in representing God as remote, liable to anger, jealous of his rights, and quick to punish, because this gives importance to the ritual methods of pla- ^ eating God which the priest alone can handle. It is essential to the priestly interest to establish a monopoly of rights and functions for his group. He is all for authority, and in some form or other he is always a ^The importance of prophecy within the Christian religion has been discussed in part in Chapt.... so tempted is James to paste in the next 20 paragraphs but the book is free and online and available at archive.org.
No comments:
Post a Comment