Priesthood of All Believers: Between Personal Devotion and Ecclesiastical Hierarchy

What is it?

The priesthood of all believers is a central concept in Christianity which recognizes that all Christians, through the sacrifice of Jesus the Christ, are called to a direct relationship with God and to participate actively in the life of the Church. An organic church, people who come together.

Origins and development:

Catholic and Orthodox Tradition: Emphasizes the individual responsibility of the faithful in preserving and spreading the Gospel, without denying the importance of the ordained ministerial priesthood.
Second Vatican Council: The constitution Lumen Gentium reinforces the priesthood of all believers, recognizing that the relationship with God transcends priestly ordination.
Protestantism: Luther defended a general priesthood, fighting the medieval division between "spiritual" and "temporal". All the baptized are considered "priests" and "spiritual" before God.
Applications:

Worship: All believers can offer prayers, praise and Bible readings, even in the absence of a priest, pastor, anointed one, supra anointed one, apostle, pai postolo, shaman . All those whose conscience has awakened and who have become Christ, through him and in his grace high priest, have become high priests, being able to commune daily with the Father who is ours, to commune with their awakened brothers and sisters. Avoid false bridges.
Evangelization: Every Christian is called to share their faith with the world, whether in personal conversations or in missionary actions. To practice the priesthood is to be aware that you are light. We are all lit candles and we need to bend down to light others.
Service: The priesthood of all believers is manifested in service to others, in charity and in the search for social justice.
Criticisms and challenges:

Inequality of power: The priesthood of all believers does not always translate into equal participation in the Church, with lay people having less say than the clergy. This includes the values of the Vatican Bank and the accounts of evangelical leaders in Brazil.
Abuse of power: Religious leaders can manipulate doctrine for personal gain, creating oppressive hierarchical systems.

Conclusion:

The priesthood of all believers is a fundamental principle of Christianity that invites each believer to an active commitment to God and the community. It is important to seek a balance between personal devotion and participation in the life of the Church, recognizing the importance of the ordained ministerial priesthood without falling into abuses of power.

For reflection:

How do you understand the priesthood of all believers in your personal life?
What actions can you take to participate more actively in the life of the Church?
How can we prevent the priesthood of all believers from being used to justify inequality and abuse of power?
References:

I Peter 2:9
Revelation 5:10
Second Vatican Council, Lumen Gentium
Martin Luther, "To the Christian Nobility of the German Nation"