Not a Title Game
Of the many things that came out of the 16th century Reformation for which to give God thanks is the recognition of the priesthood of all believers. There are immature and mature Christians, there are Christians gifted to serve and others gifted to speak, but there are not two classes: clergy and laymen.
Perhaps there’s a place to use those terms, but they have much baggage, and no one ever says having more baggage is better. There are shepherds and flocks, and most are warned away from the greater accountability that comes with being a teacher. But many elders have been hypocrites, and many back-pew sitters have earned great reward. Access to God is not a title game.
We are saved by faith alone through grace alone in Christ alone. So this means, first, that we all have direct access to God. We do not have any other mediator than Christ. This means, second, that we all represent Christ to other men. They do not need us to stand between them and God, but we are called to bear witness from God to them.
Christ is our “great high priest” (Hebrews 4:14 bibrefhebrews4 bibrefhebrews4v14), and “by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption” (Hebrews 9:12 bibrefhebrews9 bibrefhebrews9v12).
In Revelation 5 bibrefrevelation5 the Lamb is praised:
you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people
for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth.”
(Revelation 5:9–10 bibrefrevelation5 bibrefrevelation5v9 bibrefrevelation5v10 ESV)
This is known as the priesthood of all believers, and here we are, communing with God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.