Why We Love Kings More Than Priests

Jim Ladd

I’ve been listening to the most impactful and emotional podcast in my life and I think it may be important for all Christians to hear. It is called, “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill”. It is produced by Christianity Today and documents the birth, life, and death of the Mars Hill church and campuses, and their leader, Mark Driscoll.

It is both impactful and emotional for me because it explores some of the underlying dysfunctions of the church world, leaders, pastors, and church culture itself.

Note: There are some broad statements and assumptions expressed in the series with which I do not agree, along with some sweeping generalizations. However, it could still be considered essential listening for us all.

I’m only in episode 2 and I became overwhelmed with the human desire to have Kings to rule over us, rather than to have God rule over us. This is a troubling reality for us and worthy of some brief reflection.

The first King in Israel’s history was Saul. Prior to King Saul, Israel was governed by God Himself, through Priests. The reason God gave them a King is that the people wanted to have a King,  “like all the other nations”. 

Here is what is interesting to me. 

God has always used human beings to help groups, nations, and communities to discern His will and guidance. Moses, Noah, Abraham, Joseph...I mean the list is endless. So what is the big deal about asking for a King?

When the leader is a Priest, his duty is to discern God’s leadership for the people. It was a Theocracy, articulated by God through human instruments. But when the leader is a King, the people are subject to the will, desires, and guidance of a King - for whatever purposes or motives he may possess. In other words, when following Priests, people were following God, but when following Kings, people were following men.

Many pastors today operate like Kings, CEO’s, and celebrities. They shamelessly declare their vision for the church, their “brand” for the marketplace, and their authority as imminent. Why do christians go for this? Because we love Kings more than Priests. We love to follow men (and women) because that is easier than following God. And because we love celebrities. We love charismatic leaders who appear confident and have all the answers. We love not to struggle or have tension.

So what Priests should we be following today? None. We are a Kingdom of Priests! And so our leadership structures in the Body of Christ are to be based on spiritual gifts and mutual submission, not on authority structures or Kingship. We are brothers and sisters who make up the Body together, with each member doing its part, mutually submitted to and serving the whole.

I don’t think the New Testament would recognize modern church leadership practices at all. And that is a sober warning that we need to re-think this entire thing.