This is an ancient system developed at Babel by the wicked wife of Nimrod, Semiramis, through the institution of a class of initiates in the “mysteries” of darkness. It spread and developed as a satanic counterfeit to the truth of Christ. The fertile soil for this corruption is the region of the Mediterranean where the four empires (Babylonian, Persian, Grecian, and Roman) of Nebuchadnezzar’s image stood. The Roman Empire was the last. What began at Babel as idol worship with its trappings, moved to Pergamos (“where Satan’s seat is”), and then to Italy, coming to rest in Rome and in the Roman Catholic Church.
The Roman Catholic Church, with its hierarchy of monks, priests, cardinals, and Pope, refined the clergy system into a fine art. It took the only source of light in the world – the Scriptures – from the common people, and placed them into the hands of the priests, the only interpreters and dispensers of its message to the common people. Even as the ancient Babylonians venerated the priests of the mysteries because they knew what the common people did not, so the Roman Catholics esteemed their priests as far above them in erudition and in the knowledge of the “mysteries,” and only they had the qualifications to teach them. Monasteries were a precursor to Protestant seminaries – schools where the “mysteries” were taught, and where initiates were trained to perform religious rites and ceremonies.
It was a short jump from Romanism to Protestantism, but the clergy system seamlessly moved on, subverting the functioning of the average Christian. Now, instead of priests in charge of the common people, Protestants have their pastors, reverends, teachers, and leaders. The result is similar – the common Christian says nothing and does nothing. Rather than exercise their freedom to share their portion of the Lord within them, they languish in silence and inactivity because the clergy takes care of all the details of the meetings and the general welfare of the ekklesia. That’s a shame.
What should be our reaction to this ancient clergy system that elevates itself and destroys the function of the members of the body of Christ? It is obvious: have no part in it! As believers who are granted the revelation of the mystery of the body of Christ and who desire to participate in its proper function, we should place ourselves in meetings where there is no agenda, no division of saints, no one-man performance, no educated class of the initiated, no silent class of the dreadful “average.” We should meet around and in our precious Christ, and in oneness with all true believers. We should simply be what we are: the Body of Christ gathering under His headship. We should have no other names but Jesus Christ attached to us. We should have the freedom to talk, to study the Word, to ask questions, to learn from one another, and to bear the responsibility for ourselves, for our families, and for each other before the Lord. We must put ourselves in a position to build up the body of Christ through our fellowship and our prayers. Sitting silently and facing in one direction in gatherings under a pre-programmed format is an offense to the active Spirit within us and is a concession to the ancient system of “the mysteries” that emasculates and eviscerates the ekklesia (gathering) of Christ.
How will we answer the Lord when He questions our participation in this Babylonian system? Individually we will answer for ourselves, but as spouses and parents we will answer for others as well. Will we blithely continue to subject our children to something we know is wrong and is to be judged? If we offend them by not leading them properly, will Jesus’ words about millstones apply to us? We should fear that they do.
If we depart the ancient system that stymies the Lord’s life in us, meet with others of like mind, stand for the oneness of the body of Christ, and function like we should, then perhaps the Lord will express His pleasure when we see Him.