The Priestly Duty of Proclamation

by Laura Springer, M.Div., Th.M., Ph.D. 

Key Verses: Matthew 5:13-16; Luke 10:11; Romans 1:16-17; Colossians 4:2-6; 1 Peter 3:14b-17

Key Idea: The priestly duty of proclamation accurately and clearly declares Jesus as the one crucial message in a world filled with polarizing passions.

We live in a world of polarizing and passionate causes. There are many good things to say. But there is only one necessary thing to say: Jesus is Lord, and only Jesus saves. Every official word we speak must center on this good news, and this good news must be the measure of all we declare. Unless the good news of Jesus is our primary concern and message, everything else about church is meaningless.

Make sure the message is accurate and clear. Eternity is on the line, and eternity gives meaning to life. Therefore, our message about Jesus must be accurate and clear. Our proclamation is accurate when it flows from our immersion in Scripture. The message is clear when spoken in the languages and cultures surrounding us. But accuracy and clarity are still not enough. We must proclaim Jesus with gentleness and grace to respect the hearers without ever compromising the truth about Jesus.

Focus on Christ in all things. Everything about us is all about Christ, or it should be. We learn to focus on Jesus by reflecting on his glory in straightforward, correct ways and sharing what we know with others. When everything around us prioritizes human concerns, we proclaim Jesus. When those around us speak against us, we proclaim Jesus. Therefore, let us focus on Christ and choose to be ready with his truth no matter the surrounding circumstances.

Live Christ in every direction. Worship is life; it is not merely a gathering on Sunday morning. Our everyday actions and regular words shine the love and glory of Jesus in ways that others will understand. Whole-life worship speaks through the cultures and languages surrounding us and tells the truth about Jesus clearly and accurately.  As whole-life worshipers, we immerse ourselves in his Word in the company of our brothers and sisters so our lives and words might proclaim and portray Jesus wherever we are. We help one another become whole-life reflections of Jesus so we may influence others toward Jesus’s Kingdom, proclaiming and portraying him at every favorable moment. We hold one another as friends and siblings, knowing each other well enough to help one another be better proclaimers. As priests of God, we proclaim the good news without hesitation through every aspect of life, work, and speech to make known God’s gift of life in Christ.

The good news of Jesus is eternally weighty, and our proclamation of that good news ought to be driven by that weight, moved forward by God’s intention, and focused on Jesus. Jesus, our Great High Priest, Savior, and Lord, is our primary message and the perspective through which we understand the polarizing passions that fill our culture. Therefore, let us take every favorable moment to proclaim and portray him. Let us place his Kingdom above all other concerns, evaluating all we do as priests by his measure. Let us center our declarations on Jesus, align our lives with Jesus, and measure our success by Jesus. Let us be a community of passionate, worshiping priests who proclaim him out of our deepening knowledge of him and toward his glory.