Priesthoods, Priests and Pastors

In the OT the priesthood kept the people away from God. Being born into the line of Aaron, they served in place of the people and went before God on behalf of the people who could not do so. While the idea of a Christian priest serving in this manner is anathema to the whole plan of salvation… the lure of power and gain is hard to deny. And thus a false priesthood has been created by the Catholic church and imitated by others. Thus with the establishment of a "clergy class" who has the power and the duty to serve as gatekeepers for access to heaven, they have inserted themselves into the salvation promised by Jesus and in so doing nullified His word for all who listen to them. The scripture shows us a promise that God has opened the door and allowed us all access to Him through the blood of Jesus. Further the role of Pastor or Elder is not an elevated privilege which grants power, but rather a servant who labors in love to care for the flock of God as under-shepherds to the great Shepherd, our Christ.