The Biblical Priesthood |
There are some huge problems with Mormons' continuation of the Aaronic priesthood.
Jesus replaced the Aaronic priesthood with a new one
The Old Covenant priesthood was the Aaronic system of sacrifices. In the New Covenant, Jesus fulfills the Law and
replaces
both these types of sacrifices and priesthood.
{Hebrews 7:11-13} - If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need
[was there] that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron? For the PRIESTHOOD
BEGIN CHANGED, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.
{Hebrews 9:15-16} - And for this cause he is the mediator of THE new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions
[that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. For where a testament [is], there must
also of necessity be the death of the testator.
The new priesthood is the "holy priesthood of believers in Jesus" {1 Peter 2:5, Revelation {1:6, 5:10, and 20:6}}.
Jesus is the mediator of the new covenant in His Blood. This is what he teaches
during the Last Supper. {1 Peter 2:5} - Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices,
acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
The current Mormon Aaronic priesthood is totally different from the original
The Mormon Aaronic priesthood forbids women from becoming priests (much like the Catholic system).
In the body of Christ, female
believers are already priests and do not have to be ordained. This is the royal priesthood of believers that Peter wrote about in 1 Peter chapter 2.
Up until 1975 or so, blacks were forbidden to become priests. In the body of Christ, believers who are black men or black women are already priests
and do not have to be ordained.
The original Aaronic priesthood followed a very detailed set of rules, regulations, animal sacrifices, grain offerings, and wearing of garments.
Joseph Smith has basically "thrown out the baby with the bath water".
Joseph Smith eliminated the animal sacrifices, grain offerings, special
garments, etc, etc and replaced it with his own version. It is no longer the Aaronic priesthood.
According to Hebrew tradition, Aaronic priests held the title at age 30. In the Mormon theology, it is age 12.
According to the Hebrew tradition, only Jews with a proven lineage to Aaron could serve under the Levitical priesthood. Mormons cannot prove nor disprove that their priests are descendants of Aaron.
Irregardless, it can be shown from the Bible that Jesus replaced the
Aaronic priesthood with a new one - the royal priesthood (spiritual) of believers.
The spiritual sacrifices of the New Covenant are acceptable to God instead of the physical Aaronic sacrifices of the Old/Mormon covenant.
I saw this on someone's web site. He said: a spiritual sacrifice is an act of
giving up and offering to God our time and effort in a way that is pleasing
to Him. What makes a spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God? Is it merely
the sacrificing of our time and effort? No, it is more than that. Comparing
the sacrifice of Noah to the hypocritical sacrifices of the children of Israel shows that the attitude and righteousness of the offerer is important to God
(Genesis 8:20-21; Amos 5:21-27). A spiritual sacrifice must be offered in an attitude of obedience, humility, and reverence.
Praising God is a spiritual sacrifice. "Therefore by Him [Christ] let us continually offer the sacrifices of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our
lips, giving thanks to His name" (Hebrews 13:15). Sincerely offering praise to God is an acceptable sacrifice which pleases Him.
Praise is a
form of spiritual worship that helps us stay focused on God.