Neither Revelation 1 nor 1 Peter 2 narrows its focus to address some elite group, such as leaders or preachers. Both passages address ordinary Christians (Revelation 1:3-4; 1 Peter 1:1-2, 8-22; 2:2-3). They all belong to the holy and royal priesthood! They are all priests who serve God the Father! The New Covenant never divides God’s people into two categories—some “holy” and others “ordinary,” or some “holy” and others “holier.” There is no division into “laity” (non-priests, non-ministers) and “clergy” (priestly figures and “official” ministers).
Where, then, do people get the idea that they are “laity” under a separate “clergy”? From tradition. This habit is so established that many people never see that they are following merely human traditions. But as you read the New Testament, ask, “Does Jesus split God’s people today into two classes? Does the New Covenant organize the church into sacred priests and ordinary (lay) members?” Instead of division, you will find an equality first outlined by Jesus in Matthew 23.
[The teachers of the law and the Pharisees] love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces and being called rabbi by others. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. The greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:6-12)
With reference to religious titles, “Call no man your father.”
We have one Teacher, and the rest of us are brothers. To be sure, there are various functions within the body of Christ. God gifts some for benevolence, some for leading, some for teaching, some for special generosity Romans 12:6-8). Yet each member belongs to all the others (Romans 12:5). We are to honor other members
above ourselves (Romans 12:10). We reject pride, and “associate with the lowly” (Romans 12:16). There is a shared equality in relation to God and each other.
Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord…. As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” … God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. (1 Corinthians 12:4- 6, 20-21, 24-25)
Division into religious classes is foreign to the New Covenant.
There should be “no division” in the body of believers. Man-made divisions into a higher class (priests) and a lower class (non-priests) are foreign to the New Covenant. Worse, they contradict the New Testament’s teaching that treats every true Christian as a “priest” and a “saint” (fully sanctified or holy). Worst of all, it treats Jesus’ mediation as insufficient. It tries to force ordinary members to go through a superior member to reach God, thus adding another mediator besides Christ who is the one and only Mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).