Clerical Celibacy

Hi Cynical Diogenes,Thank you for starting this debate, and am looking forward to a very fruitful discussion.My Opening Statements will be on the following points:1. An exclusive Clerical Order is unbiblical2. The disciplinary action of enforcing Celibacy on the elders and overseers of the Church is unbiblicalI will bring up the harm of this institution later.1. An Exclusive Clerical Order is UnbiblicalTo begin this argument, I will first highlight what a priest is according to the Bible.In the Old Testament, the Mosiac Law setup a Priesthood whose purpose were to be mediators, the one's who would perform sacrifices and intercede on behalf of the people of Israel to Yahweh. The leader of this organization in Israel would be the High Priest, whose function has now been replaced by Christ."The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them."[1]In the book of Hebrews, the author writes about the superiority of the new Covenant, particularly in regards to the cessation of the Levitical Priesthood and restorcation of the Melchizedek with Jesus as the great and eternal High Priest."For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever."[2]This is not all the New Testament has to say in regards to the priesthood, as here is the truly relevant information.Priesthood of All Believers"you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."[3]In this passage, Peter uses the analogy of a house being built, by drawing from ancient Jewish symbolism. God is not building a new temple where only the exclusive Levitical Priesthood may enter. Rather, he is building a spritual house, not made of inanimate stones, but living stones, the Church, the people of God. And they collectively are to be the holy priesthood, and offer spritual sacrifices rather than the sheep and goats of old.[4][5] Peter also goes on to state:"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."[6]This passage cognates with Deuteronomy 7:6, where it says:“For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth."[7] This people in Christ (as Paul would put it) are now the people of God, those who are in union with Christ and believe on his name. They are the one's who have been redeemed, called out of darkness that they may proclaim God's excellencies to the world. This group, this Church, made up of all believers is the holy priesthood of the NT Church. They are the light of the world, given the ministry of reconciliation to be mediators between God and man as all men can now draw close to the throne of grace without the use of an exclusive mediatorial priesthood as was the case in the OT.2. The Disciplinary Action of Enforcing Celibacy on the Elders and Overseers of the Church is UnbiblicalIn the NT, the designated leadership is made up of Elders or also called Overseers.Here below is a list of qualfications for these leaders:1. "Above Reproach"2. "Husband of one wife"3. "sober-minded"4. "self-controlled" 5. "respectable" 6. "hospitable" 7. "able to teach"8. "not a drunkard" 9. "not violent but gentle" 10. "not quarrelsome" 11. "not a lover of money" 12. "He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive"13. "He must not be a recent convert"14. "he must be well thought of by outsiders"Source: 1 Timothy 3:2-7 (ESV)Note, these are "He must" statements with an imperative command for those who were to aspire to this office must qualify for. This is not a recommendation, and therefore those who are not the husband of one wife and also those who do not have children do not qualify as they cannot fulfill the qualifications 2 and 12. Even when one looks into the Paul's logic of the qualifications this argument is made even stronger."for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church?"[8]The ability and experience of a husband and father properly managing his own household is in Paul's argument reason to believe he would be able to care for God's church. How in this argument would it make sense for the Church to then ignore this command, and appoint men who have never managed their own household and who have been single and without children their entire lives? This is in direct contradiction, and appoints men who are unqualified for their position, which not to mention is of an unbiblical nature because it is an exclusive priesthood.Conclusion:It is therefore incorrect based upon these points to have an exclusive Clerical order in which Celibacy is enforced.I look forward to my opponent's rebuttals and hope that this continues to be in line with our previous debate, which was thoughful and considerate.Kind Regards,TrueScotsman[1] Hebrews 7:23-25 (ESV)[2] Hebrews 7:28 (ESV)[3] 1 Peter 2:5 (ESV)[4] Hebrews 13:15-16 (ESV)[5] Romans 12:1 (ESV)[6] 1 Peter 2:9 (ESV)[7] Deuteronomy 7:6 (ESV)[8] 1 Timothy 3:5 (ESV)