They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷ greetings in the marketplaces, and to be called by men, 'Rabbi, Rabbi.' ⁸ But you, do not be called 'Rabbi'; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. ⁹ Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. ¹⁰ And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹ But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant (Matthew 23:6-11).

This passage from Christ's lips should forever eliminate the clergy-laity distinction. And yet, such hierarchies thrive in many of the churches and denominations of men. Yes, the Scriptures identify different functions of work in the church (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers, Ephesians 4:11-12), but these are works of service, not positions of ordination given by the church. An ordained clergy establishes a pecking order of preeminence among Christians that does not exist in the New Testament. We are taught to submit to one another in the fear of God, not elevate a clergy to direct the people in the pews (Ephesians 5:21). The Lord washed feet, but now, people kiss a man's feet as if he were God (John 13:12-17; Acts 10:25-26)! Pride feeds the desire for power and to be recognized above others. The clergy-laity distinction, that wraps people in garbs of religious hierarchy, separating and elevating one above another, is not from God (1 Corinthians 4:6).