But Korah had not learnt this simple, but wholesome, principle. He was not content with his divinely appointed place and service, but aimed at something which did not belong to him at all,—he aimed at being a priest. His sin was the sin of rebellion against God’s high-priest. This was “the gainsaying of Core.”
It is important to seize this fact in Korah’s history. It is not generally understood; and hence it is that his sin is charged, nowadays, upon those who seek to exercise any gift which may have been bestowed upon them by the Head of the Church. But a moment’s calm reflection upon the subject in the light of Scripture would be quite sufficient to show how utterly baseless is such a charge. Take, for example, a man to whom Christ has manifestly given the gift of an evangelist. Are we to suppose him guilty of the sin of Korah because, in pursuance of the divine gift and the divine commission, he goes forth to preach the gospel? Should he preach? or should he not preach? Is the divine gift—the divine call—sufficient? Is he acting as a rebel when he preaches the gospel?
So also as regards a pastor or teacher. Is he guilty of the sin of Korah because he exercises the special gift imparted to him by the Head of the Church? Does not Christ’s gift make a man a minister? is any thing further necessary? Is it not plain, to any unprejudiced mind—to any one willing to be taught by Scripture, that the possession of a divinely imparted gift makes a man a minister, without any thing further whatsoever? And is it not equally plain that though a man had every thing else that could be had, and yet had no gift from the Head of the Church, he is no minister? We confess we do not see how these plain propositions can be called in question.
We are speaking, be it remembered, of special gifts of ministry in the Church. No doubt, every member in the body of Christ has some ministry to fulfill, some work to do. This is understood by every well-instructed Christian; and, moreover, it is clear that the edification of the body is carried on, not merely by some special prominent gifts, but by the effectual working of all the members in their respective places, as we read in the epistle to the Ephesians—“But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together, and compacted by that which _every joint supplieth_, according to _the effectual working in the measure of every part_, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.” (Chap. iv. 15,16.)
All this is as plain as Scripture can make it. But as to any special gifts, such as that of evangelist, pastor, prophet, or teacher, it must be received from Christ alone; and the possession of it makes a man a minister, without any thing further. And, on the other hand, all the education and all the human authority under the sun could not make a man an evangelist, a pastor, or teacher, unless he has a _bona-fide_ gift from the Head of the Church.
Thus much as to ministry in the Church of God. We trust enough has been said to prove to the reader that it is a very grave mistake indeed to charge men with the awful sin of Korah because they exercise those gifts which have been imparted to them by the great Head of the Church. In point of fact, it would be a sin not to exercise them.
But there is a very material difference between ministry and priesthood. Korah did not aim at being a minister, for that he was. He aimed at being a priest, which he could not be. The priesthood was vested in Aaron and his family; and it was a daring usurpation for any one else, no matter who, to attempt to offer sacrifice, or discharge any other priestly function. Now, Aaron was a type of our great High-Priest, who is passed into the heavens—Jesus, the Son of God. Heaven is the sphere of His ministry. “If He were on earth, He should not be a priest.” (Heb. viii. 4.) “Our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.” There is no such thing as a priest on earth now, save in the sense in which all believers are priests. Thus we read in Peter, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood.” (Chap. ii. 9.) Every Christian is a priest in this sense of the term. The very feeblest saint in the Church of God is as much a priest as Paul was. It is not a question of capacity, or spiritual power, but simply of position. All believers are priests, and they are called to offer spiritual sacrifices, according to Hebrews xiii. 15, 16.—“By Him therefore let us offer the _sacrifice of praise_ to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. But to do good and to communicate forget not; for with _such sacrifices_ God is well pleased.”