According to the New Testament every believer in Jesus belongs to a royal priesthood of believers (1 Pet. 2:9). Every believer can access the throne of grace with confidence because we have a High Priest in heaven—Jesus—who understands our weaknesses and will extend mercy and grace in time of need (Heb. 4:14–16). There is thus no need for a layer of priests or others to be intermediaries. In the New Testament church there were however offices: elders (or bishops) and deacons. There were also people with special gifts: apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers (Eph. 4:11). These people could be elders or deacons or other believers. But over time some church elders took on extended roles—roles not supported in the New Testament—to administer opinions, judgments, and decrees. This layer of people who took on this extended role of elders stood between God and the believers. According to some scholars these people because of this kind of teaching and practices are referred to as the Nicolaitans. This over time has expanded into the clerical system—the systems of clergy—that we see in some established denominations. According to the letters to the churches found in Revelations, the introduction of the clerical system is displeasing to God (Rev. 2:6, 15).

Jesus had words to say about the religious leaders of His time. Luke 20:45–47 says, “Then, with the crowds listening, He turned to His disciples and said, "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they like to parade around in flowing robes and love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces. And how they love the seats of honour in the synagogues and the head table at banquets. Yet they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property and then pretend to be pious by making long prayers in public. Because of this, they will be severely punished" (NLT). This was true of the teachers of the law then and it bears similarities to what we find today.

Contrast this with the way Jesus acted towards His disciples and the instructions He gave them as found in John 13:12–17, “After washing their feet, He put on His robe again and sat down and asked, "Do you understand what I was doing? You call Me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and you are right, because that's what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other's feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth; slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the One who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them” (NLT).

Washing of each other’s feet symbolises serving each other in a humble way. Paul expands on this in his letter to the church in Philippi (See Phil. 2:2–11).

In summary, Christianity was not meant to be a religion where people are expected to follow a set of rules, regulations and rituals administered by an elite group of individuals. Christianity is a way of life, lived like Jesus in fellowship with God and with man.