Are Clergy Necessary? (Jesus, Earth, gospel, salvation, followers)

[Sunstone]

Are there any ways in which clergy are necessary for salvation? If so, what are those ways?

[Dunemeister]

They're not necessary for salvation. They're necessary for the orderly operation of churches and church communities (i.e., "church" defined as an building, institution, or community).

[Charity]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Are there any ways in which clergy are necessary for salvation? If so, what are those ways?

Faith and belief is the key to salvation, Clergy can tell you the gospel, but the ultimate choice is up to the individual.......Some may think clergy is the most important way to tell about God, but the believers themselves and their ability for others to see God in them that they are genuine, loving people is the best example that others could have.....

[Muffled]

Originally Posted by Sunstone

Are there any ways in which clergy are necessary for salvation? If so, what are those ways?

How can a person be saved if they don't hear the message of salvation? You might never find an evangelist when you want one but there is a church on every corner and it would be nice if one could expect that message to be preached. It is scary how many people have walked out the door of a church more lost than when they went in because that message wasn't preached. Even so God is able to save anyone, anywhere, any time, any way that He wishes.

[ChristineES]

These following verses from Matthew state that Jesus said that one Christian (or Jesus followers) are not to be above another:
But they are out of context and I would tell every Follower in Jesus to read the entire thing and not just this small part of it.

Mat 23:8 But you must not be called Rabbi, for One is your teacher, Christ, and you are all brothers.
Mat 23:9 And call no one your father on the earth, for One is your Father in Heaven.
Mat 23:10 Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ.
Mat 23:11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant.

So I say it is not necessary to have a clergy to be saved (in my faith)- We already have Jesus

[Worshipper]

I think clergy are needed to perform the necessary rites (like baptism [see Mark 16:16]). If you could perform those rites yourself, Jesus wouldn't have gone to John. He would have just gone swimming. I mean, if anyone out of all the people ever born could get to heaven on His own . . . .

[herushura]

There is no Hell thus no point of salvation

[Dunemeister]

Originally Posted by herushura

There is no Hell thus no point of salvation

The need for salvation is there with or without hell. Besides, this is off topic. The OP assumes there is such a thing as salvation and that it's necessary. The question is whether clergy play an essential role in that.

[Mike182]

I don't know about salvation, but clergy sure help with organisation!

[Riverwolf]

Well, clerics are needed for healing and raising the dead...

Originally Posted by herushura

There is no Hell thus no point of salvation

Well, that's only if Hell were a physical place, but not everyone believes that. How about salvation from our internal evil voices? And how are we saved from that? By listening to words of wisdom from various wise men, like Jesus, Buddha, Lao Tzu, Ghandi, Yoda...

Therefore I think that clergy can be a great help, as long as they follow what ChristineES quoted, because one, not everyone can read, and two, they can help spread wisdom to people who might not otherwise read ancient writings of wisdom, like the Bible, and among others. I don't limit the term "clergy" to Christianity alone, though I know they tend to; whatever you want to call someone who reminds you of the many words of wisdom from all kinds of people, fiction and nonfiction alike, is fine by me.