By Bob Vaughn - uca@uncommonanswers.com
"Contending for the faith once delivered to the saints"
Uncommon Answers Home Page
Flattering Religious
Titles
So often clergy in the non-Catholic ranks criticize the Catholic Priest
for being addressed as "Father" when they themselves are being
addressed as "Reverend". That's hypocritical! Being called reverent
insinuates a lofty and pious estimation of ones self.
Consider
what Jesus when speaking of the Pharisees and scribes in Matthew
23:6-11, "They love the best places at feast, the best seats in the
synagogues, greetings in the market places, and to be called of men,
Rabbi, Rabbi. But you, do not be called Rabbi: for one is your teacher,
the Christ: and you are all brethren.
Do not call any one on earth your Father; for One is your Father, who
is in heaven. And do not be called teacher: for One is your teacher,
the Christ. But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant." It's clear these Pharisees
and scribes loved the esteem their
positions brought them, as well as, the exalting titles. Jesus was so
clearly teaching that flattering religious titles were not to be a part
of the Christian life. Christians are all brothers.Christians are
servants one of another.
God
calls preachers to be apostle, or prophet, or evangelist, or pastor or
teacher (Ephesians 4:11). These are titles of the positions of service
they occupy in the body. Elder or bishop or deacon (Titus 1:5-7, 1
Timothy 3:1-8) are also titles of positions of service
in the body. But these men are all brethren and servants of the church.
When addressed with a title, that title should recognize their position
of service or simply
their relationship. Religious titles that elevate one member of the
church, by their very nature, abase others.
