Calling priests "fathers"

[Brother Mike]

One more time............

Promasa If thought you had something studied out, and found some new revelation but were off track, then I somewhat understand that.

I never said that Jesus did not mean what He said in the first place..

YES you did........ you quoted this.

So Jesus didn't mean we should not call anybody "father" but God the Father, or anybody "master' but Christ.

i never expected anything like this here never expected this from a Brother_ a REAl CHRISTIAN Brother_.

Let me explain something to you Sister. It's reading the Word this way, and not taking every word literally that cost the body of Christ dearly. It cost them money, the lives of their children, and some to get way off track that they don't find their way back.

This is why we have expressions like... "God is more interested in souls and not healing people."....... "Tongues have passed away." ........ "God made me sick to teach me something."

It is people saying the Word did not really say what it said, that **** the power out of God's Word.
---------------------------

Example:

Isa 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

Now thats just spiritual healing, not physical healing...........
(Nothing that will help our physical bodies)

Thats not how God interpreted his own scripture. People twist things with the help of Mr. Devil. What did God say latter in his word about this scripture?

Mat 8:16 When evening came, they brought to Him many who were [g] under the power of demons, and He drove out the spirits with a word and restored to health all who were sick.
Mat 8:17 And thus He fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah, He Himself took [[h] in order to carry away] our weaknesses and infirmities and bore away our diseases.(C)


We have made God some far away, mysterious entity that we just never know what he is going to do next. He is mysterious in all his ways.

NO!!! He is your father in Heaven, and loves you more than any natural parent can. His ability far extends past what any natural parent can do for you. He said he would never leave you or forsake you . He is that Good. He alone is your father, and no other person or thing deserves that title. A father is someone you Know, someone you trust, someone that is there when we are sick, or have a need.
A father will do everything it takes to help you and fix a situation.

So Sister, if the Word says it, then just believe it. God is your only Father and the only one that deserves that title in your life. No other person could ever fill those shoes for you.

Jesus Is Lord.

 

[Carico]

Your inspired by someone who calls themselves a Christian, Comes on a forum, then post that Jesus did not mean what He said?

Jesus Said, "Call no man UPON THE EARTH Your father, You only have ONE father, that is your Father in Heaven."

This person then used Scripture with references to Father Abraham to make a point when it was clear Jesus was only talking about those still Upon the earth. This is a tactic of Mr. Devil, brother.

Now, this person was given the reason father was used that way in the Greek. You can be a father to someone or be the father of something (The start of a thing) but there is only on creator, one true father that deserves the intimate title of YOUR FATHER, YOUR PROVIDER. That is God in Heaven.

You should feel sad for this person, not inspired. This has nothing to do with being Catholic as I know some Catholic's that will take the Words of Jesus over old theology any day once they are shown.

God told Adam NOT to eat the fruit of that tree, For in that day you shall die.

Satan said go ahead and eat it. Surely God did not MEAN YOU SHALL DIE.

Yes, GOD did and Jesus Meant what He said also.

Rethink this Brother, Pray for her, don't be inspired by Rebellion.

Jesus Is Lord.

Wrong. Jesus was showing the Jews who their real Father was and is and it's not Abraham! Jesus also told the Jews that their "teachings are but rules taught by MEN." That's because the Jews didn't see God as their Father, but as someone unrelated to them, a mist in the sky. So they saw the OT teachings as from men instead of from their Father in heaven. And that's what people STILL DO TODAY. That's also why Jesus was the first person to refer to God as His Father because he was the FIRSTBORN OF GOD.

Once we are born of the Holy Spirit we are born of GOD. So we now have a new Father who replaces our biological fathers for everything from protection and guidance to wisdom and counsel. Our new brothers and sisters are also not our biological brothers and sisters, they are other men and women born of God. They are now our real family as Jesus tells us in Mark 6.

Jesus was also talking about religious leaders in MT. 23. We are especially not to call people the same title we call God. If we do, we then go to that person (the pope or earthly priests) for everything we're supposed to go to our Father for; confession, forgiveness, understanding, guidance, love, etc. We are then worshiping people because we are NOT relating to God as our ONE intimate Father.

So the concept of seeing God as our intimate Father was radically new since Jesus brought us the ability to be BORN OF THE FATHER. So we no longer belong to the world as John 15:19 explains and thus have no Father in the world.

1 Corinthians 2:15, "The spiritual man makes judgments about all things. But he himself is not subject to ANY MAN'S judgment. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ." SO born again Christians know that only their ONE FATHER can instruct them and thus are not accountable to ANY MANY, but only to God.

But unfortunately, the few people who understand this are the few people born of God in the world. No wonder I'm lonely! I have met few people who call themselves Christians who KNOW they don't belong to the world.

 

[Brother Mike]

Only one father, that is God.

So the concept of seeing God as our intimate Father was radically new since Jesus brought us the ability to be BORN OF THE FATHER. So we no longer belong to the world as John 15:19 explains and thus have no Father in the world.

That is good......... Awesome point.

So, we agree on this one?

No wonder I'm lonely! I have met few people who call themselves Christians who KNOW they don't belong to the world.

Well, I am here............ and we are not of this World.

 

[Carico]

That is good......... Awesome point.

So, we agree on this one?




Well, I am here............ and we are not of this World.

Yes we agree on that. Glad to meet you, brother.

 

[Dave M]

Eye opening thread for me thank you all

 

[Chad]

Hey @Dave M check this out too...


"Did Jesus mean that we should never refer to our earthly father as 'father' (Matthew 23:9)? Is it wrong for Catholics to refer to their priests as 'father'?"

Answer: It would be confusing for God to give the fifth commandment in Exodus 20:12: "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” and then later in the Bible to restrict us from calling our earthly father “father.” Matthew 23:9 states, “And do not call anyone on earth ‘father,’ for you have one Father, and He is in heaven.” The context of Matthew 23:9 tells us that referring to your biological father as “father” is not what Jesus is speaking about.

In Matthew 23:1–12, Jesus is denouncing the Jewish scribes and Pharisees for rejecting Him as their Messiah, in particular for their hypocrisy in elevating themselves above others with titles such as “teacher” and “master.” The Jewish teachers affected that title because they supposed that a teacher formed the man, or gave him real life, and they sought, therefore, to be called “father,” as if they were the source of truth rather than God. Christ taught them that the source of all life and truth is God, and they ought not to seek or receive a title which properly belongs to Him.

This denunciation is equally relevant for today. In no way should any person look up to, follow, or elevate a human leader in any religious or church organization above Jesus Christ. Jesus is the Head of the Church, His body, and our one and only Master and Teacher. He alone is the author of our salvation, source of comfort in difficulties and strength to live the Christian life, and the only One to whom our prayers should be directed.

Roman Catholics call their priests “father” and the pope is called “the holy father.” This is clearly unbiblical. The priest as “father” is problematic. Catholic priests are doing precisely what Matthew 23:9 condemns by allowing the term “father” in a spiritual sense be applied to them. In no sense is a priest or pastor a “spiritual father” to a Christian. Only God can cause a person to receive “spiritual birth”; therefore, only God is worthy of the title of “Father” in a spiritual sense.

In the case of the “holy father,” there is no doubt this is unbiblical. No man can take on the title of “holy” anything, because only God is holy. This title gives the pope a status that is never intended for any man on earth. Even the apostle Paul referred to himself as the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) and cried out, “Who will deliver me from this body of death?” (Romans 7:14). Clearly, Paul made no claim to holiness. Although as Christians we have exchanged our sin for the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21), holiness will not be attained until we are in heaven and have left the last vestiges of our sin natures behind. Until then, the pope has no more holiness than the average Christian and is not entitled to be called “holy father.”

But there is no reason not to call our earthly parents “father” and “mother” because in doing so we are not giving them an elevated title or position that belongs to God. Our earthly parents are worthy of honor, not just on one special day of the year (Father’s Day, Mother’s Day), but we are to honor our parents daily in the spirit of Exodus 20:12, Matthew 15:4, and Ephesians 6:1-3.


Did Jesus mean that we should never refer to our earthly father as “father” (Matthew 23:9)? Is it wrong for Catholics to refer to their priests as “father”?

 

[amadeus2]

Eye opening thread for me thank you all

Lots of good information here, Dave, but don't come to any final conclusions too quickly. We may decide one way and then along comes God and leads us off on a tangent. Keep giving God the glory!