Flattering titles

[rojoloco]

Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

This has already been discussed in reference to Catholics calling the Pope Father on pretty much every forum on the internet. I want to take it a step further.

Let me now be partial to no one,
Nor flatter any man.
For I do not know how to flatter,
Else my Maker would soon take me away.

In many Protestant churches, we call our pastor Reverend. I've never thought about it before but technically, this is a flattering title. It is a title that implies deserving reverence should be shown to these individuals when Scripture commands them to be humble.

Let us not become boastful

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God?

Reverence - worthy to be revered; entitled to reverence.

What do you think? More importantly, what do you think Scripture has to say about the matter? I've been to churches where they called their pastor Reverend John Smith. I've been to other churches where he would be called Pastor John Smith. On top of those, I have been to churches where he would be called Brother John Smith.

As I stated before, I never saw an issue with it. After reading this, I think I have changed my opinion on the matter. Any thoughts?

 

[His_will_i_am]

Many people aren't going to want to touch this one because it totally goes against the corrupt traditions which most have grown up with today. But the point is coorect. We shouldn't be calling each other by title, period. After all, we are supposed to be a family. In ones, family, let's say that one's brother is a police officer and they come over for dinner. Would you call them officer 'So and So'? No, one would just address them by their given name. What any kind of title does give the appearance of superiority.

 

[rojoloco]

To add to it, Paul never opens his epistles as "Apostle Paul." He just uses his name and then goes on to use apostle as a job description rather than a title.

 

[jiggyfly]

Good topic Rojo, this is common among many within the Christian religious institution and part of the carnal clergy/laity system.

I like what Jesus said to his disciples and believe that it applies to all in the body of Christ.

Mat 23:8-11 Don't ever let anyone call you `Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters. [fn] And don't address anyone here on earth as `Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don't let anyone call you `Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah. The greatest among you must be a servant.