Flattering Titles

Church leaders following tradition teach their flock to follow tradition, which advocates the use of flattering titles (Father, Pope, Cardinal, Reverend, Doctor, "Man of God," Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor, Teacher, Elder, Bishop, Arch Bishop, Suffragan Bishop, Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor, Assistant Pastor, Junior Pastor, Deacon, etc.) to address church leaders. "For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful" (Psalm 36:2). Yet, when we look at Jesus, we see something different: "But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Philippians 2:7-8).

In the traditions of the world, titles are often used to bestow honor. Merriam-Webster defines titles as an appellation of dignity, honor, distinction, or preeminence attached to a person or family by virtue of rank, office, precedent, privilege, attainment, or lands. In the world, a person's office becomes synonymous with the person; for instance, the current President of the United States is called President Obama and the current Queen of England is called Queen Elizabeth. Thus when a Christian is speaking with a secular person, their title should be used if called for: "Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour" (Romans 13:7). Many Christians, however, falsely believe that this secular practice extends into Christianity: that the call for double honor for elders (1 Timothy 5:17) requires the use of titles; but it does not. Should we use titles for the others we are commanded to honor? Should we use titles for our parents? "Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise" (Ephesians 6:2). For widows? "Honour widows that are widows indeed" (1 Timothy 5:3). Should husbands use titles for their wives? "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered" (1 Peter 3:7). What using titles for all other Christians? "Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king" (1 Peter 2:17). The use of titles amongst Christians is not in line with scripture. "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away" (Job 32:21-22). "Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues" (Psalm 78:36). Christians know that the love of God is the highest path we can travel: "And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity" (1 Corinthians 13:13). Thus, derivatives of the love of God such as respect, honor, submission, obedience, and being kind, must function as does the love of God: "And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness" (Colossians 3:14). Honor in Christ means to esteem highly, to respect, to give preference, to love. "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves" (Philippians 2:3). Let each Christian value others higher than themselves; in other words, "Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself" means "Thou shalt love thy neighbour in replacement of yourself." Christian honor is based on the love of God and the love of God: "Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth" (1 Corinthians 13:6). Thus, honor in Christianity is not idolatry nor is honor catering to someone's pride. What's more, honor should not cause a fellow Christian to stumble: "It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" (Romans 14:21).

How can using a title cause a pastor or other elder to stumble? As we first stated in "The Twelve Principalities of Satan" chapter, any belief, practice, system or religion that promotes ascendancy and preeminence is inherently satanic: "For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High" (Isaiah 14:13-14). Using a title for a minister can, overtime, become a snare which causes the minister to be "lifted up" in pride as he and other Christians separate him from the body of Christ and elevate him above the rest as if the minister is the "new" Jesus. "But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows" (Hebrews 1:8-9). Moreover, elevating men with flattering titles has the complication of causing, through pride, ministers to believe that they are above others: they are better than others; so much for "let each esteem other better than themselves." These ministers become like the Pharisees: "They answered and said unto him, Thou wast altogether born in sins, and dost thou teach us? And they cast him out" (John 9:34). As such, instead of embracing their position as just another child of God, they elevate themselves above others and have difficulty relating to others as peers, even though Jesus tell us "all ye are brethren." Of course, if the pastor is "honored" with a title, his wife and children have to also be elevated. Thus, wives of pastors are titled, "First Lady," and the entire family, "First Family." This is a problem since it is "Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming" (1 Corinthians 15:23); in other words, all Christians are part of The First Family. "For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named" (Ephesians 3:14-15).

Jesus specifically said, "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ" (Matthew 23:8-10). Thus, ministers should themselves "be not ye called" the various titles used in Christianity. "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another" (Romans 12:3-5). In other words, ministers should not allow themselves to be called a title—to be elevated above other Christians—because ministers are simply Christians with a specified role: they hold an office in the church of Jesus Christ. "I said unto the fools, Deal not foolishly: and to the wicked, Lift not up the horn: Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another" (Psalm 75:4-7). Holding an office does not change their relationship to other Christians: we are all brothers and sisters in the Lord. What's more, holding an office does not signify lordship: "whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant" (Matthew 20:27). Ministers are commanded to not be "lords over God's heritage" (1 Peter 5:3); but to "Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another" (Romans 12:10). What's more, they are to "Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits" (Romans 12:16). Ministers of Jesus Christ should resist the temptation to become "lifted up" and "hardened in pride": a failing of many twenty-first century ministers. Even in the time of the apostles, ministers seeking preeminence were shunned:

I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church. Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God. (3 John 1:9-11)

Ministers should look to the Lord for their honor: "And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased" (Mark 1:11). As Jesus said, "I receive not honour from men. ... How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only" (John 5:41, 44)? What' more, "Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God" (John 8:54) and "If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour" (John 12:26). Jesus commands that "Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve" (Luke 4:8) and Paul adds "ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men" (1 Corinthians 7:23); because, "no servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and" (Luke 16:13) man (Romans 1:25). We "by love serve one another" (Galatians 5:13): "serve" in this instance means "do service"; hence, "With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men" (Ephesians 6:7). Ministers who serve the Lord in sincerity seek honor from the Lord not from men; they cannot be accused as were many in Jesus' day: "For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God" (John 12:43). We see that John, the apostle, is honored by the fact that those he has ministered to have continued in the Word: "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth" (3 John 1:4). Ministers should redirect reverence towards themselves to the Lord (Acts 10:25-26; Revelation 19:10), as we see in this example:

And I John saw these things, and heard them. And when I had heard and seen, I fell down to worship before the feet of the angel which shewed me these things. Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not: for I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them which keep the sayings of this book: worship God. (Revelation 22:8-9)

If "angels, which are greater in power and might" (2 Peter 2:11) do not allow themselves to be worshipped, what place does man, "made a little lower than the angels" (Hebrews 2:9), have to seek glory? "It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory" (Proverbs 25:27). "I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another" (Isaiah 42:8); therefore, "Let them give glory unto the LORD" (Isaiah 42:12). Many ministers, however, much like Haman in the book of Esther, become enraged when they are not reverenced in the manner of the world. "And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath" (Esther 3:5). This, however, must not be: "For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).

Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself. He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him. (John 7:16-18)

Tradition further ignores the fact that we are no longer operating under the law and, as such, the position of High Priest among men was nullified. According to the tradition of the Roman Church, a Bishop (or "Senior Pastor") and a High Priest are synonymous; that is, someone that has other pastors (priests) reporting to him. Furthermore, in some circles, bishops are supposed to represent the successors of the apostles (see Deception and Apostolic Succession in "The Pre-Modern Church (Built on Sand): Church of Man"). This, however, is in error. The successors of the apostles are those men called as prophets. In the "church hierarchy" listed in 1 Corinthians 12:28, prophets "out rank" bishops (see "Apostles") Please note that in the referenced verse, evangelists, pastors and teachers are grouped together simply as teachers. The word "bishop" is simply another name for an elder or an overseer; it does not carry any hierarchical significance amongst elders nor does it connote a different ministry than those listed in Ephesians 4:11 (see "One Shepherd—Many Elders"). What's more, at least two elders set under the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ (Mark 6:7; Luke 10:1) were ordained to oversee a local church: "they had ordained them elders in every church" (Acts 14:23).

Let us return to verses eight through ten of Matthew 23: "But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ."We can paraphrase Jesus' command to read as follows: "Be not called a title that is exclusively held by the Lord Jesus Christ; for if you do, you are guilty of sedition." The popular titles like Reverend, Pastor, and Bishop are all titles of the Lord that cannot be reused without the charge of "identity theft" being imposed. Let us examine these and others in detail:

• Reverend: Psalm 111 clearly shows that this "title" is an attribute of the name of God, not of man. "[The LORD] sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name" (Psalm 111:9). When verse ten is added, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom," the definition of "reverend" escalates from one worthy of honor or respect to one who is to be worshipped. Worship connotes reverence for a god; and while worship of God is due, worship of man is idolatry. "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God" (Exodus 34:14).
• Father (Matthew 23:9): Scripture clearly states above to call no man your spiritual father. Jesus already told us that "the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit" (John 6:63); thus, "father" in verse nine is not referring to our natural—biological—fathers. Due to a lack of discernment, many Christians call their pastors their spiritual father and even call their pastors' wives their spiritual mother. Satan has even brought in yet another misdirection: many call their pastors their daddy as if not using the word "father" but clearly implying it is okay with God (see "The Principality of Hypocrisy"). Of course, some pseudo-Christian religions like Roman Catholicism blatantly ignore the Word of God: their priests are directly called father. Notwithstanding all these traditions of men, the command is clear: "Call no man your [spiritual] father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven." For there is "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" (Ephesians 4:6).
• Doctor, Bishop or Pastor (Matthew 23:8, 10): Many Christians read verse eight in a literal sense and decide that this verse is for Jews only; however, as Rabbi is to Judaism so is Pastor to Christianity: a spiritual leader. A Rabbi, a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership in Judaism, is equivalent to a Doctor or a Pastor, a person trained and ordained for professional religious leadership in Christianity. This includes all those with professional religious degrees and those with only "on the job" training. What's more, the word masters used in verse ten comes from the Greek word kathegetes that means teacher. Every minister of Jesus Christ has a role as a teacher (Matthew 28:19; 1 Timothy 3:2; 2 Timothy 2:24). Thus, Christian ministerial office names like Doctor, Bishop, Elder, Pastor, Teacher, "Man of God," Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Deacon, Prophetess, and the many variations on these names, can be inserted without changing the meaning of the verse. For example: "But be not ye called Pastor: for one is your Shepherd, even Christ; and all ye are brethren." The Lord Jesus Christ is "the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls" (1 Peter 2:25). In other words, the Lord Jesus Christ is The Pastor and The Bishop of the church; let no man usurp his authority.

In Christ there is one Lord, one revered one, one "name which is above every name": Jesus. Our Lord Jesus Christ holds the exclusive position of "the": he is The Apostle, The Prophet, The Evangelist, The Pastor and The Teacher. It is he who "is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:18). All ministers of Jesus Christ, therefore, hold a subordinate role as "a" or "an": an apostle, a prophet, an evangelist, a pastor, or a teacher. Anything else, whether in name or in deed, amounts to sedition on the part of the minister and idolatry on the part of the congregation that partakes in the minister's sin. Since a title justifies or substantiates a claim, a minister using a title reserved for the Lord is tantamount to sedition, as we can see in the case of David's son Adonijah:

Then Adonijah the son of Haggith exalted himself, saying, I will be king: and he prepared him chariots and horsemen, and fifty men to run before him. And his father had not displeased him at any time in saying, Why hast thou done so? and he also was a very goodly man; and his mother bare him after Absalom. And he conferred with Joab the son of Zeruiah, and with Abiathar the priest: and they following Adonijah helped him. ... And Adonijah slew sheep and oxen and fat cattle by the stone of Zoheleth, which is by Enrogel, and called all his brethren the king's sons, and all the men of Judah the king's servants. ... and, behold, they eat and drink before him, and say, God save king Adonijah. (1 Kings 1:5-7, 9, 25)

The people "honored" Adonijah by calling him king and celebrating with him; however, "Verily our lord king David hath made Solomon king" (1 Kings 1:43). "And all the guests that were with Adonijah were afraid, and rose up, and went every man his way. And Adonijah feared because of Solomon, and arose, and went, and caught hold on the horns of the altar" (1 Kings 1:49-50). Every minister allowing themselves to be lifted up by the people, to be justified by the people, stand in danger of the judgment. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ "who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords" (1 Timothy 6:15).

We as Christians are all equal: "for there is no respect of persons with God" (Romans 2:11). "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus" (Galatians 3:28). Titles should be restricted to defining an office not a person. So, if we feel we have to use a title for a Christian, use brother or sister to address the person, as did the early Christians. "And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost" (Acts 9:17). Justo Gonzalez, in The Story of Christianity, notes: "Furthermore, Christians called each other 'brother' and 'sister,' and there were many who spoke of their spouses as their 'sister' or 'brother.'"⁴⁷ Thus, instead of calling a pastor named Tom Smith, Pastor Smith, or simply Pastor, we call him Brother Smith or, even less formally, Brother Tom: "Hello, Brother Tom!" Examine the descriptive labels of equality used by Paul to describe the other disciples: fellowprisoner, fellowhelper, fellowcitizens, fellowheirs, fellowsoldier, fellowlabourers, fellowservant, and fellowworkers. Simply put, titles separate: individual titles invariably create disunity in the body of Christ. "I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality" (1 Timothy 5:21).

My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. (James 2:1-9)

It should be noted, however, that mature Christians often have to assume the role (not title) of a surrogate parent—"feed my lambs" (John 21:15)—for babes in Christ. "For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel" (1 Corinthians 4:15). "The process of being made broken bread and poured out wine means that you have to be the nourishment for other souls until they learn to feed on God. They must drain you to the dregs. Be careful that you get your supply, or before long you will be utterly exhausted. Before other souls learn to draw on the life of the Lord Jesus direct, they have to draw on it through you; you have to be literally 'sucked,' until they learn to take their nourishment from God. We owe it to God to be our best for His lambs and His sheep as well as for Himself."⁴⁸ This is a temporary role and as the babe in Christ is weaned the relationship should evolve from a parent-child relationship to a sibling relationship—all ye are brethren. Notwithstanding, the former babe in Christ should not forget the respect (honor) due to an older sibling. "Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity" (1 Timothy 5:1-2).

We would be remiss to end this section without defining what "double honor" means with respect to elders (pastors, teachers and other ministers working in the local church). We have already dealt with the honor due all men: "in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Now, how do we double that honor for elders? The answer in given in the verse immediately following: "For the scripture saith, thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Since "the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:14), we give double honor to elders by including them in the needs of the church. That is, "as touching the ministering to the saints" (2 Corinthians 9:1), we distribute "to the necessity of" (Romans 12:13) elders such that "your abundance may be a supply for their want" (2 Corinthians 8:14). Thus, it is incumbent on ministers to "make the gospel of Christ without charge, that [they] abuse not [their] power in the gospel" (1 Corinthians 9:18) and thereby, give "occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully" (1 Timothy 5:14; see also "Live of the Gospel"). "We then, as workers together with [Jesus Christ], beseech [ministers] also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (2 Corinthians 6:1), says Paul. He further admonishes ministers that they should apply themselves to "giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed" (2 Corinthians 6:3) and to "let [their] moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand" (Philippians 4:5). Finally, ministers are to strive to let covetousness "not be once named among you, as becometh saints" (Ephesians 5:3). A minister that loses sight that his "help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2), will either serve the people over God as did king Saul (see "The Principality of Rebellion") or forget the Lord and seek to gain financial prosperity through covetousness (see "The Principality of Entrepreneurship" and "The Principality of Covetousness"). The latter turns the church into a business and engages in capitalism even though Jesus warns "make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" (John 2:16).

Therefore, instead of "praising" man with flattering titles, let us praise God and his name only. Let us "stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise" (Nehemiah 9:5): "O Lord, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isaiah 25:1). "Praise ye the LORD. Praise, O ye servants of the LORD, praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised" (Psalm 113:1-3). "Therefore let no man glory in men" (1 Corinthians 3:21) "that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another" (1 Corinthians 4:6).

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