Now to grasp another nettle. Titles. The New Testament never uses
any title for any man in the church. What is more, it categorically
forbids it. Nowadays, however, most Christians do use titles – or
one in particular – and do so without turning a hair, even though it
contradicts Christ’s plain command. Complaining of the scribes and
Pharisees who loved ‘to be greeted in the market-places and to have
men call them “Rabbi”’, Christ said:
But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’, for you have only one Master and
you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you
have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called
‘teacher’, for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among
you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:1-12).
But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for one is your Teacher, the Christ,
and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father... And
do not be called teachers... But he who is greatest among you shall be
your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who
humbles himself will be exalted (NKJV). |
