What Would Jesus Say today on titles for religious leaders?
Matthew 23:8-12(HCSB)
“But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah. The greatest among you will be your servant. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted."
Do you think He would include the title 'Pastor' today?
What about titles like Reverend, Minister, Priest, Bishop?
My occupation is a teacher in a high school. Should I be concerned with letting my students call me teacher?
Is it OK for my kids to call me father?
What do you think was at the heart of what Jesus was saying here?
P.S. Please do not assume this means I am judging you if you like to use these titles. I am not. I maintain high respect and love for brothers and sisters who don't share my viewpoint on a number of issues. I don't expect everyone to agree with me, and I don't assume I have any authority to judge my brothers and sisters. I simply want to encourage dialog on issues where we may not be doing things by the book.
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1 comment:
I've been reading the Bible on and off since 1992. I have been praying since then also.
I just now searched "Jesus said: One Father, One Teacher, One Shepherd, One Pastor" I was looking for a discussion such as yours. Nothing really appeared on google. Then I searched the same on bing and only your blog appeared. I believe the "modern day church" is way off track compared to what God had intended. He sent Jesus to set the pace and give direction for groups of believers, yet many came after him with different words and meanings and now we are off course.
“But as for you, do not be called ‘Rabbi,’ because you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father, because you have one Father, who is in heaven. And do not be called masters either, because you have one Master, the Messiah.
I believe God and only God can fulfill our need for a Father, a Teacher and a Counselor/Guide/Master/Shepherd/Pastor.
When we take one of those roles and project it on a human we will always be left discouraged, unsatisfied and unfulfilled.
The guy who got our mom pregnant is our Dad, we should never expect him to carry out the responsibility that belongs to God. We should never try to find an older male in our life to try to fulfill our biological Dad's responsibly either.
The example that Jesus was, in word and deed, should be our role model. He should be the pattern we follow. He should be the image of the Shepherd tending the flock. He should be the one we reflect. Jesus was 100% Spirit, inside a body, that was 100% flesh and earth. The way that the Spiritual side of Jesus tended and disciplined his earthly side, is the same way a Shepherd has dominion over sheep, which is also the way we should spiritually have control over our human side. Jesus is the one and only Shepherd we should imitate. Not treating other people as sheep yet treating our own human side as an animal in need of a Shepherd.
As for a teacher, Jesus left us His Spirit, His Spirit which is Holy, set apart, clean. His words are at our reach. No one else can take his place and no one else should take his place. Just like when we try to teach someone to break a bad habit. We can say it over and over, yet until they hear from theirselves, until they hear their own conscious say, stop doing this which harms you and start doing this which helps you. They will not change. When we receive revelation, understanding and teaching from within ourselves, from that fountain of life which God instilled in us which is the Holy Spirit, the great teacher that brings to remembrance all that Jesus said and did, then we will be the best student possible.
God the Father is our one and only Father.
Jesus is our one and only Pastor.
The Holy Spirit is our one and only Teacher.
Period. the end and AMEN
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