The Holy Word of God is full of commands and teachings for those who follow Christ to be humble, to lift up others not yourself, be meek, to not be boastful, resist pride, personal position, power or attention. Obeying and keeping to this is a perverse generation is one of the marks of a true changed man by God's Spirit. Even for those who seek to teach the Lords truth, the admonition is the same.
So why is it then that all over in America we see men who claim Jesus and attempt to teach God's truth, calling themselves reverend or doctor? What purpose does this special name have and why is this accepted as the standard in man made religion?
I cant imagine the looks I would get if I went to those places and asked that I be called:
Special Jim, Wonderful Jim, Supreme Jim or Lifted up Jim .....
Note: I am confident they would laugh at me and think I was a ...cracked pot.
There are even places that use titles like ... “Very Reverend,” “Right Reverend,” or “Most Reverend.”
Even the term pastor (that appears once in the NT word and simply means shepherd) has been lifted way up and applied to certain men, when we see no example of this in holy scripture.
In truth what they are doing with their titles like reverend/pastor is lifting up a man, not God.
Is this a biblical practice and one that God smiles upon or that He ordained? No, not even close.
If you do a history study for yourself you will find it was man made religion over time that ADDED these titles to men who teach, to lift them up and give them status and power into a special clergy class within their religious buildings. God's Word and the true New Testament body that Christ ordained teaches this nowhere!
Lets look at some scriptures that in fact go directly against this practice of lifting up men with titles.
In the book of Psalms we see who is to be revered.
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Psalm 111.9
John the baptist showed the way to humility and lowliness in John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
In Matthew 23:5-12 we see what Jesus thought of added titles to men who teach the Fathers truth.
In Matthew 20:25-27 we again see Jesus instructing on how a true disciple of Christ lives and it is NOT lifting yourself up at all.
In 1 Corinthians 1:12 Paul scolds them for making titles or divisions in the NT body of Christ
Peter, when speaking of Paul, did not give him a special title but called him dear brother Paul
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2 Peter 3:15
Again, since we cannot find this special name added to men as instruction in God's Word, if you test and look into history you will find it was the pagan roman catholic system that started it. Then it was handed down thru the reformation into the ill protestant ways and still done today. It is not based in God's Word and it is sinful to practice it as "the rule" when the first century saints, ordained by Christ, would have rejected.
God's Word is clear on who are His and who is not:
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 9
Paul told us to keep to the tradition of the first century body:
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Speaking of titles:
I always use this one verse on roman catholics who love to use the title of pope for Peter. If we take Peters own words; we see who he was in Christ:
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1 Peter 1:5
The practice of clergy class men in lifted up pulpits with special names lording over others is NOT God's true NT body. It is all a invention of man made false religion. Go to this link to see the true NT body and how it functions:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2016/12/life-in-true-new-testament-church.html
This special name issue is just another reason why we reject man made protestant/evangelical religion today. It is FULL of many such false ways of man that God has not authorized His true people to do. The last time we checked it is both sinful and VERY dangerous to add to or take away from the Word of the Living God so we ourselves will avoid it and cling to His Word and ways alone for our ways. See Revelation 22:18
For the record; If you do see me someday... just call me Jim.
If you are bought with the blood of Christ and you serve Him in obedience then you can call me brother Jim.
We are to do everything unto Christ.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
To call a man (who teaches and is to serve God and others humbly) anything else but his name, and would be arrogant and sinful.
See the biblical gospel here:
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
God be praised
www.dontperish.com
So why is it then that all over in America we see men who claim Jesus and attempt to teach God's truth, calling themselves reverend or doctor? What purpose does this special name have and why is this accepted as the standard in man made religion?
I cant imagine the looks I would get if I went to those places and asked that I be called:
Special Jim, Wonderful Jim, Supreme Jim or Lifted up Jim .....
Note: I am confident they would laugh at me and think I was a ...cracked pot.
There are even places that use titles like ... “Very Reverend,” “Right Reverend,” or “Most Reverend.”
Even the term pastor (that appears once in the NT word and simply means shepherd) has been lifted way up and applied to certain men, when we see no example of this in holy scripture.
In truth what they are doing with their titles like reverend/pastor is lifting up a man, not God.
Is this a biblical practice and one that God smiles upon or that He ordained? No, not even close.
If you do a history study for yourself you will find it was man made religion over time that ADDED these titles to men who teach, to lift them up and give them status and power into a special clergy class within their religious buildings. God's Word and the true New Testament body that Christ ordained teaches this nowhere!
Lets look at some scriptures that in fact go directly against this practice of lifting up men with titles.
In the book of Psalms we see who is to be revered.
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Psalm 111.9
John the baptist showed the way to humility and lowliness in John 3:30
He must increase, but I must decrease.
In Matthew 23:5-12 we see what Jesus thought of added titles to men who teach the Fathers truth.
But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 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. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!
In Matthew 20:25-27 we again see Jesus instructing on how a true disciple of Christ lives and it is NOT lifting yourself up at all.
But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
In 1 Corinthians 1:12 Paul scolds them for making titles or divisions in the NT body of Christ
Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
(surely adding to mens names is a similar faulty practice)Peter, when speaking of Paul, did not give him a special title but called him dear brother Paul
And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2 Peter 3:15
Again, since we cannot find this special name added to men as instruction in God's Word, if you test and look into history you will find it was the pagan roman catholic system that started it. Then it was handed down thru the reformation into the ill protestant ways and still done today. It is not based in God's Word and it is sinful to practice it as "the rule" when the first century saints, ordained by Christ, would have rejected.
God's Word is clear on who are His and who is not:
Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
2 John 9
Paul told us to keep to the tradition of the first century body:
Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
2 Thessalonians 2:15
Speaking of titles:
I always use this one verse on roman catholics who love to use the title of pope for Peter. If we take Peters own words; we see who he was in Christ:
The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
1 Peter 1:5
The practice of clergy class men in lifted up pulpits with special names lording over others is NOT God's true NT body. It is all a invention of man made false religion. Go to this link to see the true NT body and how it functions:
http://spiritandtruthdiscernment.blogspot.com/2016/12/life-in-true-new-testament-church.html
This special name issue is just another reason why we reject man made protestant/evangelical religion today. It is FULL of many such false ways of man that God has not authorized His true people to do. The last time we checked it is both sinful and VERY dangerous to add to or take away from the Word of the Living God so we ourselves will avoid it and cling to His Word and ways alone for our ways. See Revelation 22:18
For the record; If you do see me someday... just call me Jim.
If you are bought with the blood of Christ and you serve Him in obedience then you can call me brother Jim.
We are to do everything unto Christ.
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
To call a man (who teaches and is to serve God and others humbly) anything else but his name, and would be arrogant and sinful.
See the biblical gospel here:
http://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html
God be praised
www.dontperish.com