02-03-2014, 11:42 AM
Titles attributed to men in the church are of pagan origin.
I do understand why they are used, TRADITION. We've made titles of certain gifts of the Spirit in the manner of the culture around us. I'm in the same boat. I'd have a very difficult time not referring to my former pastor, who is well-respected and loved, as "Pastor," though I've never heard him refer to himself by that title....never. This is not my recently former-fundy CEO who required his underlings to call him by his title. [side note: This guy referred to himself by his first and last name when he got the word I was leaving his umbrella of protection and called me to confront me]
There is only one person in relation to the church in all the New Testament given titles: JESUS CHRIST
I do understand why they are used, TRADITION. We've made titles of certain gifts of the Spirit in the manner of the culture around us. I'm in the same boat. I'd have a very difficult time not referring to my former pastor, who is well-respected and loved, as "Pastor," though I've never heard him refer to himself by that title....never. This is not my recently former-fundy CEO who required his underlings to call him by his title. [side note: This guy referred to himself by his first and last name when he got the word I was leaving his umbrella of protection and called me to confront me]
There is only one person in relation to the church in all the New Testament given titles: JESUS CHRIST
Man often acquires just so much knowledge as to discover his ignorance, and attains so much experience as to regret his follies, and then dies. ~William Benton Clulow, Horæ Otiosæ, 1833