Jesus said, "Don't be doing that!"

Disclaimer: If you are a "Grammar Nazi", prepare to be.....disappointed!

Words matter. Say what you like, but words have power and carry weight. The same is true of titles. When we acknowledge someone according to a particular given title , we inevitably relate to that person in light of that title. The use of honorific titles may be a necessary evil in this world, but they have no place within the church.

Few things in the modern church make me want to barf as much as the use of honorific titles. I simply CAN NOT STAND IT! Several years ago, I actually heard a “pastor” rebuke a child who dared to call him by his first name. With a gentle grasp of her tiny hand he pointed out to this poor disillusioned child that she was to call him “Pastor ______”. Again, I could have thrown up!

It seems men of religion have always loved being addressed in such a way as to receive honor. In Matthew 23, Jesus spoke the following words of such men:

"Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; ⁶they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; ⁷they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.'

But if you continue to read, you’ll quickly see that Jesus says, "don't be doing that"!

“But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. ⁹And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. ¹⁰Nor are you to be called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

Jesus condemned the worldly practice of the exaltation of men through the use of honorific titles. Why? Because we are ALL brothers and have only ONE Master.

The use of honorific titles in the modern church is one of the most widely accepted non-biblical practices in existence today. Terms such as “Pastor”, “Reverend”, “Bishop”, “Father”, and yes my southern favorite, “Preacher” represent just a few of the many titles we confer to ordinary men. These men may be gifted leaders and upstanding individuals, but in no way deserve such recognition. This honor is reserved for our Lord Jesus and Him alone.

If you ask someone to share their thoughts regarding this practice, most would declare it to be a “non-issue” with them. My response can only be, “HOW?”. How can this be the case when such titles reinforce and solidify the continued adherence to the heresy of a clergy laity distinction? How, when our Lord has obviously commanded us not to do this? Yet even in light of the plain truths spoken by our Lord Himself, we continue to follow the well worn path traditionalism has paved smooth throughout the years.

Friends, the use honorific titles may be the norm for a fallen world, but they have no place in the holy assembly of God’s chosen people. There is but one Lord, one Master, and one Head of the church. If honor is to be bestowed, let it be to Him who is worthy!

Ken, What's your "beef" with pastors?

A fine question indeed! If you're ACTUALLY reading this, you've probably read my posts over the last few weeks and pondered that thought. Well, after much prodding, I have finally found a way to share more than a limited post on Facebook. Hopefully, this will allow me to go into more detail regarding my "techno jargon"!

If "pastoring" is an office and not a gift, why do we not find this word being used in the New Testament in it's singular form. Not only do we not find it in its singular form, but we never find that word being used to describe any individual. We do find elders/overseers/bishops and deacons, but not pastors. Both Paul and Peter exhort the elders (plural) to "shepherd" the people, but these men are never referred to as "pastors". Also, it is important to note that you will never find anything that even remotely resembles the modern day pastor in the New Testament. Even if you do truly believe "pastoring" is an office, you could never biblically justify the "CEO"model that exists in the position of the modern day "pastor".

Now before I go any further, let me make it completely clear that I am not against these guys nor do I have an "ax to grind" with any particular "pastor". Actually, I deeply respect and care for them especially the one serving my own family (so quit thinking I hate Keith...I DON'T). These guys work their tail off and go through more bull than most folks ever could imagine. Although it may not seem so, I would consider myself to be one of their greatest advocates. How you may ask? Well, if "pastoring"(especially what we demand positionally of modern pastors) is indeed outside the boundaries of what scripture teaches, we are forced to admit that we have required far more of these brothers than the Lord would ever have approved of. The truth is it is far easier to dump our responsibility to be ministers of the Gospel off on "hired guns". Oh yes, we may volunteer in some capacity to "help" the real ministers, but that falls far short of embracing our God given call to be ministers of the Gospel, a "Royal Priesthood"! Like it or not, our continued reliance upon "professional" clergy leaves most of the body of Christ in a state of apathetic dependence while heaping unrealistic demands and pressure upon the shoulders of a passionate few!

If we truly want to see the body of Christ "come alive" in the fullness God desires, we must return to a biblical model of leadership. Only then will we begin to see our places of work, schools, and communities in general transformed by the power of the living God.

If you disagree, I would challenge you to return to your bible. Search out for YOURSELF what our King has to say. You do not need commentaries or the "wisdom" of theologians. God has declared, "But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul." Deuteronomy 4:29. You have the Holy Spirit who will lead you into all truth.

It is not my goal to be considered "right". My heart simply desires that we become the "Royal Priesthood" God has declared us to be. I am convinced this can not happen until we refuse man contrived traditionalism and once again embrace that which God has ordained for His children and for the fulfillment of His purposes!

Critical!

Me thinks I am critical. Oh, I don't want to be, but I suppose I am. It's difficult for me to discern where that delicate fine line is between passion and criticism. This is especially true of the institutionalized church and matters pertaining to it. I really just don't like this grand ole institution at all. I hate to say it but I generally believe it (the institution) is in many ways the fruit of many centuries worth of the Satan's hard work. If he can convince us of just how important we are in and to the process, he knows we will pick up that ball and run with it. Human pride does that! After all, most of what goes on seems to be more about us and very little about Him (that being our Lord). Our plans, our vision, our budgets, our programs, events, and processes. To be honest, I'm not sure why we even need the Lord using this kind of thinking. It would seem that we've pretty much got it all under control. Yes, mankind picked up that ball, and we're still running!

I know......I'm doing it again. I'm being critical! Forgive me! I just can't help but wonder what could happen if?

If what you ask?

Well.....if we asked Him first.....not last.

By the way, if what I write makes you angry, pray for me. I'm probably wrong about everything. Heck, I almost hope I am.

Me

I am a prideful man.

I am critical of others.

I do not love as I should.

May God forgive and cleanse me!

Mary and Martha

God help your church to remember what it feels like to be a true "Mary".

God help us to let go of our inner "Martha" and know that there is that which is "better".

Being that no one reads this anyway, I figure why not just be honest.

Question: What in the heck has happened to the body of Christ?

What has happened to the church? Is it now a building? A club? Is it all budgets and long winded fancy sounding monologues laced with intelligent sounding speech? Is it about standing up and sitting down at the right time? Is it an order of service? Is it a group of committees that meet and talk about the Godly sounding "stuff" we're going to do for God?

I could go on, and on, and on.......

Am I the only guy in this whole stinking world that feels this way?????

So what do you do when you just can't stomach it anymore? Oh, I'm sure anyone reading this would think me to be a cocky guy. I can hear it now, "He really thinks he knows better than everyone else." "Mr. know it all!!!" ARE YOU SERIOUS!!! I HAVE NO CLUE ANYMORE!!!! ZIPPO, ZERO, NOTTA, NO CLUE!!!! Just because my cup of religion "runneth over", does not mean I know how to get it together. I DON'T! I just can't help but feel that we are sorely missing the point! By the way, I am part of that "we"!!!! As a matter of fact I love being a part of the "we". I love the "church". Not the building, but the people! I just want us to know the truth about what this is really all about. Heck, I want to know what this is really all about. If it's about something other than knowing Jesus....then I 'm just cluless.

Please know that this is simply a cry from the heart of a guy whose searching and struggling. If you read this and use what I've said for ill purposes....well, I guess you just don't get it!

If I Told You the Truth

If I told you the truth....you'd most likely be angry, but you'd be wrong.

If I told you the truth....you'd probably ask me to leave, but I would be gone before you could.

If I told you the truth....you'd ask me to resign, but I already have.

If I told you the truth....you'd avoid me, but He wouldn't.

If I told you the truth....you'd think me to be a hypocrite.....could be!

If I told you the truth....you'd think about it, but dismiss it....most likely.

If I told you the truth....I'd seem less in your eyes maybe, but I'm okay with that.

If I told you the truth....would you listen?

Would you consider my words?

Would you look for yourself instead of wearing your Sunday morning bib and opening wide for another spoonful?

Would you ask the hard questions, risk not fitting in, walk away from the business of it all.....would you....if He told you the truth?

Would you listen?

I know....it is certainly hard.....isn't it?