Well open rebuke (correction) on today ... Have ur way GOD! #helpus Titles ... Reverend “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalms 111:9) The term Reverend is biblical, found only once in the entire Bible, applying only to God and carrying the meaning to revere with Godly fear. “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom:” (Psalms 111:10). Mankind should never be referred to as Reverend (christian church). What then should we call our ministers? How does the Bible refer to them? Jesus, speaking to the multitude and to His disciples: “But he not ye called Rabbi (Judaism): 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 (Catholicism), 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.” (Matthew 23: 8-12) Rabbi means master (John 1:38). God’s ministers are ordained elders: “And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.” (Acts 14:23) The apostles were elders, but today’s elders are not apostles. The office of apostle, a name given by Jesus (Luke 6:13), was unique to those disciples (learners) whom the Lord gave miraculous abilities, as the meaning of the name implies, “power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease... Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils:” (Matthew 10: 1-8) and who performed “many wonders and signs.” (Acts 2:43) A letter from the Apostle Peter, an elder: “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: Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.” (1 Peter 5:1-3) The Apostle Paul to Timothy: “Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, ESPECIALLY they who labour in the word and doctrine.” (1 Timothy 5:17) Paul left Titus in Crete to “ordain elders in every city” setting forth the qualifications for a bishop or elder (Titus 1: 5-10). Originally Bishop (overseer) applied to the principal officer of the local church, the other officer being the deacon. The title Elder, to which God’s servants were ordained, signified the dignity or age of the officer and Bishop to the work of the office (l Timothy 3: 1-7). Paul called for the elders of the church at Ephesus instructing them to “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” (Acts 20: 17, 28) Feed them what? “And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding.” (Jeremiah 3: 15) God’s ministers should be humble servants, never exalted by the terms, Reverend, Rabbi, Father, or Master, which apply only to God." - Elder Don R. Watson
Posted on: Sun, 23 Jun 2013 18:58:50 +0000