 Reverend - Why is This Not A Correct Preachers Title?
Dear Brother Waddey:
"Why don't you of the Churches of Christ call your preachers ‘Reverend'?" -Sandra W.
Dear Sandra:
We do not use religious clerical titles for several reasons:
- First, neither Jesus nor his apostles used such titles. It would be presumptuous for me to do so.
- Second, Jesus said "be ye not called Rabbi: for one is your teacher, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father on the earth: for one is your Father, even he who is in heaven." He then concludes that "whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled..." (Matthew 23:8-12).
- Third, such titles imply that preachers are in a class different from other Christians. In fact most denominations make a distinction between clergy and laity.
The Bible makes no such distinction: - All disciples are called God's "kleros" or clergy, translated "heritage" (Ephesians 1:11) and all are called God's "laos" or laity, translated "people" in Titus 2:14.
- All Christians are described as members of the "royal priesthood" (I Peter 2:9).
In view of the above, we refer to our preachers as "ministers" (I Timothy 4:6) and evangelists (II Timothy 4:5). We call them "brother" and "sister" so-and-so (Matthew 23:8).
We do not refer to our preachers as "pastor" because that term is used in scripture to refer to men who are selected to be elders or overseers of the congregation, an office different from that of a preacher. This is demonstrated where Paul speaks to the elders of the church in Ephesus (Acts 20:17) observing that the Holy Spirit had made them bishops (overseers) and describes their work as "feeding and protecting the flock of God" which is the duty of a pastor or shepherd (vs.28-29).
Since our commitment is to follow the New Testament in all matters and practice Christianity as it was in the beginning, we observe these things regarding our preachers. John Waddey |
