I attended the preacher training program up in Ellettsville, IN in the summer of 2008. Upon hearing of my recent educational experience someone asked me if it would be appropriate to start calling me “Reverend”. I responded saying to not call me “Reverend” because that was a title reserved for God.
In Matthew 23:2, Jesus spoke to his disciples about how the scribes and the Pharisees had positioned themselves greater among the Jews; “…The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the chair of Moses”. Exodus 18:13 says that Moses “sat to judge the people”. He judged the people according to the law that God had revealed to him. During the time of Christ, the scribes and Pharisees had become the keepers and teachers of the Law, but there was a problem with them because they wanted “their deeds to be noticed by men” (Matthew 23:5). They did this by enhancing the appearance of their garments (Matt. 23:5), taking the best seats at banquets and in the synagogues (Matthew 23:6), and being greeted and called special names such as “Rabbi” by men (Matt 23:7). Jesus said “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. Do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ” (Matthew 23:8-10).
To call me or any other man “Reverend” would be the same as calling anyone Rabbi or Father. Only God is to be revered; “…holy and reverend is his name.” (Psalm 111:9-KJV). For this same reason I am also opposed to calling a preacher “Doctor”, regardless of their level of education. It is used as a term to esteem someone as greater than anyone else. Jesus said that greatest amongst us shall be servants (Matthew 23:11). Christ, himself, came as a servant (Philippians. 2:7) and we are to “walk in the same manner as He walked” (1 John 2:6). Therefore, we can not wear a title such as “Reverend” because we are to be servants like Him.
In the same manner, I can not wear the title of “Pastor” because it would make me greater than others. But I also can not be called a pastor because I simply do not qualify to be one. The word “pastor” is Latin and literally means shepherd. The words pastor, elder, shepherd, and bishop are used interchangeably in the New Testament.
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers” (Ephesians 4:11).
“Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed” (1 Peter 5:1).
“Shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness” (1 Peter 5:2).
“This is a true saying, If a man desires the office of a bishop, he desires a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1).
The apostle Paul writes more to the young preacher Timothy about the qualifications of a bishop or pastor. “An overseer, then, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, free from the love of money. He must be one who manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of the church of God?), and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil” (1 Timothy 5:2-7).
One thing that disqualifies me from being a pastor in the Lord’s church is that I do not have any children and therefore do not meet the qualifications necessary to do that work in the church. The work that I am qualified to do is that of an evangelist (2 Timothy 4:1-6). But today we see churches give men that title who do not meet all the criteria nor function according to the pattern God has set forth in his word.
The work of an evangelist is a good work (II Timothy 2:21), but is not deserving of a special title or any reverence above other men. By doing the work of an evangelist I am only promised one thing and that is the same thing as those who hear me; salvation (2 Timothy 4:16).
