Titles
 

If this has been discussed forgive me for bringing it up.

What is folks opinion on using the terms, Bro,. Sis., Pastor, Bishop, Elder, Rev., Etc.....

I for one don't like it. I don't like being called Bro Jacks, Bro Mark, Brother, or any other form. I never called my dad Bro Jacks, or Pastor, nor my brother. Now I have always done whatever the majority around has done out of respect. I have heard ministers say that you have to use these terms other wise you are not respecting the ministry when you address a Pastor or older church member.
I don't think how I address you speaks of respect but how I treat you does. How I talk to you and about you may speak of my respect but what I call you has nothing to do with it.

How many of you call you physical brothers and sisters Bro ___ or Sis __? (inserty your own family names there)
I am sorry but I never have and probably never will get this practice.

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I would feel wierd if I didn't call my pastor Brother or Pastor or some people I'm not well associated with in the church. I do feel it's respectful, I guess, but more for me is talking to someone that I am not buddy-buddy with. Kinda like you would address an aquaintance. I kinda like it when I hear kids calling their elders Mr. or Mrs. It sounds like they are polite. I was kinda taught that as a kid, too. If it's someone I am really close to, then no I'm not callin them by a title. I guess it's all where you are comfortable and what kinda relationship you have with the person.

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I guess I have to agree with you on this yet my thought is more towards those that insist upon being called one thing or another. I had a man get very upset with me for NOT calling my dad and brother Bro Jacks when I was younger. That turned me off to the whole idea of it. I do feel that for people you do not really know you should be more formal but when you know someone or you are friendly with them why the continual use of the titles WE give them. I do not think it is a Biblical mandate to do such is it?

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I use those we have Biblical precedent for and shy away from those we don't

We have biblical precedent for the use of Brother, Bishop, Elder etc but none for the use of Rev and the like.

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I have never heard of having to call your dad or siblings with a title when speaking to them. I always called my pastors by that title. And older church members by bro. or sis. out of respect. Was never allowed to call anyone over 25 by their first name when I was growing up.

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We are all pretty much on a 1st name basis.

Most address the pastor as, Pastor 1st name.

1st names were good enough for Mathew Mark Luke John and Paul....there good enough for me.

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I completely agree if these words are used as standalone acknowledgements of a God-authored manifestation experienced by the RECIPIENT (hearer). When verbal credentials are affixed to a "given" name, I do not see a scriptural pattern.

If one were to do a statistical comparision of the number of times a given name was preceeded by an acknowledgement of a role or operation in the body of Christ, it would be so stark that our familiar practice really does appear to be 'goofy' at best.

Titles and/or labels affixed to given names give space to a very divisive thing in the body of Christ by promoting distinction among men. The question that this topic brings to light is whether distinctions should be proclaimed by common speech among man's salutations or should distinction (and giftings) be revealed within the spirit of the recipient? Does someone who is servant to all, need to have titles/labels of distinction applied to their given name? Would such a practice be thought of as commonplace among people who understand their role as servants?

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It is custom here to use a title such as pastor John..missionary Janice..etc...it has never bothered me one way or the other...
I think most people KNOW if we are what we say we are...
We used to call americans missionary this or that we quit doing that after we had some that messed up and decided we will only call americans by what they are called in the states...
titles sometimes ruin people....but if they are used for respect I agree...but usually the person that we respect does not care if you use a title or not...

I have seen new missionaries scream at people and remind them they are THE missionary...if we have to remind people what we are then something is wrong...

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I call my pastor "Pastor" and his wife "Sister". I call most of the people in church by their first name and the ones older than me I call "Bro" or "Sis". (There are only a handful of them!) I had never really thought of what I called everyone until it was mentioned here.

I affectionately call me son "Son" when I call him on the phone and both of my daughters are "Baby". My grandchildren are called their appropriate nicknames that I have given them. One of my unborn great grandchildren is know simply as Baby Meat" the other unborn one is "The Little One"

I hope my son doesn't miss out on his inheritance since I call him by a title instead of his name.:biggrin:

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That is just absurd, imo. Family is family! I taught in Christian school for a couple of years and we had this issue. Grandchildren were not allowed to call their parents or grandparents by mom or dad, grandma or grandpa. I failed here because I just could not have my sons call me Sis. Ladychocolate! :) When they did, they thought it was funny and would laugh every time... All that ended a few weeks into the school year. I respect others and my upbringing, it is just natural to use the titles Bro. or Sis. at church or Mr. and Mrs. when I am in professional places. Now that I am older, it is usually on a first name basis when I meet people. Even at many churches. I tend to follow the lead. When I visit a church and they introduce themselves by their first name, I give them mine. If they give me the bro or sis. last name,... then I give them my last name.


Only those who I really like are allowed to call me by my first name.... Others may use the title "Queen" or "Lady". That will be acceptable! :ursofunny

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When I am at church or work (at the church) I call my brother "Pastor" (for the most part, especially in front of people), because that is what he is to me in that setting. I respect him and his role in my life as such.

Now, in private, I generally call him dork or idiot, he is my younger brother after all!! :happydance

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:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny that's great!!!!

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:ursofunny:ursofunny:ursofunny

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I call my Pastor,pastor or Brother Rivers.I call most younger folks in the church bro.or sis. by their first name like say Bro.Mark and such.
But older saints I call them bro.or sister and then use their last names.
But ministers I address as Bro.and then use their last name.

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You are bad!!!!

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It was explained to me like this:
We call each other Bro. and Sis. to show that we are separate from the world.
We call our Pastor, pastor for that is what his relationship is to us since pastor means 'shepherd'.
And we call others Bro. or Sis. since that is what we become to each other when we are born again. Because then we become brothers or sister under the blood of Jesus Christ.

Re: Titles
 

Sounds like good teaching.
BTW welcome to AFF EL-Charis.

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Pastor and wife: Pastor Barley

Brethen: Sometimes brother or Sister, and sometimes by their first name.

Me: I cannot repeat what some have called me. :ursofunny

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So we call each other brother and sister to show that we are seperate from the world, we dress differently to show we are seperate from the world, we talk different to show we are seperate from the world. When are we going to ACT different from the world? That question is not aimed at you directly but when is the 'come out from among them and be ye seperate' going to start really applying where it NEEDS to apply? In our every day actions, in our attitude, and in the way we treat people, especially our church family? There is a LOT out there that may look different but sure don't act different. They lie to their fellow brother and sister in the church, as well as their neighbor. They cheat them and do them wrong and do not bat an eye and expect those they offend to forgive and forget.

All I can think of is we are so Catholic in this manner of title using.

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I would have to say I am in agreement with this. I understand what everyone else is saying but think it is silly. We talk about being different from the world and then we use these titles like the Catholics do. How is that really being different?

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:gaga... and that's the truth! :friend

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Wow, never knew that people would go that far. That's absolutely crazy. I think you should treat him like he is your pastor when you are at church, but calling him pastor or brother at church??? That's a little much.... If they have nothing better to do than to knit-pick, then they need to get a hobby or something, geez.

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Yeah I agree

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What were you supposed to do, say, "Brother Daddy, I need......"? How ignorant is that? I know that sometimes I have called my wife Sister Momma, but that's just in fun. I haven't heard of anyone expecting family to refer to family as Bro so and so and Sis so and so.

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yeah, but you have your wife address you as "Sir Lord Rico"











:ursofunny jk! :)

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I can see it now........"Pastor Dork, er, Brother Idiot......................" hehehehehehehehehe!

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More like His Majesty Big Daddy! :ursofunny

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Yain't right! :) on that note, I am off to sleep!

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Hey Rico it's time to wake up man. You've been dreaming again.

=)

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I actually remember when I was young and my dad was my pastor, trying to get his attention at church, calling "Dad" repeatedly, and finally getting frustrated and hollering "Bro. ******"! Usually that would get his attention!

:slaphappy :slaphappy :slaphappy

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I think First Lady Dizzyde has a nice ring to it.

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Well, I don't disagree. :largehalo

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Thank you.

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I agree that there are people that look the part but don't ACT the part, that of course would make them hypocrites. And there are no hypocrites in the church or should I say that 'make up the body of Christ'. This is where we make the judgment call on whether they are truly of God or not.

1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

A hypocrite is a sinner and therefore is without God. They may sit in the church but are not part of the church.

1 Corinthians 5:13 But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore putaway from among yourselves that wicked person.

I know for a fact there are people out there that look and act the part. They may be the minority, but I find it an honor to call them my brother or sister in the Lord. Those that aren't what they are supposed to be, I simply pray for them.

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Lord Chocolate, Grand Master Chocolate, King Chocolate, Grand Potentate Chocolate, Big Round Man Chocolate, Tall Fat Chocolate, Tall Fat Guy with Glass and a wife that makes him say Chocolate a lot, Funky Master Fat Dude, or King Cheese of Guys named Chocolate, all of them work for me. Anything else is blasphemy and I will cast your rusty soul into hell for your insolence.

Seriously, everyone should be called Friar or Friarless.

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Just don't take Chocolate's name in vain.

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I hate being called "Sister Sherri" or "Sister Cupples". It just sounds old and archaic to me. Everyone at church calls me Sherri. Most people call my husband "Pastor" or "Pastor Eddie", but some just say "Eddie". Unchurched people don't have an understanding like we do, and they just call him by his name like they would anyone else they meet.

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I am with you. Bro Jacks or Bro Mark makes me feel like my dad or my brother. OLD.