Quote:
Originally Posted by Nicodemus1968
In my opinion I wouldn't go as far as to say chains of formalism. At least not all of Pentecost. I do believe some men love titles, and others believe titles and the use of them show a respect for the position or office.
To use the titles Elder, Bishop, Pastor, Evangelist, Apostle, Teacher, Saint, Prophet, Brother, Sister in my opinion isn't chains. Its shows respect to the individual, I wouldn't go up to a lady in the church and call her by her first name. Neither would I go up to a Pastor, or a Bishop and say, "hey Joe, hows it going?"
I will say this, that some believers have more respect for the world than the church. They'll show the utmost respect for the man that signs their checks, yet, they'll nitpick a leader in the church without even blinking! The president of the United States could be in their presence and they'll call him the proper title by the office he holds, yet when it comes to ministry, they have not a problem bringing up issues to condemn them to hell.
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Matthew 23:11-12 (NKJV) 11 But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.
Mark 10:42-44 (NKJV) 42 But Jesus called them to Himself and said to them, "You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 44 And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.
We don't work as in the world. We don't need to use titles to show respect within the church, and to bring strict separation between brethren. We ought to think of each other as brethren, as a Family. We are not to replicate the world and have Kings, and Dukes, and Knights, etc...
2 Peter 3:15 (NKJV) 15 and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved
brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you,
[
Act 12:2 KJV] And he killed
{Pastor?} James the brother of John with the sword.
[
Act 12:17 KJV] But he, beckoning unto them with the hand to hold their peace, declared unto them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he said, Go shew these things unto
{Pastor?} James, and to the brethren. And he departed, and went into another place.
[
Act 21:18 KJV] And the [day] following
{Apostle?} Paul went in with us unto James; and all the elders were present.
[
Gal 2:9 KJV] And when
{Pastor?} James,
{Apostle?} Cephas, and
{Apostle?} John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we [should go] unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.
[1Co 15:5 KJV] And that he was seen of
{Missionary?} Cephas, then of the twelve:
[1Co 15:7 KJV] After that, he was seen of
{Pastor?} James; then of all the apostles.
This is the thing, they didn't use titles, except when trying to make a distinction of who they were talking about
:
Acts 21:8 (NKJV) 8 On the next day we who were Paul's companions departed and came to Caesarea, and entered the house of Philip
the evangelist, who was one of the seven, and stayed with him.
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