Brother and Sister

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Dagwood

[/B]

Here's the definition of "intreat," 1. to ask (a person) earnestly; beg or plead with; implore 2. to make an earnest request or petition for (something)

Where do you get it that it's a tradition based on scripture? No where does it state to address your fellow bretheren as "brother so-and-so, sister so-and-so" using the scripture you've referenced...

And to use the "pride comes before a fall" as an "oh, by the way" makes it sound as if you already know someone else's pride when they disagree with you...

First never said that scripture tells us to address each other in any way. In christ we are all brothers and sisters, and scripture makes us clear that we should respect each other as such. Because of this many of us in evangelical protestantism traditionally call each other by the name "brother" or "sister". We do the same thing and respect the mothers and the elders as such.

MY PROBLEM comes in when that is trashed as some evil extrabiblical tradition forced upon people that we have to break away from to be free from bondage by the "I-know-more-then-you" crowd.

It's really not THAT serious. The church has traditions. This one isn't MANDADTED in scripture, but scripture makes it clear that we are to respect one another as brothers and sisters, so many feel a way to do this is to use such titles as a formality. Of course, this will be treated as a form of bondage by whoever wants to fool themselves into believing that every OP church holds their members in some sort of prison of tradition (moreso then any other church). I honestly don't know if Paul and the Apostles called each other "brother" or "sister" do I think they'd have a problem with us doing so? Of course not, and priding yourself on not doing it is just as dangerous as condemning someone to Hell for not doing it. My point.

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by Hoovie

So it's not just a OP thing? I have not heard it around other Evangelicals - like baptist etc, unless they were speaking of a minister and used "Bro." in lieu of Pastor.

I have but like I said with baptists it's typically and African American thing. African American churches generally use the term regardless of denomination (for the most part).

[ImThankful]

I just prefer to be called by my first name.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

First never said that scripture tells us to address each other in any way. In christ we are all brothers and sisters, and scripture makes us clear that we should respect each other as such. Because of this many of us in evangelical protestantism traditionally call each other by the name "brother" or "sister". We do the same thing and respect the mothers and the elders as such.

MY PROBLEM comes in when that is trashed as some evil extrabiblical tradition forced upon people that we have to break away from to be free from bondage by the "I-know-more-then-you" crowd.

It's really not THAT serious. The church has traditions. This one isn't MANDADTED in scripture, but scripture makes it clear that we are to respect one another as brothers and sisters, so many feel a way to do this is to use such titles as a formality. Of course, this will be treated as a form of bondage by whoever wants to fool themselves into believing that every OP church holds their members in some sort of prison of tradition (moreso then any other church). I honestly don't know if Paul and the Apostles called each other "brother" or "sister" do I think they'd have a problem with us doing so? Of course not, and priding yourself on not doing it is just as dangerous as condemning someone to Hell for not doing it. My point.

Right. It's not the showing of respect that bothers me.

When we know that is how respect and acceptance are shown (a public and personal statement), it becomes disrespect when it is not afforded to others who are in Christ but out of the clique.

[shag]

Originally Posted by trialedbyfire

Granted not calling someone "brother" or "sister" is not a sin but pride is.

Yes, it's a tradition, but it's a tradition based in scripture.

"Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren; The elder women as mothers; the younger as sisters, with all purity" 1 Timothy 5:1-2

I refer to most as "sister" or "brother" who are in the faith, I refer to the older women as "mother", who are in the faith. I do so out respect not out of necessity. For those who don't hold to that tradition, I'm fine with, but making an effort not to in order to attract attention is pretty prideful to me.

To those of you that have achieved this heightened level of scripture knowledge as to where you can look down on all of us silly apostolic folks and our traditions, I warn you, pride comes before the fall (Proverbs 16:17).

I always refer to those of age in the church as "elder" or "sister", or even Mr or Mrs to show respect. But the ones in the middle age(my age) that grew up in "the church", and think its a requirement of "the body of Chriist" (U know the REAL TRUE body) to refer to everyone as brother or sister, and are devastated according to their facial expression when you dont say it, and think youre backslidden because you didnt call them brother David or Sister Suzie, those are the ones I like to bring back to earth by not saying brother or sister. That particular type of traditional mindset (to that degree)to me, pushes being "so heavenly minded, no earthly good category".

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by tstew

I prefer to be called brother. I haven't thought about it that much, but I just feel that sister would be a little inappropriate.

LOL! Leave it to tstew to turn the thread into gender identity disorder thread!

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by shag

I always refer to those of age in the church as "elder" or "sister", or even Mr or Mrs to show respect. But the ones in the middle age that grew up in "the church", and think its a requirement of "the body of Chriist" (U know the REAL TRUE body) to refer to everyone as brother or sister, and are devastated according to their facial expression when you dont say it, and think youre backslidden because you didnt call them brother David or Sister Suzie, those are the ones I like to bring back to earth by not saying brother or sister. That particular type of mindset to me, falls under the "so heavenly minded, no earthly good category". Call it pride if you wish.

The pride comes in when you feel like you are obligated to "bring them down to Earth".

[Hoovie]

I hear you Shag.

I am most concerned by what others perceive - outsiders - Christian and non Christian both.

I could care less if a group wanted and expected members to wear tin foil on their heads. I could probably be convinced to wear one too - if it made them feel better.

But what does the rest of society think? Does that matter?

Again I think the dynamics are bigger than the foil. Very often, there are serious underlying statements being made, be they good or bad.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by tstew

I prefer to be called brother. I haven't thought about it that much, but I just feel that sister would be a little inappropriate.

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Cindy

The most interesting part is that he thinks it "a little inappropriate"!