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Please, No Titles

by Bryan Gibson

December 6, 2008

You can describe me as an evangelist (Acts 21:8; 2 Timothy 4:5), or a preacher (Romans 10:14), but please don’t give me a title to wear, not Reverend, not Pastor, not even Evangelist Bryan. Let me explain why, or better yet, let the Scriptures explain why.

On the subject of title-wearing, Jesus said the following, and please read it carefully: “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ” (Matthew 23:8-10). Don’t give me a title that sets me above my brethren, because I don’t rank any higher in the kingdom than they do. You give me or any other man a title, and pretty soon the focus in on us, rather the One Father, the One Teacher, etc.

The early Christians clearly took this teaching to heart, in that while we do read of apostles, preachers, elders, deacons, etc., we find no evidence that these terms were used as official titles. They weren’t addressed as “apostle so and so” or “elder so and so.” These terms were simply used to describe their role, or function, in the body of Christ.

Another reason I refuse to wear any kind of religious title is that I don’t want to any way contribute to the “clergy-laity” distinction found in so many religious groups. In many cases, the title-wearers are viewed as being just a little bit closer to God than everyone else. Only they can perform such tasks as administering baptism, distributing the Lord’s supper, etc. If one of them prays for you, well, you’re probably going to be better off than if some ordinary “layman” did. The fact is, all Christians are priests (1 Peter 2:5, 9; Revelation 1:5; 5:10), and as such, have a direct and immediate relationship to God, through Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). No other mediator is needed. If all Christians are priests, then all are qualified to “offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). There is not a single task I perform in the kingdom of God that can’t be done by any of my other brethren, provided they have the ability and the opportunity.

I understand that my work is vitally important, but I also understand my place in the grand scheme of things. Some in the church at Corinth had begun to exalt men too highly, and so to combat that, Paul wrote, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each one? I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase” (1 Corinthians 3:5-7). It’s hard to feel good about wearing a title after that description.

“Let them praise the name of the LORD, For His name alone is exalted; His glory is above the earth and heaven” (Psalms 148:13).