Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. - 1Timothy 5: 17 (ESV)
There is a move afoot in Christianity that seeks to level the field so to speak. To make everyone equal in estimation. A great number of these people have been hurt in modern churchianity and others just correctly see the abuses of power on display every day. Pastors who berate the sheep of God. Leaders who rob the poor using the tithing system while they bask in private jets and luxurious mansions. People resurrecting old titles such as apostle and prophet so they can enforce an authority system that does not exist and magically places them at the top of the pyramid. Other people shamelessly creating their own title or even taking titles reserved for Jesus such as Master Prophet, Chief Apostle, Psalmist, and a host of others. So let me start by saying, I understand. It is very frustrating to look out amidst Christendom and see so many people abusing power they do not have in the name of Christ. That does not however give us permission to throw the baby out with the bathwater. The field is not level beloved. I am not speaking about anyone being better than anyone else in the kingdom. That said, to pretend that God did not make delineations between people in the church is not biblical:
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. - Ephesians 4: 11-16 (ESV)
God is making clear a delineation between the saints from the leadership. Once again, not to say anyone is better because we all know the model of leadership Jesus demonstrated was servanthood and humility. That does not however remove the structure. If anyone lords their position or title over anyone else they should be rebuked but that does not mean that God said we should not use titles at all. I have already written about the titles of Apostle and Prophet. My general conclusion is that anyone who truly claims those titles is too busy lifting the name of Jesus to lift their own. So if you have someone saying you have to call them apostle or prophet, I would say no. That said, we come to the title of Reverend. I have had it stated to me recently that this title should never be used. I disagree, biblically. Let's go through the arguments made.
First I heard that reverend is making oneself equal to God and the verse cited is the only place in the Bible that the word reverend actually appears:
He sent redemption to his people; he has commanded his covenant forever. Holy and awesome is his name! - Psalm 11: 9 (ESV)
The King James Version uses the word reverend instead of awesome. The logic I heard is that since the name of God is reverend, that anyone using the title is saying they are God. This is poor hermeneutics at best. The original Hebrew is not referring to a title but rather saying the name of the Lord should be revered, or highly respected and worthy of honor. According to the King James Bible dictionary, the word revere means:
To regard with fear mingled with respect and affection; to venerate; to reverence; to honor in estimation.
Please note the way definitions work. These are all separate definitions for the word revere. They all need not apply when using it; only one does. So let us focus on "to honor in estimation." That means if you revere someone, in your estimation, you are honoring them. They are somehow worthy of honor to you. Now let us turn to the key verse today and discover that God Himself has said that those who labor in teaching and preaching are actually worth double honor! I love the caveat - those who lead well. That is the larger picture. If someone is leading well and preaching the Word of God well, then the Bible teaches us they are worth double honor. Since honor is a definition of the word revere; then the title of reverend should not be viewed upon negatively.
Another argument I heard is that no one in the Bible was ever referred to as Apostle Paul or Apostle Peter, so God does not want us using titles. Once again, this is not how bible interpretation is done. You do not seek to prove why something is not present because you cannot prove why. You certainly do not make doctrine out of what is not there. This is similar to what the homosexual lobby tries when they say Jesus never addressed homosexuality. While that is technically true (but overlooks that as God He wrote the entire Bible and the Old Testament is quite clear) you cannot therefore conclude doctrinally that He approved of it! You cannot say because you never see anyone using any official titles in the Bible that must mean Jesus was against them. That is not sound biblical interpretation. The truth is this and some may not want to hear it but not everyone is called to rightly divide the Word.
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. - 2Timothy 2: 15 (ESV)
Once again, there are reasons why God made the delineations He did. Some teach while others learn. Everyone is responsible for doing the work of a Berean but not everyone is called to a preaching or teaching role. Timothy was, so Paul is instructing him on the ways of a preacher. Not only that, but if you have not truly been called to divide the Word for the saints, be very careful:
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. - James 3: 1 (ESV)
Not many of you should even become teachers! When Paul said goodbye to the elders at Ephesus he declared he was free of their blood because he did not hesitate in proclaiming the full counsel of God to them. That is how serious it is. Held to a higher standard. Blood in the balance. Worthy of double honor. The bible is clear. There is nothing wrong with revering someone who fits these biblical qualifications. It does not mean you deify them. It does not mean that you think they are above everyone. It simply means you honor them and the Bible agrees. The only verse that speaks directly to titles is from one of the oldest Bible books, Job:
Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away. - Job 32: 21-22 (KJV)
Sometimes things become clearer when we see other translations and here is this verse in the NIV, NLT, and ESV:
I will show no partiality, nor will I flatter anyone;
I won't play favorites or try to flatter anyone.
I will not show partiality to any man or use flattery toward any person.
I think it is clear to see that this verse has less to do with titles and more with flattery and partiality. Again, the issue is if the person is using the title to loft themselves over someone else. That would be quite wrong and quite unbiblical. In most cases, the title reverend is given by organizations for recognition of completing some level of work. I say this in full disclosure because I am a reverend. The Assemblies of God has a academic program I went through. It consisted of nine classes over 4.5 years followed by a series of interviews. I then taught classes for the AG for several years to people studying to become ministers. I have never demanded anyone call me reverend and I never will because it is not about me. It is about Him. That said, I sign my work as reverend because that is the title I was given because I studied and showed myself approved. Is it a title of man? Absolutely. We are but men and women at the end of the day. My pastor has always taught me well and pointed me to Christ in every instance. I hold him in esteem for that because I know how difficult it can be sometimes. He has always served with humility and servanthood. I honor him because the Bible tells me to. There is nothing wrong with that.
Reverend Anthony.
