6/15/09
Rabbi
Titles of Servants
Mathew 23:8-11
8 But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ,b]">[b] and you are all brethren. 9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. 10 And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ. 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.
Over the course of time we allowed the natural governments of this worlds system to enter into Christianity. It started with the Roman catholic church, and goes right through today. One of the things we are still growing out of is the need for titles in ministry. Titles are important to a degree. By naming a person, place, or thing you establish certain understandings about it. By giving a man a title you begin to understand his place and role within the organization. For far too long we have disobeyed/ignored the scripture in Ephesians 4
11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.
He did give titles to ministry offices. The scripture is very clear about submitting to the authority spiritually and naturally placed over us. The word says that these five offices were given to the body of Christ to build us up. After the reformation we abandoned the title of “priest” to return to our roots and call the local man of God placed over us “Pastor”. In Recent years we’ve re discovered and come to value the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor AND Teacher as the proper Five Ministry offices placed over the body.
As we’ve done this though, we’ve over corrected in some areas. Do not seek for yourself a title. I’m not walking up to people saying: “Yes, Yes, I’m Reverend Wolfe” Or “Pastor Wolfe” or “Doctor Wolfe”. How about Darrell? Brother Darrell? There must come this balance between respecting the office and seeking a title. Always Honor the office in others, and downplay your own title. Remember that the higher the office you are called to, the greater servant you are called to be.
Romans 12:3
[ Serve God with Spiritual Gifts ] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
[ Serve God with Spiritual Gifts ] For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.
Do not think too lowly or highly. To call yourself less than you are is false. To call yourself higher than you are is false. Get in the word and find out who you are and walk in it. It is right to say:
I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus
I am redeemed from the curse.
I am what my bible says I am!
I am an overcomer!
But also remember…
I am a son of the King, who serves.
I am a servant of all as I serve Him.
Remember to keep it real… Knowledge puffs up but love builds up.
In Him, DW
