Are you Pastor or Reverend?
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Straight to the Cross
Richard Mansel goes to the Bible to answer ... "The
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COLUMN: LIVING THE FAITH
Are you Pastor or Reverend?
by Richard Mansel, managing editor
tinyurl.com/nsr4utj
I once spoke at a senior citizens center. The
activities director asked me if I wished to be called
Pastor or Reverend. I said neither. Yet, she introduced
me as Reverend, anyway.
Religious titles are so entrenched in the religious
world that people's brains seem hardwired to use them.
God's Word is our guide, not tradition. God never
changes his definitions and we are bound to comply
(Psalm 119:89; 2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Reverend is used only once in Scripture.
"He sent redemption unto his people: he hath
commanded his covenant for ever: holy and
reverend is his name" (Psalm 111:9, KJV).
The word “reverend” means "mighty and dreadful,
something to be feared." While people are nervous
around preachers, we're not to be spiritually feared
because we don't possess the power of life and death.
Righteousness should always take precedence over ego.
Reverend is God's name, alone. Adding "Right," "Dr." or
"Very" to Reverend doesn't change God's definitions,
either (1 Corinthians 4:6).
Pastors are a specific group in Scripture, separate
from preachers. Pastors are to be overseers (1 Peter
5:2). They feed, tend, care for the flock and lead as
godly men. In Acts 20:28, the Holy Spirit "has made you
overseers [Bishops]" (NKJV).
He makes them by giving them qualifications, which they
must meet (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9). The Holy
Spirit commanded Titus to appoint a plurality of elders
in every church (Titus 1:5; Acts 14:23).
Elders, Bishops and Pastors are overseers in the Church
and they are separate from preachers (Ephesians 4:11).
Pastors shepherd the flock, looking out for the souls
of the congregation (1 Timothy 3:5), while preachers
spend their time teaching and preaching (Acts 15:35).
The Lord designed this plan to facilitate the work of
the Gospel.
Preachers work under and alongside Pastors, as separate
entities. Let God's plan, not tradition, rule in every
Church.
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