“To put the title of Apostle, Prophet, Pastor, Bishop, etc. in front of our name is ludicrous and silly.
Jesus never did.
The apostles all called themselves apostles and bondslaves, signifying that both were equal terms that defined their role and job description. As such, if they were meant to be used as titles, they would rightly cancel each other out. Paul referred to apostles as the scum of the earth (see 1 Cor 4:9-13). He referred to apostles as men condemned to death; a spectacle; an exhibit no one wants to see; fools; weak; without honour; destitute; reviled; persecuted; scum; and the dregs of all things.
Which of these is a title? They all belong to his apostleship and bond slavery...There is an example in leadership that is grounded in servanthood, stewardship, and slavery - not in titles, status or position.
There is no status in the Body of Christ.
We are building church with Kingdom values, not with those of a hierarchical world system. Leaders are to be the best examples of servanthood and slavery in the church. It was the model set by Jesus and maintained by the apostles and leaders of the early church.”
Jesus never did.
The apostles all called themselves apostles and bondslaves, signifying that both were equal terms that defined their role and job description. As such, if they were meant to be used as titles, they would rightly cancel each other out. Paul referred to apostles as the scum of the earth (see 1 Cor 4:9-13). He referred to apostles as men condemned to death; a spectacle; an exhibit no one wants to see; fools; weak; without honour; destitute; reviled; persecuted; scum; and the dregs of all things.
Which of these is a title? They all belong to his apostleship and bond slavery...There is an example in leadership that is grounded in servanthood, stewardship, and slavery - not in titles, status or position.
There is no status in the Body of Christ.
We are building church with Kingdom values, not with those of a hierarchical world system. Leaders are to be the best examples of servanthood and slavery in the church. It was the model set by Jesus and maintained by the apostles and leaders of the early church.”
-Graham Cooke, A Divine Confrontation (read here) pg. 49-51
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"But you are not to be called 'Rabbi,'" Jesus said.
"For you have only one Master and you are all brothers.
And do not call anyone on earth 'Father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.
Nor are you to be called 'Teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. -Matt 23:7-12
.. In the old days, this had to be accomplished by means of respectful titles like "Rev." But nowadays, in these egalitarian times, the attitude of spiritual conceit has had to be a a little more creative,and a pastor shows his prowess in humility by asking people to call him "Joe". Behind the scenes, he is a fierce, hard-driving CEO,and reads those CEO magazines, and acts like a CEO on airplanes, right down to ogling the flight attendant in first class. But out in front of the congregation, sitting on that stool, fitted out in a Mr. Rogers cardigan, he is open, transparent,and shares the struggles of his heart--the struggles of a simple guy...named Joe. He is about as deep as a wet spot on the pavement."
-Douglas Wilson,A Serrated Edge: A Brief Defense of Biblical Satire and Trinitarian Skylarking (read entire book here)...p. 36
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