Further Reading
and worked all the powerful miracles and signs
and wonders of a true apostle.” (2 Corinthians
12:12)
“I will not dare to speak of any of those things
which Christ has not accomplished through me, in
word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—
in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of
the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and
round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the
gospel of Christ.” (Romans 15:18-20)
“I have been
shipwrecked
three times,
and I even
had to spend
a night and a
day in the sea.”
Title Versus Function
I can find nowhere where Paul was referred to as
‘apostle Paul’ (as a title), but rather as ‘Paul the apostle’
(as a call and function). For example, Dr. Paul may have
received an honorary title but has never practiced
medicine in his life. Paul the doctor is a totally different
story.
The dangers of titles
Titles are dangerous because they label rather than
describe. A bottle labelled medicine could contain
poison and everyone may believe the lie until someone
drinks it. The proof of the cake is in its eating not the
beauty of its icing. Jesus warns us against titles.
Describing the hypocrisy of the scribes and the
Pharisees, who loved notoriety, said this, “But none
of you should be called a teacher. You have only one
teacher, and all of you are like brothers and sisters.
Don’t call anyone on earth your father. All of you have
the same Father in heaven. None of you should be
called the leader. The Messiah is your only leader.
Whoever is the greatest should be the servant of
the others. If you put yourself above others, you will
be put down. But if you humble yourself, you will be
honoured.” (Matthew 23:8-12) In other words, do not
take on titles, to the contrary we must be fathers and
be teachers etc. Do the job but refuse the title because
none is above the other. We are all on the same level,
we are His children, brothers and sisters
Paul admonishing Timothy did not say to him ‘see
to it that people refer to you by your title, Evangelist
Timothy’ but instead Paul said ‘do the work of an
evangelist’.[1]
Titles are like coffins
Titles in most cases are coffins made to look good yet
filled with decay and stench. Titles destroy meekness
by creating a false sense of power and authority. The
result is arrogance, insensitivity to the feelings of
others, and a tendency to talk rather than listen, boss
others rather than serve, impose your way rather than
seek God’s way. Like a coffin is sealed shut; those who
take on titles mostly end up bound by a false sense of
who they really are. Every time they are referred to by
their title this nail of deception sinks deeper and hope
of escape grows dimmer. Hearts are hardened by the
lie of a title.
No wonder the scribes and the Pharisees could not
receive Jesus. They were so blinded by their own self
importance that they couldn’t see His Majesty.p
References:
[1] 2 Timothy 4:5
COMMENT OR DISCUSS ARTICLE AT: www.thesharemagazine.com/archives/0003-01
January - March 2015
By Homer Slack
author, preacher, bible
teacher, IT tutor, programmer & graphic designer
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