Title Or Not To Title

Okay, I have a wee bit of a rant. This has been a burr under my saddle for years. It's about titles in the body of Christ. 

 This is just my opinion so of course, no one has to agree with me but when I see someone refer to themselves as Pastor (insert name) or Reverand (insert name) or Prophetess or Prophet (insert name)...well you get the picture, it all sounds a little pompous and egotistical to me."But you, are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them" (Jeremiah 45:5)

Titles elevate, draw honor, glory, recognition, etc to a person. It makes me think they are lifting themselves a little higher, more important than the rest of us. Again I say the ground at the foot of the cross is level ground.

I never read where Paul referred to himself as Apostle Paul or Jesus refer to Himself as Master Jesus. Jesus referred to Himself as a servant and true servants of God must think of themselves as servants. In the kingdom of heaven, Apostle Paul is great but on earth, he totally humbled himself becoming the least of all saints and servants of God. All Biblical witnesses of the gospel did not give themselves titles but they all did marvelous works.

Who are you then giving yourself a title to elevate, draw glory and honor to yourself? Are you greater than Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, Jonah, Paul, John the Baptist, and others? If Jesus was a servant, who are you to elevate yourself yet claiming to be His servant? No servant is greater than the master. John 15:20

John the Baptist just called himself a voice. John 1:23

A servant does not elevate, draw glory, honor, and recognition to her/himself but to her/his Master as it is the Master who glorifies and honors His servant. All God servants in the Bible called themselves, ‘servants’ with no other title even when God defined clearly who they are.

As a servant, Jesus did not seek His own glory and honor but that of God the Father. He never drew attention to Himself but pointed always to the Father.

John 8:50: And I seek not my own glory

John 8:54: Jesus answered, If I honor myself, my honor is nothing: it is my Father that honors me.

It is God who honors and glorifies His servants not the servants to glorify and honor themselves. In fact in Matthew 23 Jesus, in His condemnation of the Pharisee plainly forbids His followers from either giving or receiving honorific titles.  He is prohibiting the use of self-exalting and honorific titles of distinction among those who have chosen to follow Christ. 

They have refused to take Jesus' words at face value. Jesus' obvious intent was to remove any basis for "lording it over" others by dispensing with titles that give people an elevated place in the "pecking order."

A title speaks of you; it is all about you. Using a title in your name is seeking your own glory, honor, fame, and recognition from man. A true servant of God will not seek honor, glory, fame or recognition. It's Jesus Christ who honors and glorifies them.

A true servant will not put a light on themselves seeking their own glory but will shine the light on God the Father...to whom all glory belongs. "I am the Lord: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another." Isaiah 42:8

John 7:18: He who speaks of himself seeks his own glory: but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.

A true servant of God knows that she/he is nothing but a vessel God chooses to use.

In His love, 
Elizabeth