Serve, But No Fancy Titles, Please

Introduction

After the last supper, the disciples were arguing about which one of them was the greatest.  Jesus responded in Luke 22:25-27, “Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles. It’s not going to be that way with you. Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.  Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You’d rather eat and be served, right? But I’ve taken my place among you as the one who serves.”  The Message

He is comparing His kingdom to the world system.  What a stark contrast!

The World System

Since the fall, we have corrupted our world by our selfishness, egos, and sin.  We have developed a system based on a hierarchy where authority is exercised over “lower level” people.  It’s about having power over others, being served, looking out for number one.

Titles are an outgrowth of this system.  We call certain people by their title and name.  Doctor, Judge, Senator, President, Queen, King, Prince, General, Admiral, and so on.  This is a natural development in a hierarchical system to define roles and positions, and rank people accordingly.  Those with higher ranks have the most power, and the most privileges.

The Church System Today

Unfortunately, the Church is not immune to the effects of the fall.  We have also adopted titles and a hierarchical system.  The Catholic church has a pope, cardinals, bishops, priests, and saints.  Other denominations have apostles, bishops, and pastors.  We often consider those who have such titles more important than “regular” believers.  We have developed and practiced a system of clergy and laity, clergy being a special class of believers (with special titles of course), and laity representing those in the pews.  There is no such distinction in the Scriptures.  Jesus’ statement to his disciples makes that clear.  All believers are saints, and all have gifts for the purpose of serving each other. 

Ephesians 4

However, God has given special gifts to the church listed in Ephesians 4.  He gave some to be apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds (pastors), and teachers.  Should these gifts benefit the gifted ones themselves? No, but as verse 12 says, they are to equip the saints (all believers) for the work of the ministry, for building up the body of Christ.  Should these ministry gifts become titles?  We’ve all seen, heard, and used them that way: Pastor Johnson, Bishop Jones, Father Miller, Apostle Smith, etc.  

What do the Scriptures say?

Jesus:

In Matthew 23:8-12 He says: “but you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one Teacher, and you are all brothers.  And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.  Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ.  The greatest among you shall be your servant.  Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

Jesus seems to be saying that we are not to use titles in His church.  If we are servants, we are the greatest in His eyes.  Being a servant is not exalting ourselves, but humbling ourselves.  

Paul:

What can we learn from Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament in his letters?  How does he refer to himself?

• Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus (1 Corinthians)
• Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians, Ephesians, Colossians, 1 & 2 Timothy)
• Paul, an apostle (Galatians)
• Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus (Philippians)
• Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy (1 & 2 Thessalonians)
• Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ (Titus)
• Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus (Philemon)

Paul doesn’t apply any titles to himself.  Many in the church today call him “St. Paul”, or “the Apostle Paul”.  But he never applies the word apostle as a title, only as a ministry that the Lord has given him.  And in several letters, he identifies himself only as “Paul”, or “servant”, or even “prisoner”!  But I’ve never heard him called “Prisoner Paul”!

“Paul, an apostle”, or  “Apostle Paul”.  There is a subtle difference between the two.  Each term conveys an assumption.  The former conveys the idea of a man with a gift and responsibility; like Joe, the plumber, (not Plumber Joe)!  The latter implies status and privilege, a worldly attitude.

What About My Pastor?

I am NOT saying that all clergy and believers with titles consider themselves better or higher than others.  I believe that the vast majority, probably including your own pastor, are operating humbly as true servants in the body of Christ.  My new pastor is in this category.  When he was introduced to our congregation recently, someone asked if they should call him “pastor Steve”.  His response: “pastor Steve is OK, but Steve is better.”  A man after my own heart!  

It’s Not the People, it’s the System

The system we have developed is too much like the world.  It puts pressure on clergy that shouldn’t be.  There is a tendency for “lay people” to put most of the responsibility for ministry on the clergy.  As a result, many clergy experience burnout, discouragement, and in a few sad cases, exploiting their status for financial gain and exercising power over their congregations.  We see some of these on television, with their huge ministries, fancy cars and large buildings.

The early church in Acts had none of these trappings.  They referred to each other by their names, or “brother/sister”.  They humbly went about the business of preaching the Gospel and serving one another.  There were believers with ministry gifts (and resulting responsibility) but not titles.    

What should we do?

Let’s take the physical and emotional load off of our pastors, prophets, teachers, and leaders.  Let’s not expect them to do all of the work of the ministry; their purpose is to equip the whole body of Christ to do ministry.  Let’s call them by their names, take them off of any pedestals we have erected, support and pray for them, and partner with them in their work.  All of us have gifts from God to use, and no one of us is more important than any other.

For a related article on how we do church today, check this:

Meeting Together: From Homes to Mega-churches