Reverend

Naturally does every man aspire to be respected by others despite his distinctions, demerits, virtues or vices. Because of the innate trait some persons bear and bestow adulatory titles. Do you think this is applicable ecclesiastically? Whenever a doubt regarding spiritual matters over shadows our mind, the only divine scale, standard of spiritual authority and sure guide that can elucidate it vividly to us will be the Bible, which has been written by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Let us scan and sift the scriptures scrupulously to evaluate the most popular deifying

title - Reverend which is derived from Latin reverendus.

"He sent redemption unto His people; He hath commanded His covenant for ever, holy and reverend is His name" Psalm 111:9. The word, reverend, is found only one time in the entire Bible of the King James Version and then it was attributed to God; and it is derived from the Hebrew word, Yare, which occurs several hundred times in the original Bible. It has been rendered by such words as fearful, terrible and dreadful. The thought intended by the Psalmist is that God is holy and deserved to be worshiped (Pulpit Commentary). It is a staunch belief of every truth-loving and true Christian that there is only one God and He is the Reverend.

 "To whom then will you compare Me, or can I be equal to anyone, says the Lord the Holy One?" Isaiah 40:25. "I am the Lord... and My glory will I not give to another" Isaiah 42:8. "Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness" Psalm 29:2. Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar and Herod were punished instantly, because they did not give glory to God - Daniel 4:30-33, 5:22-30; Acts12:23. It is not appropriate to violate scripture and exalting oneself extremely and neglecting to glorify God.

Was apostle Paul a Reverend? Was apostle Peter a Reverend? Was an angel of God Reverend? Read Acts 10:25,26; 14:7-17 and Revelation 22:8,9. They ascribed themselves as weak creatures. Even they precluded prostrating. Prostration or adulation was, they knew, an act of worship - Exodus 20:3,4. No angel or apostle was a Reverend. Paul described himself as a servant. Jesus, while living on earth, refused the title of "Good" Luke 18:19. "And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of wrath" Esther 3:5. There are many preachers of today, like Haman, who will fret and fume if we don't address or honor them as Reverend. What an ungodly tendency! "For I testify to them that they have zeal for God, but not according to knowledge" Romans 10:2. No human being is scripturally worthy to be a Reverend.

Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel and Christ should be our exemplars in expostulation. "The devil took Him up to a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, I will give you all these things if you fall down and worship me. Then Jesus said to him, get away, Satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord, your God, and Him alone you shall serve" Matthew 4:8-10. The gist of this dialogue affirms that Satan is neither entitled to be worshiped, therefore, nor a Reverend.

If so, what about the pseudo-reverends of today? We are warned concerning these falsely posing objects of worship: "Let no man deceive you in any way,.... and unless the man of sin has been revealed, the son of perdition, who sets himself against and lifts himself above all that is called against God or any object of worship, so as for him to sit down as God in Temple of God, setting himself out to be God" 2 Thessalonians 2:3, 4. The craving for enthralling status and high-falutin titles springs out of the covetousness for personal reputation and satiation. But Jesus said, "ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts for that highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" Luke 16:15. If the dignity or insignia of a person were excessively exalted he would really evolve as God.

We should desist the extolling proclivity and resist the conferment of eulogistic titles: "Let me not accept any man's person, nor give flattering titles to man. For I do not know how to give flattering titles, else my Maker would soon put an end to me" Job 32:21, 22. Here Elihu promises to be frank and outspoken, not accepting any man's person in perversion of truth and giving flattering titles to no man. If a man accepts persons he will neglect truth (Leroy). Instead of considering what is right and fair, flatter considers what is pompous and pleasant. Thus equity and probity are set aside.

"Whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever wants to be first among you, let him be your slave" Matthew 20:26,27. "...The greater one among you shall be your servant" Matthew 23:11. The spirit of these commands proscribes snobbery, prohibits all ecclesiastical titles of adulation, veneration, deification or apotheosis and forbids the copying-right of Reverend. No man should bear this title; it belongs only to God.