____________________________________________________ THE GOSPEL OBSERVER "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations...teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:19,20). ____________________________________________________ December 20, 1992 ____________________________________________________ Misused Titles for the "Preacher" by Tom Edwards Today there are various terms used among many denominations that are actually misused. Let us consider some of these: ``Reverend'' It is not uncommon for certain denominational preachers to be referred to as ``Reverend.'' Where does this originate? with God or with men? Did the apostle Paul ever use this title? Do we ever read of anyone in the New Testament being spoken of as ``Reverend'' or does the New Testament mention anywhere that a preacher should be referred to as such? The answer to these questions is ``No,'' for this use did not originate with God, but rather with man. Nowhere do we find in the Scriptures that this was to be a title given to preachers. The term is found only one time in the entire Bible, in which it states, ''...holy and reverend is his name'' (Psa. 111:9, KJV); and it is, therefore, used with reference to God--and not to man. Concerning the need to be ``reverent,'' however, this should be true of every child of God--and not just the preacher. ``Happy is the man who is always reverent, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity'' (Prov. 28:14, NKJ). The New Testament shows specifically that deacons are to be ``reverent'' (1 Tim. 3:8, NKJ), along with their wives (1 Tim. 3:11, NKJ); and so are older men (Titus 2:2, NKJ) and older women (Titus 2:3, NKJ). Not only these, however, but every Christian should be of this manner. Peter urges the saints to ''...sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence'' (1 Pet. 3:15, NAS). (See also Heb. 12:28, NAS.) ``Minister'' First of all, the preacher who is living as God wills would then be a minister; but this is not a mere title for the one who preaches. Actually, ``minister'' simply means ``servant''; and is this not what every Christian is to be? The answer is ``Yes'' (Mark 10:42-45). Even the civil government is referred to as being such in Romans 13:4. It states: ``for it is a minister of God for you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath upon the one who practices evil.'' We need to each be a minister unto God and a minister unto one another that we may be the servants God intended for us to be. The Lord came into this world not to be served, but to serve and give His life as a ransom for all. In order to follow in His example, we, too, must each be servants and minister in whatever capacity we can within the parameters of the Scriptures. ``Pastor'' I hear this term often used as another title for the preacher, but is this how God's word uses it? According to the Scriptures, just because one is a preacher does not necessarily mean that he is a ``pastor''; for this term is actually speaking of the one who is an ``elder,'' an ``overseer,'' or a ``bishop.'' All of these words are referring to the same thing. In 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and also Titus 1:5-9, the qualifications for a ``pastor'' (or elder, overseer, etc.) are clearly revealed. Two of these being that the ``pastor'' be the ``husband of one wife'' and have ``children who believe.'' Therefore, the Christian who is single or married with no believing children could never become a ``pastor''; but he could be a preacher. Let us learn to use Bible terms with Bible meanings and not twist or distort them for our own use. ___________________________________________ Binding Where God Didn't Bind by Johnie Edwards A failure to know just what the Bible really says causes many to bind that which God has not bound! Jesus told the apostles that they could only ``bind on earth'' what had been ``bound in heaven'' (Matt. 16:19). A good example of binding where the Lord has not bound is in the case of the word ``cup'' in regards to partaking of the Lord's Supper. Some think the Bible refers to a container when the word ``CUP'' is used. 1) ``And He Took The Cup.'' Jesus was eating the Passover feast as He instituted the Lord's Supper (Matt. 26:19-20). Matthew 26:27 says, ``He took the cup.'' Just what did Jesus take when He took the CUP? Does the word ``CUP'' refer to a container or its contents? Let's see. 2) ``Gave Thanks.'' Jesus gave ``thanks'' (Mt. 26:27). For what did Jesus give thanks, a container or the contents? Whatever Jesus gave thanks for, He said, ``Drink it'' (Mt. 26:27). 3) ``This Cup.'' Mark records Jesus saying, ``The cup is my blood of the New Testament...'' (Mk. 14:23-24). What is that refers to the blood, the container or the contents? Let the Bible answer: Jesus said this cup is ``the fruit of the vine'' (Mk. 14:25). That ought to settle it, that the ``CUP'' does not refer to a container but to the fruit of the vine! 4) ``Divide The Cup.'' Luke's account says, ``And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, Take this, and divide it among yourselves'' (Lk. 22:17). Whatever the ``cup'' is, it could be divided! Did they divide a container or contents of a container? We are not interested as to what men think it was. We want to know what the Lord says the cup was. Jesus said the ``cup'' is the ``fruit of the vine'' (Lk. 22:18). 5) ``Drink The Cup.'' Paul received instructions about the Lord's Supper from the Lord. Just what did the Lord tell Paul about the cup? ``After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the New Testament in my blood...For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink, this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come'' (I Cor. 11:23-26). The ``CUP'' was something that could be ``supped'' and could be drank! Let me ask you, how would you go about drinking a cup? Just like a mother who says, ``I raised my babies on the bottle.'' Did the babies drink a bottle or the contents of the bottle? Come on now. Don't try to tell me they drank a glass or plastic bottle! The Bible binds only one cup, the fruit of the vine. Whether we drink the fruit of the vine out of one container or a hundred, we are still just doing what the Lord said do, drinking the cup. Emphasis is put on the manner in which the Lord's Supper is observed, not how many containers (I Cor. 11:27-29). ___________________________________________ Write us for a FREE Bible Correspondence Course ___________________________________________ An Honest Doubter by Frank Jamerson Thomas is known as ``the doubter'' because he did not believe the report concerning the resurrection of Christ (Jno. 20:24-29). That he was an honest individual is evidenced by the fact that he assembled again with the apostles after eight days. If he had closed his mind to further evidence, he would not have gone to a place where he was likely to hear more discussion of the resurrection. Those who do not believe what they hear find it convenient to shun the source of testimony, if they are unwilling to change their minds. Thomas was not afraid that he might learn something. If he had refused to change his mind about the resurrection of Christ, that would not have changed the fact that Christ arose! When people close their minds to truth, that does not change truth into error. God expects us to have a certain amount of doubt. He said not to believe every prophet, but to ``try the spirits'' (1 Jno. 4:1) and to ``prove all things'' (1 Thess. 5:21). We must reject the things that cannot be proved by the Bible, but we should not fear the truth. Some refuse to study the truth because of fear that they will have to change. Are YOU afraid of truth? ___________________________________________ Real Christians Real Christians are forgiven, forgiving, and for giving. Their sins are forgiven by God. They themselves forgive those who wrong them. And a generous spirit prompts them to give cheerfully to the work of the Lord. -- Selected (actual title not known) ________________________________________ Tri-State CHURCH OF CHRIST 1314 Montgomery Avenue, Ashland, Kentucky 41101 Sunday: 10:00 A.M. Bible class 10:50 A.M. Worship 6:30 P.M. Worship Wednesday: 7:30 P.M. Bible study evangelist/editor: Tom Edwards (606) 325-9742 e-mail: tedwards@zoomnet.net Gospel Observer web site: http://www.zoomnet.net/~tedwards/go ________________________________________