Call No Man Your Father
Jesus admonished that we call no man our "father". Obviously
Christ was referring to "spiritual" fathers.
Matthew 23:8-12 But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have
one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father
on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called
masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among
you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled,
and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
"The oft repeated "Rabbi," was very acceptable to the
ear, but Jesus warned His disciples against this. He said to them, "But
be not ye called rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ; and all
ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one
is your Father which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for
one is your Master, even Christ." By these words Christ meant
that no man is to place his spiritual interest under another as a child
is guided and directed by his earthly father. This has encouraged
a spirit to desire ecclesiastical superiority, which has always resulted
in the injury of the men who have been trusted, and addressed as "Father."
It confuses the sense of the sacredness of the prerogatives of God."
--Review and Herald, February 22, 1898
Rather than pastors and ministers "hover" over the churches,
Ellen White admonished they conduct front-line evangelism.
The world is to be warned. Ministers should work earnestly and devotedly,
opening new fields and engaging in personal labor for souls, instead
of hovering over the churches that already have great light and many
advantages. --Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 255
The ministers who are hovering over the churches, preaching to those
who know the truth, would better go into places still in darkness.
Unless they do this, they themselves and their congregations will
become dwarfed. Our religion has become weak and sickly because
the members of the church have left their first love. They might be
strong men and women in Christ if they would obey the Lord's directions.
--Review and Herald, February 9, 1905 par. 12
The time that has been used in preaching to our churches has not
strengthened them, but has made them weak and helpless, to be fed
with milk and not with meat. God has been calling upon His ministers
to leave the ninety and nine and hunt for the lost sheep. Your experience
is to be a lesson for all who are hovering over the churches--consumers
and not producers. --Manuscript Release, vol. 10, p. 227, 228
Our ministers should plan wisely, as faithful stewards. They should
feel that it is not their duty to hover over the churches already
raised up, but that they should be doing aggressive evangelistic work,
preaching the Word and doing house-to-house work in places that have
not yet heard the truth. . . . They will find that nothing is so encouraging
as doing evangelistic work in new fields. --Letter 169, 1904. {Evangelism,
p. 382.3}
If the ministers would get out of the way, if they would go forth
into new fields, the members would be obliged to bear responsibilities,
and their capabilities would increase by use.--Letter 56, 1901. {Evangelism,
p. 382.4}
In conclusion, we should call no man our spiritual father because:
- For the sake of Christ we are to be "all brethren". As
Christ humbled himself and was servant among us, we are to do the
same. Whoever exalts himself will be humbled. Whoever humbles himself
will be exalted.
- We have only one Father which is in heaven. And one Master, even
Christ. To call a mortal "father" would confuse the sense
of the sacredness of the prerogatives of God. Only God the Father
is our spiritual father.
- It would dwarf our spiritual growth. To depend on another for spiritual
food would be to receive spiritual milk and not meat. It is the indwelling
of God's Spirit that is to teach, convict, and cause spiritual growth.
Our spiritual capabilities increase when we bear responsibilities
on our own.
- It would result in a spirit to desire ecclesiastical superiority
of those called "father". A desire to seek the praise of
men. One of the chief criticisms Christ had of the Pharisees was that
they sought the praise of men.
- It would not advance the gospel (evangelism). True spiritual fathers
(apostleship, such as Peter and Paul) are to break new ground, advancing
the gospel to those who live in darkness.
