Why does Christendom call its clergy Father ?

Question

Matthew 23:9 "Call no man your father upon the earth, for one is you Father, which is in heaven.

Answer 1

Christendom doesn't, Catholicism does.

Cheers
Guy
http://inhisgracecards.com

Answer 2

That's pretty cut and sweet, straight to the point. Matthew 23:9 clearly states it simply, but you know the unintelligent ones will have to pick it apart and take what is simple to comprehend to a distorted, analytical level.

Christendom is the whole of false religion. An example would be this: what false religious group teaches purgatory, and praying to idols and images and rituals and traditions that are not from the Bible, but "made up" along the way? Instead of teaching the truth from God's word, the Bible they make up "junk" and then call it religion.

Many people do not understand what the true meaning of Christendom is. They are lost or blinded this way.

First off, we must understand what is meant here by the word “Christendom.” Webster’s New International Dictionary defines Christendom as “the portion of the world in which Christianity prevails or which is governed under Christian institutions in distinction from heathen or Mohammedan lands.” It is out of date to define Christendom as meaning Christianity.

True Christians today do not confuse Christendom with Christianity or make them identical. They object to making Christendom mean the whole body of persons who claim to be Christian, because true Christians do not want to be part of Christendom. As a word, Christendom is used to include such countries that claim to be Christian or that have been legally called Christian as Great Britain, the United States of America, Spain, and so forth. Christendom particularly refers to the whole body of hundreds of religious sects that claim to be Christian in such lands. Eight hundred millions claim to belong to such a Christendom.

Christendom doesn't just stop at calling their clergy father; they are into so much other debauched conduct.

Answer 3

It dates back to the old testament- The head of a family or clan were priest, their first born sons were born into this priesthood thus becoming the head or father of their own flock. Jesus is first born son and follows this lineage of priest

God is Father because of the covenant and the gift of the law to Israel, "his first-born son". God is also called the Father of the king of Israel.

Answer 4

Remember that Jesus spoke Aramaic. The Bible was originally written in ancient Hebrew. "Abba" was the word that Jesus spoke. Meaning "Father" as in "Creator". Not "dad" or "daddy". We are not to call anyone else "Creator". Goes along with the commandment as to not having any other gods before Him. Calling a priest "father" and our male parent "father" is completely different. And in the English term.

Answer 5

Because if you read the entire chapter and not just a few words of it, you'll get the actual meaning.

Jesus is talking about not honoring those who set themselves up as righteous. People who like to be seen in the Synagogue sitting in the best seats. His admonition here is a response to the Pharisees’ proud hearts and their grasping after marks of status and prestige.

Perhaps the most pointed New Testament reference to the theology of the spiritual fatherhood of priests is Paul’s statement, "I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel" (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

Now why would Paul disobey Christ's words? Right...he wouldn't. So obviously, Paul knew what Christ meant when he spoke them.

Read this link, it's very helpful.
http://www.catholic.com/library/Call_No_Man_Father.asp

Answer 6

Catholics do, haven't worked out why, when they also have brother and sister which make more sense. My minister was "The Reverend" and of course the Salvation army has ranks- which I don't get either, but I think they are all names that they believe are of respect for people of higher learning within that group of people.

Answer 7

It was taken from Zarathustra/Zoaster's Mithra/Mitra.
Mithra's followers were around before Christ's and when christianity came around and started borrowing things from the pagan religions, they took Father from them. Along with a bit of other stuff.

Answer 8

Catholicism calls them Father, not mainstream Christian Churches.

Answer 9

Catholics do that as a general rule.

Protestants use terms like Reverend or Minister

Answer 10

You forgot Those who call them "Pastor" which is the same as Shepherd.

The Lord is My Shepherd ... (The Lord, not a crook who says so)