Christians, do you know that you're not supposed to call anyone but God "father"?

Question

Biblicists are not allowed to call anyone “father” (“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven” (Matthew 23:9). Not only is this rule ignored on a DAILY BASIS, but Catholicism uses “father” as a specific title.

SDW: LOL, making up your own conclusions doesn't justify it!

Answer 1

awwwwwww!!! we're in trouble!!! please don't tell!
no one says "father" anymore anyway.

Answer 2

Wow, that was huge! Boy, am I glad that I actually read the whole chapter, or I could be led to think that this verse was meant to be taken literally.

Thank goodness that it isn't... it is merely instructions not to dwell on titles here on earth but to recognize that the highest position that we can ever possibly attain is that of a servant, and we are not supposed to hide behind meaningless, pompous titles. Priests and ministers recognize this fact, and though they are called 'father' they realize that they are but servants of the church, and of God.

This is why we read the whole chapter, and cross-reference whenever possible (especially in the NT)--so we don't end up looking ignorant when we take scripture out of context.

Answer 3

Is the religious title “father” correct? It is used widely by Roman Catholics and Anglicans. “Padre,” meaning “father,” is also widely used. But Jesus taught his disciples: “You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven.” The New English Bible reads similarly: “Do not call any man on earth ‘father.’” Why do clergymen and their followers disobey this command from Jesus Christ?

The pope of Rome is usually addressed as “Holy Father.” But his Italian staff often address him as Santissimo Padre, which means “Most Holy Father.” “Holy Father” is a title that appears only once in the Bible. (John 17:11) It is the exclusive title of the Supreme Being.

Jesus speaking about the Pharisees, who were a prominent sect of Judaism. They were legalists, sticklers for observance of every detail of the Mosaic Law. They liked to dress and act in such a way as to call attention to themselves. Their religion was one of ostentation, their style of clothing, their principal places at meals, their front seats in the synagogues, and their titles of honor. They even claimed greater respect than that which was given parents. They wanted to be called father. However, Jesus shows that all his followers are equal as God’s children. Any title that suggests the opposite is a haughty usurpation of something that belongs to God. Thus, Jesus forbids the use of the word “father” as a title of honor in a religious sense. Jesus insists that his followers have only one Father in the faith, Jehovah.

many clergymen are standing on ‘holy ground’ reserved for God and his Son, and that much reverence is diverted from them to imperfect men? True Christians today avoid using flattering religious titles, and they avoid the practice of setting men on ecclesiastical pedestals. Jesus said: “You are all brothers.”

Answer 4

well if you are that picky we should pronounce it in Hebrew maybe. I'm sure God knows what I mean in my heart when I say Father. I actually call my earthly male parent 'Daddy'.

Answer 5

Then I am in the clear...I called my male parent Dad, and there are no priests in my church.

Answer 6

Matthew 23:1-12:
Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 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. But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

OK, so what's He saying here? What's His point? He is admonishing those who would raise themselves up as "holier than thou," are spiritually prideful, and boasters. He is saying that we are not to put any man, including ourselves, including the Pope, above God, simple as that. He is not saying that we are not to literally ever call a man father or rabbi or teacher or master; to believe otherwise is to call Him a liar because He Himself calls people father, in both the physical and spiritual sense (in that same chapter, even, in Mark 7, Mark 10, Mark 13, Luke 6, etc.) and doesn't admonish those who refer to "our father David" as they greet Him during His triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The four evangelists speak the same way, Christ's Mother speaks the same way, as does Paul who refers numerous times to our "father Abraham."


More important to the argument is Paul's acknowledging his own spiritual fatherhood, I Corinthians 4:14-17 being among the most explicit in which he says "I have begotten you through the Gospel," translated in the NIV and NASB (among others) as "I became your father through the Gospel." Tellingly, in this verse he even distinguishes between people who teach about Christ and "fathers" in Christ (see verse below) -- i.e., he differentiates between all Christians, who are exhorted to teach about Christ, and "spiritual fathers," who are ordained priests.

In addition, he is constantly referring to his "children," calls Timothy and Oneismus his "sons," and indicates that the other elders (presbyteros, priests) do the same: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12: "As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children." Spiritual fatherhood is a New Testament reality.




If you want to interpret the above verses to mean that Catholics are woefully sinning by calling their priests "Father," and that Jesus meant we are to never literally call anyone "father," "rabbi," "mater," or "teacher," then for consistency's sake you'd better stop using the following words and phrases: Mister (means "Master"), Master of Ceremonies, Maitre d', master of the house, master sergeant, magistrate (from the Latin "magistratus" for "master"), Master of Arts (M.A.), founding father, city father, snake doctor, and witch doctor, teacher, substitute teacher, student teacher, and so forth. And you'd best stop calling your Dad "father" and you'd better start addressing the guy who works at the synagogue as "hey, you" . You might also want to start getting extremely indignant at the forced blasphemy every time you fill in a government form asking for "Father's Name."



RABBI:
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English, from Late Latin, from Greek rhabbi, from Hebrew rabbI my master, from rabh master + -I my Date: before 12th century
1 : MASTER, TEACHER — used by Jews as a term of address 2 : a Jew qualified to expound and apply the halakah and other Jewish law 3 : a Jew trained and ordained for professional religious leadership; specifically : the official leader of a Jewish congregation

MISTER:
Etymology: alteration of [1]master
1 : capitalized : MR. — used sometimes in writing instead of Mr. 2 : SIR — used without a name as a generalized term of direct address of a man who is a stranger 3 : a man not entitled to a title of rank or an honorific or professional title 4 : HUSBAND

DOCTOR:
Etymology: Middle English doctour teacher, doctor, from Middle French and Medieval Latin; Middle French, from Medieval Latin doctor, from Latin, teacher, from docEre to teach —more at DOCILE
1 a : an eminent theologian declared a sound expounder of doctrine by the Roman Catholic Church; called also doctor of the church b : a learned or authoritative teacher c : a person who has earned one of the highest academic degrees (as a PhD) conferred by a university d : a person awarded an honorary doctorate (as an LLD or Litt D) by a college or university 2 a : one skilled or specializing in healing arts; especially : a physician, surgeon, dentist, or veterinarian who is licensed to practice

Answer 7

Christians ignore this, just like most things the Bible says.

Answer 8

No worries. I am not a Catholic and I call my dad "dad" not father.

Answer 9

Well I guess I don't have to worry about that, since my biological dad never was around to raise me..

Answer 10

LoL! Well Christians, lets answer this one!

Answer 11

That's why I call my dad, "dad"