If Christ is the head of the congregation why is the Pope called Father?

Question

Matthew 23:8

St Dominic so why do you circumnavigate around Matthew 23:8 or when would Matthew 23:8 apply if it ever would?

Father K blame it on the protestants, I see.

o your figures of 1.2 billion Catholics is no comfort since the majority are non practising. Matthew 7:14 is hardly comforting for that large figure.

Answer 1

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

Answer 2

Popes were heads of ancient Roman religion, were the highest priests of the gods, they being said to be gods and fathers of the sprawling empire. With the adoption of pseudo-Christianity as the religion of the Roman state, that role of papacy as father was transmuted in and retained in Roman-Catholicism.

Interestingly, though, the Bible commands (in Matthew 23:9) not to call any man whatsoever on earth 'father'!

So calling Pope father is an aberration from the Truth and a fallacy of the highest order!

Answer 3

You must be referring to the Roman Catholic Church. Catholics do not consider Christ as the head of the congregation but as God which is the object of worship of Catholics. The Pope is called "Father" only in the sense of being the leader of the Catholic Church as a human organization.

Answer 4

Matthew 23:8, when read in the context of the entire chapter, is an admonition against Christ's disciples setting up as masters/teachers in the manner of the Pharisees and raising disciples for themselves (as was the practice of teachers in those times, in matters of both religion and philosophy); they were to raise disciples only for Christ.

Lifted out by itself, the verse contradicts the many other verses where the term "father" is used in a spiritual sense (and these verses have been referenced above). We would be going against what Jesus taught here only if by calling our priests "father" we also considered ourselves *their* disciples rather than Christ's ... which is not the case.

Hope this helps. It was one of the things I questioned, as well, prior to my conversion.

Answer 5

you may not understand my answer but I'll tell you some of my thoughts on this..
'Father' is a human not religious title : Its part of the archetypes - the father archetype that's what makes it appealing on a subconscious level ( relatable to people)
The popes title is actually also a prince but they dont use that anymore and the pope wore a crown..the new pope decided not to be crowned as part of his ceremony..though he still retains that title.
So, father is a relatable title..like he is a leader and protector..Pope wasnt always the title also..it was something to do with Peter..cant remember
the Pope has several titles and is called father affectionatly..this is a human thing not religious..
Priests are also called Father and Nuns are called sister ... again more archetypes ...
I think God is the head of the congretation actually and that christ was gods representative..God in human form but we are all Gods children..Jesus just spread the word..Peter then was the first 'pope' though that wasnt used until hundreds of years after Peters death.
Edit:
Wow the Christian zealots are out arent they! Thats so amusing.Also amusing is..(must be American guy )with his pseudo history on the 'ancient church in rome'..as a european we dont consider this ancient..not at all...

Answer 6

In the Bible Christ named St. Peter head of His church on earth. The current Pope is a successor to St. Peter.

a quick overview of the biblical basis of the papacy can be found at: http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/mischedj/ct_papacy.html
if you are interested in a more complete examination of the biblical basis of catholicism as a whole or of just more indepth info on the biblical basis of the papacy I recommend reading: The Biblical Basis for the Catholic Faith or The Biblical Basis of the Papacy ; both by John Salza.

Answer 7

There is no "pope" in the Bible anyway. He is an antichrist, leading up to the antichrist.

Catholicism teaches a false gospel of works that leads to eternal hell (Galatians 1:6-9).

Answer 8

Because it is false religion. HE believes He has authority over God and the Bible, this is why He can make decisions that do not line up with God and Gods word at all. God says not to add to the Bible or take away from it, not even the dotting of an i or the crossing of a t . God forbid.
They have a religion that is only partially about the word of God, and the rest is about the authority over their church. I dont mean to badmouth them, they are lovely ppl, and truly believe what they believe is correct.
But God says that any religion that doesnt line up with His full word is false religion and we are to flee.
Example, in that faith, they believe the Father can give absolution FORGIVNESS to other ppl. No the only one God says that can give absolution is Himself. ALso they tell us we can pray to Mary and various saints. God tells us in His word, that we can only pray to Him, thru Jesus Christ.
So many things that just dont line up and its true in every religion, except the pure , undeviled religion of God, which is based only on the teachings of The Holy Bible with the full teachings Of Jesus Christ, that HE died for our sins and is coming again to take us home. Those arent just MY words, that is what God says in His word. PPL can believe it or reject it, its all choice. But thats how I believe , and I adhere to the teachings of Bible scriptures only.
When a church leader, can call Himself Father, he is making himself such authority that He is replacing Father God.
Now, you tell me, does this honor GOD?? I think not.
But, we are to love ppl in every religion, even the athiests, not resent them, but to love them, pray for them, forgive them, and pray that they will find the true God of the Bible before they die or Jesus comes again. Becuase before either of those two events, we will have to know Jesus and the Holy Bible, and know truth and live it, as well as speak it.
Then, we leave it to the Holy Spirit to do the convicting.
Read up in 2 John, its just one place that God tells us about false religion, If it doesnt have the full teachings of JEsus Christ, it is false.
WE can all agree to disagree, with no insults, and only love and pray for one another.
The catholics will surely be praying for me, and its ok. I welcome all prayer.
Its all precious choice to who and what we believe. BUt there are consequences for not believeing in the one true religion, that of Jesus Christ, with nothing added to or taken from Gods word. God is authority, not some other organization.
False religion is getting ready to fall. Just watch and pray.
God bless you for the question.

Answer 9

Matt. 23:9 - Jesus says, "call no man father." But Protestants use this verse in an attempt to prove that it is wrong for Catholics to call priests "father." This is an example of "eisegesis" (imposing one's views upon a passage) as opposed to "exegesis" (drawing out the meaning of the passage from its context). In this verse, Jesus was discouraging His followers from elevating the scribes and Pharisees to the titles of “fathers” and “rabbis” because they were hypocrites. Jesus warns us not to elevate anyone to the level of our heavenly Father.

Matt. 23:8 – in this teaching, Jesus also says not to call anyone teacher or rabbi as well. But don’t Protestants call their teachers “teacher?” What about this commandment of Jesus? When Protestants say “call no man father,” they must also argue that we cannot call any man teacher either.

Judges 17:10; 18:19 - priesthood and fatherhood have always been identified together. Fatherhood literally means "communicating one's nature," and just as biological fathers communicate their nature to their children, so do spiritual fathers communicate the nature of God to us, their children, through (hopefully) teaching and example.

Eph. 3:14-15 - every family in heaven and on earth is named from the "Father." We are fathers in the Father.

Acts 7:2; 22:1,1 John 2:13 - elders of the Church are called "fathers." Therefore, we should ask the question, "Why don't Protestants call their pastors "father?"

1 Cor. 4:15 - Paul writes, "I became your father in Christ Jesus."

1 Cor. 4:17 - Paul calls Bishop Timothy a beloved and faithful "child" in the Lord.

2 Cor. 12:14 - Paul describes his role as parent over his "children" the Corinthians.

Phil. 2:22 - Paul calls Timothy's service to him as a son serves a "father."

1 Thess. 2:11- Paul compares the Church elders' ministry to the people like a father with his children.

1 Tim. 1:2,18; 2 Tim. 1:2-3 - Paul calls Timothy his true "child" in the faith and his son.

Titus 1:4 - Paul calls Titus his true "child" in a common faith. Priests are our spiritual fathers in the family of God.

Philemon 10 - Paul says he has become the "father" of Onesimus.

Heb. 12:7,9 - emphasizes our earthly "fathers." But these are not just biological but also spiritual (the priests of the Church).

1 Peter 5:13 - Peter refers to himself as father by calling Mark his "son."

1 John 2:1,13,14 - John calls the elders of the Church "fathers."

1 John 2:1,18,28; 3:18; 5:21; 3 John 4 - John calls members of the Church "children."

1 Macc. 2:65 - Mattathias the priest tells his sons that Simeon will be their "father."

Answer 10

There is only ONE father....God. No man is worthy to be called father.

oh and by the way,
Ho Ho Ho!
Merry Christmas!