The Bible is both powerful and vital in the walk of every follower of Christ. It is a foundation for how we live our life in the image of Jesus. It speaks to us in love, but also in conviction against things that are not the truth of God. I pray you will read these verses for yourself and that God will unveil the truth of His Word.
I want to share some of the very first verses of scripture that really made me rethink what I believed as truth for so many years. One of the main reasons I began reading the Bible for myself was to know the truth of what God teaches. You can hear many people’s opinions and interpretations of what God says but opening the book for yourself is the only way to truly know how God thinks and feels. Understanding His character and very nature is crucial in discerning what is true and what is false teachings. Growing up Catholic, I had been taught about God and the church throughout my childhood. I didn’t really understand everything, but I kind of just went along with the process. In my mind, God was good, so being taught about the things of God was an important thing to do. I don’t recall ever seeing anyone else in the church opening an actual Bible or ever doing so myself. So, the day that I decided to yield to the calling to seek God personally, was when I began to see for myself the actual Words of God.
Matthew 23:8-10 — “Don’t let anyone call you ‘Rabbi,’ for you have only one teacher, and all of you are equal as brothers and sisters. And don’t address anyone here on earth as ‘Father,’ for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father. And don’t let anyone call you ‘Teacher,’ for you have only one teacher, the Messiah.”
This verse was probably one of the first that really stood out to me regarding something I was taught to be right in church. Giving the priests the title of Father was always done throughout the Catholic church. So, if God’s Word, the very foundation of the Christian faith says something opposing this, should we just ignore it?
I know some people might argue that this verse is not to be taken literally and that a child can surely address their dad as father. This is true, that Jesus is not forbidding the use of the literal word “father” from our vocabulary, but instead he is referring to the authority or hierarchy that may come from this title. When it is used to exalt a person to a level of adoration that takes the focus from Jesus Christ, then it becomes a problem. We must realize that anything that takes our focus from Jesus is a distraction to our walk with Him. Now we should have pastors and spiritual leaders who guide us and help us along our journey, but who ultimately point us back to Christ. The Bible says that a spiritual leader should recognize that his or her work is one of servant-hood to the true leader of our church, Jesus Christ. Jesus Himself came not to be served, but to serve.
John 13:12-16 — “When he had washed their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
So based on this scripture, we see the Son of God washing the feet of His disciples. Washing the feet of fishermen, a tax collector, and even the man who would betray Him. Take a moment to imagine seeing this man, the Son of God, whom you had seen do so many glorious miracles and had such an admiration for, bending down to wash your feet. This is humility. No authority is above this Man, and yet He humbles himself to serve these ordinary men. We all fall under the authority of Jesus Christ. That includes all powers of authority on this earth, priests, pastors, teachers, kings, presidents, the pope, etc. So, if He set the example for us to follow, then should we not also see ourselves as servants to all, humbly serving one another as Jesus Himself did? Given the heart of a servant as Jesus showed us, we should not even want such a title of spiritual adoration from others. We should instead point others back to Him through love and service. Can you imagine the impact this type of living could have in our families, our communities, and the world?
So, the word ‘father’ is not evil or to be shunned from use. Jesus Himself used the word to describe God the Father. It is when the word is used to exalt someone to a place of adoration above or equal to that of our true Heavenly Father that we need to be careful. Only He is deserving of that title, that adoration, that name. There are many distractions in the world today and also in the churches. Let no man distract you from getting to know God on a deeper level and keeping your focus upon Him. I pray you will open those Bibles and get to know Him for yourself. Thanks for reading and keep faith.
