In the arts, a titular character is the character after whom a play, book, etc. is named. Shakespeare was well known for his use of titular characters in his works such as Hamlet, Macbeth, and Othello. But this body of literature has nothing to do with Shakespeare or his writings (I just like the phrase “titular character”). Today I want to talk about titles in the church and the characters that use them.
I first need to begin with a little personal background. Because of all the denominations in Christianity there are a number of alternate versions of Christendom (kind of like Sliders, if anyone remembers that show). Different titles are used among different groups of Christians. For me, from the day my spiritual eyes were opened I found myself in a church that claimed non-denominational but was clearly from a Pentecostal background. In the last seven years I have been to similar churches, all non-denominational with Pentecostal roots. I can only speak about what I have seen and know.
I will begin with the “five-fold ministry”. Ephesians 4:7-12 reads:
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
First off, there are only four types of ministers listed in the “five-fold ministry”. Pastor/Teacher is within one person. But this is only a very minor detail compared to the other ways this scripture has been misused. Below is my own amplified version of what this is saying:
And Jesus gave gifts to men. And He Himself gave some [gifts] to be apostles, some [gifts to be] prophets, some [gifts to be] evangelists, and some [gifts to be] pastors and teachers.
To be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, or pastor/teacher is an ability one demonstrates due to gifts that Christ has given them for the building up of the church, yet these abilities have become titles in the church. And very often I find that the people that take on these titles do not even possess the ability they have named themselves by. I have met Evangelist So-and-So who has never led a single soul to Christ and Prophet What’s-His-Name that is as accurate as Miss Cleo. Something is off.
In 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 we see some of these gifts mentioned again, as well as others.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
While the apostolic and prophetic gifts have become titles I have yet to meet a Gift of Healings So-and-So or a Varieties of Tongues What’s-His-Name. I wonder why not? It could be that your gift should only be described in one word in order to become a title but then again I have yet to meet a Helps What’s-Her-Name. Or maybe it’s because naming someone by their gifting would sound silly. Most people don’t seem to understand that many of the titles they use are simply gifts and calling yourself by that gift doesn’t mean you have it. Let your gift speak for itself, not for your glory, but for the edification of the body of Christ!
If God chooses to bless you with a particular gift, unless He breaks your hip and calls you Israel, you still have your same name. Your new first name does not become the name of your gift. Stop for a minute. Think of a non-ministry gift that you have (or think you have). Put it before your name and imagine introducing yourself to everyone you meet like that. “Hi. I’m Singer John” or “Hello, my name is Sprinter Ann.” How does that sound? And on top of all that, John is tone deaf and Ann has a clubbed foot. So now the observer grows believing that the product of a tone-deaf belt is quality singing and hobbling down a track field is sprinting. What effect does this have on church perception (from inside and outside the body of Christ)?
I have met some great men and women of God who have introduced themselves to me by their title. Does this make them any less great in the work of Christ? Not in my eyes. This “gifts as names” practice has become a part of church culture and we have all been born into it but its time for a revolution! Should you go up to your pastor or other leaders in your church with titles and just start calling them Mr. or Mrs., or by their first name? Certainly not! That would be disrespectful and that is not a reflection of Christ. But there is a new generation of leaders coming up and we need to come with a different mindset.
Jesus said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42-44)
Let’s take some notes from Alfred (from Batman) and Geoffrey (from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). While these men were older than the men they served it was those they served they regarded as master (Master Wayne, Master Will, etc.) while the ones they served simply called them Alfred and Geoffrey. To ask someone to call you by a title is a way of lording authority over them. That’s not Kingdom leadership, that’s of the world. Let’s be straight Kingdom in all we do! The leaders should be the servants and servants don’t demand to be regarded with a title.
So in closing I will leave you with Proverbs 18:16:
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Notice that it says your gift will make room for you. It does not say to make room for your gift when signing your name on a dotted line. We must walk in humility to truly serve the Lord.
May the blessings of God be upon you.
I first need to begin with a little personal background. Because of all the denominations in Christianity there are a number of alternate versions of Christendom (kind of like Sliders, if anyone remembers that show). Different titles are used among different groups of Christians. For me, from the day my spiritual eyes were opened I found myself in a church that claimed non-denominational but was clearly from a Pentecostal background. In the last seven years I have been to similar churches, all non-denominational with Pentecostal roots. I can only speak about what I have seen and know.
I will begin with the “five-fold ministry”. Ephesians 4:7-12 reads:
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men.”
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,
First off, there are only four types of ministers listed in the “five-fold ministry”. Pastor/Teacher is within one person. But this is only a very minor detail compared to the other ways this scripture has been misused. Below is my own amplified version of what this is saying:
And Jesus gave gifts to men. And He Himself gave some [gifts] to be apostles, some [gifts to be] prophets, some [gifts to be] evangelists, and some [gifts to be] pastors and teachers.
To be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, or pastor/teacher is an ability one demonstrates due to gifts that Christ has given them for the building up of the church, yet these abilities have become titles in the church. And very often I find that the people that take on these titles do not even possess the ability they have named themselves by. I have met Evangelist So-and-So who has never led a single soul to Christ and Prophet What’s-His-Name that is as accurate as Miss Cleo. Something is off.
In 1 Corinthians 12:27-28 we see some of these gifts mentioned again, as well as others.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
While the apostolic and prophetic gifts have become titles I have yet to meet a Gift of Healings So-and-So or a Varieties of Tongues What’s-His-Name. I wonder why not? It could be that your gift should only be described in one word in order to become a title but then again I have yet to meet a Helps What’s-Her-Name. Or maybe it’s because naming someone by their gifting would sound silly. Most people don’t seem to understand that many of the titles they use are simply gifts and calling yourself by that gift doesn’t mean you have it. Let your gift speak for itself, not for your glory, but for the edification of the body of Christ!
If God chooses to bless you with a particular gift, unless He breaks your hip and calls you Israel, you still have your same name. Your new first name does not become the name of your gift. Stop for a minute. Think of a non-ministry gift that you have (or think you have). Put it before your name and imagine introducing yourself to everyone you meet like that. “Hi. I’m Singer John” or “Hello, my name is Sprinter Ann.” How does that sound? And on top of all that, John is tone deaf and Ann has a clubbed foot. So now the observer grows believing that the product of a tone-deaf belt is quality singing and hobbling down a track field is sprinting. What effect does this have on church perception (from inside and outside the body of Christ)?
I have met some great men and women of God who have introduced themselves to me by their title. Does this make them any less great in the work of Christ? Not in my eyes. This “gifts as names” practice has become a part of church culture and we have all been born into it but its time for a revolution! Should you go up to your pastor or other leaders in your church with titles and just start calling them Mr. or Mrs., or by their first name? Certainly not! That would be disrespectful and that is not a reflection of Christ. But there is a new generation of leaders coming up and we need to come with a different mindset.
Jesus said, “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all.” (Mark 10:42-44)
Let’s take some notes from Alfred (from Batman) and Geoffrey (from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air). While these men were older than the men they served it was those they served they regarded as master (Master Wayne, Master Will, etc.) while the ones they served simply called them Alfred and Geoffrey. To ask someone to call you by a title is a way of lording authority over them. That’s not Kingdom leadership, that’s of the world. Let’s be straight Kingdom in all we do! The leaders should be the servants and servants don’t demand to be regarded with a title.
So in closing I will leave you with Proverbs 18:16:
A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Notice that it says your gift will make room for you. It does not say to make room for your gift when signing your name on a dotted line. We must walk in humility to truly serve the Lord.
May the blessings of God be upon you.
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