| Topic: |
Religions > Bible |
| User: |
"Jesse Gomez" |
| Date: |
18 Dec 2003 04:21:21 AM |
| Object: |
Call no man Father |
CALL NO MAN 'FATHER'
This command of Jesus was not about vocabulary. If it were, the New
Testament writers themselves wouldn't have repeatedly used the word
'Father' to refer to human beings. Instead, Jesus was warning us
against putting our faith and trust in a human being rather than God.
We must never submit our innermost being to anyone other than God
himself. Certainly if simply using the word, 'Father,' to refer to a
human being were wrong, we would not find it used that way throughout
the scripture. But we do:
Lk. 16: 24 -- 'Father Abraham...' in the parable of Lazarus the
beggar.
1 Cor. 4: 14-15 -- "I became your father..." Paul himself refers to
himself with this word.
Acts 6: 12-15; 7: 1-2 -- Stephen calls scribes 'father'.
Rom. 4: 17-18 -- "...Abraham who is father of all..."
1 Thes. 2: 11 -- "...as a father treats his children..."
1 John 2: 13-14 -- "I write to you, fathers..."
Mt. 23: 8 -- "'As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one
teacher, and you are all brothers.'" "Rabbi" means "teacher." The same
people who object to priests being called 'Father' don't blink an eye
at referring to their Sunday school 'teachers.'
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