The Word Reverend, I have A Problem With That

[Lewis]

I Lewis will call no man Reverend, that title does not belong to a man, and I have been this way ever since 1991. My pastor won't even let you call him Reverend. And one time I had to let a pastor know that he was wrong for calling himself such.

The word "reverend" is found only once in the pages of the Bible! In our King James Version of the Bible, we read the following words:

"He sent redemption unto His people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name." (Psalm 111:9)​

If you will be kind enough to read the entire 111th Psalm, you will find that the subject under consideration at this point is the holiness, purity, fear, terribleness, and reverence in which we are to hold the name of God. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David teaches, "Holy and reverend is his name."


So as you can see that title belongs to no man, it was used first by the Catholics, and they took it one step further, in calling themselves, The Right Reverend, no man is right, I even know a Protestant pastor who goes by the title of The Right Reverend. And people will actually get mad when you give them Biblical proof that they are wrong. How many of you call your pastor Reverend ? The Catholics got that name from the 111th Psalm, you can't find it anywhere else, and it does not belong to a man. And there is nothing a man or a woman can tell me otherwise. And many people are scared to even deal with this question, because that is what they call their pastors. Many people act like they are scared of the truth.

 

[Theofilus]

I agree that it is presumptious for someone to take the title "reverend" for himself. The word means "respected" or "honored". That's something you earn by your actions, not by getting a piece of paper from a seminary. Here's what etymonline.com has to say about it.

reverend
early 15c., "worthy of respect," from M.Fr. reverend, from L. reverendus "(he who is) to be respected," gerundive of revereri (see reverence). As a form of address for clergymen, it is attested from late 15c.; earlier reverent (late 14c. in this sense). Abbreviation Rev. is attested from 1721, earlier Revd. (1690s). Very Reverend is used of deans, Right Reverend of bishops, Most Reverend of archbishops.

You are wrong in one thing, though. The Catholics didn't get the term from the Bible. It has been used as a title for clergymen in some form since the 14th century and the KJV Bible wasn't translated until the early 17th century. The Vulgata, the Latin version in use when the title was first used, doesn't have the Latin form of this word in Psalm 111. It has the phrase "sanctum et terribile" (holy and terrible). The Catholics invented this on their own, without any help from God's Word.

But even though "reverend" is not good and Jesus himself tells us not to call anyone "father", as people do with Catholic priest, I know one title that's much worse. It's not used by any Christian group, as far as I know, though. When I was a teenager, my dad was a mason (aka freemason). I remember seeing a newsletter he recieved regularly. There was always a picture of the leader of his lodge and the caption under it said "The Most Worshipful <Name>" (I forgot what his name was). Now, that's a presumptious title.

 

[jasoncran]

the most worshipful master mason... that is rather blasphemous to me.

 

[Lewis]

I agree that it is presumptious for someone to take the title "reverend" for himself. The word means "respected" or "honored". That's something you earn by your actions, not by getting a piece of paper from a seminary. Here's what etymonline.com has to say about it.



You are wrong in one thing, though. The Catholics didn't get the term from the Bible. It has been used as a title for clergymen in some form since the 14th century and the KJV Bible wasn't translated until the early 17th century. The Vulgata, the Latin version in use when the title was first used, doesn't have the Latin form of this word in Psalm 111. It has the phrase "sanctum et terribile" (holy and terrible). The Catholics invented this on their own, without any help from God's Word.

But even though "reverend" is not good and Jesus himself tells us not to call anyone "father", as people do with Catholic priest, I know one title that's much worse. It's not used by any Christian group, as far as I know, though. When I was a teenager, my dad was a mason (aka freemason). I remember seeing a newsletter he recieved regularly. There was always a picture of the leader of his lodge and the caption under it said "The Most Worshipful <name>" (I forgot what his name was). Now, that's a presumptious title.

Go here to see that it came in through the Catholics, this is just one place there are others.
Why I Do Not Use the Title "Reverend

</name>

 

[Theofilus]

Go here to see that it came in through the Catholics, this is just one place there are others.
Why I Do Not Use the Title "Reverend

</name>

I know it originated with the Catholics. I was just saying that they didn't get it from that verse in Psalms.

On a related note, how do you feel about secular individuals or groups using titles like "honorable" or "your honor"? They mean basically the same thing - worthy of honor or respect. Here in Iceland, our members of parliament call each other "very respected" and the ministers (not Christian ministers but the equivilant of American secretary of state, secretary of the treasury, etc.) call themselves "most respected". I've always found that a bit rediculous when practically nobody in the country has any respect for them at all. In Amerca, senetors and congressmen are called "honorable", as are mayors and maybe some others. In England (and most likely in at least some commonwealths), magistrates (i.e. judges) are called "your worship". Then there are all the heads of state that are called "your excellancy" and royalty that are called "your majesty" or "your highness". Would you use these titles if you met some of these people?

 

[Adstar]

I Lewis will call no man Reverend, that title does not belong to a man, and I have been this way ever since 1991. My pastor won't even let you call him Reverend. And one time I had to let a pastor know that he was wrong for calling himself such.

The word "reverend" is found only once in the pages of the Bible! In our King James Version of the Bible, we read the following words:

"He sent redemption unto His people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name." (Psalm 111:9)​

If you will be kind enough to read the entire 111th Psalm, you will find that the subject under consideration at this point is the holiness, purity, fear, terribleness, and reverence in which we are to hold the name of God. By inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David teaches, "Holy and reverend is his name."


So as you can see that title belongs to no man, it was used first by the Catholics, and they took it one step further, in calling themselves, The Right Reverend, no man is right, I even know a Protestant pastor who goes by the title of The Right Reverend. And people will actually get mad when you give them Biblical proof that they are wrong. How many of you call your pastor Reverend ? The Catholics got that name from the 111th Psalm, you can't find it anywhere else, and it does not belong to a man. And there is nothing a man or a woman can tell me otherwise. And many people are scared to even deal with this question, because that is what they call their pastors. Many people act like they are scared of the truth.

I agree.

People think you are offending someone by not calling them by their title. But in truth everyone has to pay attention to their conscience unto God, and that may sometimes see you ostracised and hated by men.

Same as it ever was when you come to think of it.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[sherri2]

The masons go further then that. Did you know that they actually shed their own blood in one ceremony to declare themselves 'righteous'. The futher you go into it the more blasphemous and disgusting it becomes.

And whats worse is how many christians who've become masons accept it. They burn the new covenant in another ceremony

(and take on the title of a black magician in another)

It's almost mind boggling when you go right into it. (however you don't know what goes on in a certain level until you get there, and many masons find the ceremonies so distasteful that they remain on the lower levels deliberatly and have no idea of what they're actually really involved in.)

 

[sherri2]

Theofilus have you ever had ministry regarding freemasonry curses? Your fathers taken blood oaths if he's a member.

 

[Theofilus]

Theofilus have you ever had ministry regarding freemasonry curses? Your fathers taken blood oaths if he's a member.

No, I haven't had any special ministry for that, and I don't think I need any. I became a Christian after my dad became a freemason. God is sovereign, and when I gave my life to Him, He broke any curses that may have been on my life at the time.