Hebrews 13:17 Obeying those in Authority

Yesterday in our School of the Spirit, conversation, under the heading of ascension gifts, quickly centred around the need for titles in the church. In recent years, it has become popular to give almost anyone the title of Pastor. I even encountered a pastor to the pasture, and when I asked this lovely man what his role was in the church he informed me he was the maintenance man and kept the lawns and gardens neat and tidy.

Though the above example is extreme, the fact still remains that having Ps. in front of our names has become extremely popular. Yet, when we examine Ephesians 4:11 we soon realise that God has given gifts to all the body of Christ and therefore the questions arises for the need of titles within the church at all.

As discussed in our school yesterday, I argued that these things are often not a question of should or shouldn't but what is cultural and acceptable by the congregation. In Australia where I was born and born again at age 17, it was not only normal but seen as a sign of respect and honour to address those who are shepherds and pastors by their titles. Yet, when I eventually moved and worked in Sweden, which is predominantly socialistic, I found that no one used titles but merely referred to their pastors by their first names.

So whilst there is no scriptural basis for using titles within the body of Christ there certainly is evidence that we should obey and honour those that God has put in places of authority whether it be within the church or society. Hebrews 13:17 tells us "Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with grief, for this would be unprofitable for you". Indeed Acts 20:28 indicates there is a responsibility for those in leadership to do what they do, "Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood."

1Thess 5:12 says "Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you". So certainly an acknowledgement of a person's role or position within the church is needed, but this also should be done in a soberly way and understanding that all of us contribute to being the body of Christ which in turn gives us the  motivation to give respect and honour to all the body of Christ.

What do we do then, Paul tells us that "all things are acceptable but not all things are beneficial" meaning if it is acceptable culturally within your congregation to use title then we should hesitate to do so. However, we must also be aware to not exalt or place people on pedestals that they can fall from.