The leader of the Roman Catholic Church prefers to be called Pope.
Pope is not a name, it’s a title. His real name is Bergoglio. Jorge Bergoglio.
Pope comes from the word Papa which means father. So when we refer to Jorge as Pope, we’re actually calling him Father.
Pope is a religious title which has been used for centuries to refer to the leader of the Roman Catholic Church.
But calling religious leaders as father didn’t start with the Catholics. In Jesus’ day, people called religious leaders Fathers too.
The problem is, Jesus said that we shouldn’t use religious titles like Father.
But be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your Master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren. And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. Matthew 23:8-10
Jesus forbade the use of religious titles – Rabbi, Master, Teacher, and Father. Of course he doesn’t mind if we call our actual Dads Father. But he doesn’t want us using that title for any religious leaders. If we call Jorge Pope, it’s like calling him Father. And according to Jesus, that’s wrong.
In spite of Christ’s prohibition, the use of such titles is common in Christianity. Most churches employ religious titles of one sort or another – Doctor, Pastor, Reverend.
Jesus said we should not exalt spiritual leaders by using titles, because we are all brethren with one spiritual father, God.
It’s wrong to use religious titles because it fuels pride among those who are supposed to be servants. It creates religious subservience in the “laity,” and marks a separation between them and the clergy. The use of religious titles spreads tendencies among God’s people that Jesus was trying to eliminate.
Religious titles were never used in the New Testament. Paul never used the word apostle as a religious title. He was an apostle, but he was never titled as Apostle. In the early church, it was never, “Hello, Apostle!” “Oh, the Apostle has come! Welcome Apostle!” Paul would have been shocked at the way religious titles are misused today.
“Good morning, Pastor! How are you Pastor!” “I just love our Pastor!”
To use or accept the use of religious titles is to sin against God. This may seem like a minor issue to us, but to Jesus, it was important. We ignore or disregard any of his teachings at our own peril.
If we can call Jesus by his first name, surely we can do the same with Jorge. He’s not Pope. He’s Jorge.
It’s not Pastor Bob, either. It’s just plain Bob.
Bethel Cornerstone 