Called to Repent

I received a phone call yesterday from a stranger in another state that was…interesting. A man had come across a paper I had written which included my mugshot and identified me as “Rev. David D. Lee.” He called me to ask if I was really “Reverend David Lee” and I said it was me. Then he most of the next hour to explain why I should not be clinging on to the title of “Reverend” because the Bible (KJV) only uses the term once, in Psalm 111, to refer to God. Though the term is used commonly for ordained clergy today, it should not be, he said, and while he could make exceptions for those of the older generation, for someone who looked so young, 20’s or 30’s, to be using the title instead of replacing it with “pastor” – well, he called into question whether I was actually a born-again Christian. I should repent for using the term and for clinging on to it.

What say you?

I tried to listen and understand his points. I tried to offer some in return, acknowledging that the abuse of the pastorate and negative examples that we may know have really shown that there are some who inappropriately demand to be revered. No one should think themselves so highly, and many in ministry, myself included, are tempted to do so.

I appreciate that caution as a caution. The argument from Scripture shows “reverend” is used in parallel with “holy” in Psalm 111, and both terms should not be used for any man, save with the understanding that there be a work of grace done by God in the person’s life which would allow for him to be called holy and perhaps even revered.

I also understand that with certain church movements, the understanding of the church and leadership within the church has become skewed by our democratic ideals, to the point where God’s authority in the church and through church leaders has gone missing. We revere the authority of God, not the man wielding it, when we deal with those who have been charged with particular responsibilities to which we ought to submit. I use the term to designate that I have been ordained, following the Biblical command to test and then set apart those whom God has called to particular service. I remember that when I was being ordained, I was humbled that God would call and use me, a sinner, for his service.

But as I tried to convince him that I was indeed a born-again Christian, and that my usage of the term is not simply a matter of pride (I did not explain to him why I choose to use the term), he said he could not be satisfied in his own heart because of my apparent lack of repentance as a reaction to his objection of my using the term reverend. I hope God will assure him, both of the Gospel and of my salvation.

“And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” – 1 Timothy 2:24-25a

I pray that I would learn how to live out this verse better and better. I have much more to learn, and, yes, sin of which to repent.