Every church should want to look like the one we read about in the New Testament.  One area where this needs to be examined is the organizational structure of the local church.  In faithful churches of Christ, elders, deacons, and saints make up local churches just like you find in the Bible.  You see elders who qualify according to scripture (1 Timothy 3:1-8), a plurality of elders in those local churches (Acts 14:23; Acts 20:17), and elders that only oversee the flock with is among them (1 Peter 5:2).  The question is, can you find a denominational church with that kind of organizational structure?  The answer is no.

There is something else that is unique about churches of Christ today; something that aligns with the New Testament church—their leading men do not wear religious titles.  Where is the passage that refers to Pastor Peter?  It does not exist.  The truth is, we do not read of any man wearing a religious title.  There is a reason for this, and that is because Jesus condemned it.

Matthew 23:8–12 (ESV)

⁸ But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brothers. ⁹ And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. ¹⁰ Neither be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Christ. ¹¹ The greatest among you shall be your servant.  ¹² Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

This is a clear condemnation of wearing religious titles in the church.  They elevate some over others, making them more than brothers, but Jesus declares that we are all brothers and should avoid such titles.  Those who wear such titles have allowed pride to get the best of them, causing them to do something that Jesus specifically prohibits.  The amazing thing to me is that almost all denominations go along with this.  Wearing titles like Reverend and Right Reverend, etc. has become so popular that those who wear them demand that they are called by such.   It is no wonder that Jesus went on to say that those who exalt themselves will be humbled.  That is exactly what those wearing religious titles to distinguish them from everyone else are doing.

Paul never wore a title that separated him from his brethren.  Peter and the other apostles never exalted themselves in such a way.  Why do men today think that they should be separated and exalted more than the inspired apostles of Christ who were hand-picked by Him to be His ambassadors?

Why is it sinful to wear religious titles?  Apart from the obvious reason, that is, that Jesus commands us not to do it, Christ is our only Master, and God is our only Father.  The rest of us in the church are simply brethren.  Even legitimate terms such as pastor, preacher, or bishop were never worn by first-century Christians as titles.  These terms are used in the Bible, not as titles to be worn, but simply as terms that describe what a man or group of men do.  A pastor pastors, that is, he tends to the flock.  A bishop oversees, that is, he watches over the flock, but neither is ever worn as a title.  Peter was actually a pastor in the church (1 Peter 5:1), but he was not “the Pastor,” and was never called such.

If you belong to a church that calls a man by some exalted title, you should leave that church and find one that does not exalt man for while it is sinful to wear such a title, it is sinful to call men by such terms as well.  If the blind lead the blind, they will both fall into the ditch (Matthew 15:14).

As you wind down for the night, think about these things.