Defense for “Call no man father”

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Hey J,
I think it is interesting as an exiting Protestant how it’s very convenient to ignore the history of the blood shed by the hands of Protestants in trying to point out the crimes of Catholicism. There was plenty of killing to go around and to target Catholics as the boogeyman in religious history is onesided, untrue, and just plain wrong. Not to mention (I didn’t personally hear this) Pope John Paul ll actually made a statement genuinely humbly acknowledging that the church did do some serious wrong acts in history in essence apologizing. However, I’ve yet to hear any such admission from protestants for the crimes purpetrated by Calvin or Luther’s anti Semetic rants referring to Jews as dogs.
 
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anon65111186 said:
I was in a conversation with a non-denominational Christian and he pulled out the call no man father quote, in regard to priests. I asked if he called his dad Father, and he said that was different. I explained about spiritual fatherhood and all but he didn’t seem to get how that is compatible with scripture.

I wanted a stronger defense for that but couldn’t think of anything on the spot. What is the best answer to “call no man father” and calling priests “father”.?
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Mark 11:9-10
And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.

So…the Israelites welcoming Jesus to Jerusalem, called David their “father”…🤨

https://www.fisheaters.com/callingmenfather.html

More important to the argument is Paul’s acknowledging his own spiritual fatherhood, I Corinthians 4:14-17 being among the most explicit in which he says “I have begotten you through the Gospel,” translated in the NIV and NASB (among others) as “I became your father through the Gospel.” Tellingly, in this verse he even distinguishes between people who teach about Christ and “fathers” in Christ (see verse below) – i.e., he differentiates between all Christians, who are exhorted to teach about Christ, and “spiritual fathers,” who are ordained priests.

In addition, he is constantly referring to his “children,” calls Timothy and Oneismus his “sons,” and indicates that the other elders (presbyteros, priests) do the same: 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12: “As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children.” Spiritual fatherhood is a New Testament reality.

If you want to interpret the above verses to mean that Catholics are woefully sinning by calling their priests “Father,” and that Jesus meant we are to never literally call anyone “father,” “rabbi,” “mater,” or “teacher,” then for consistency’s sake you’d better stop using the following words and phrases: Mister (means “Master”), Master of Ceremonies, Maitre d’, master of the house, master sergeant, magistrate (from the Latin “magistratus” for “master”), Master of Arts (M.A.), founding father, city father, snake doctor, and witch doctor, teacher, substitute teacher, student teacher, and so forth. And you’d best never let me hear you calling your Dad “father” and you’d better start addressing the guy who works at the synagogue as “hey, you” and wax as indignant toward Jews who won’t buy your ideas as you are toward Catholics. You might also want to start getting extremely indignant at the forced blasphemy every time you fill in a government form asking for “Father’s Name.”
 
Hi, N!

This is part of the issue that continues to be raised as an impediment to Christian Unity.

We can’t take back a single word that speak, once spoken/written, yet many are bent on reliving the part of the past that was infused with error–but, as you’ve stated, always dismissing their forbearers’ errors while attacking and augmenting those of the “opposition.”

Interestingly enough both sides ignore Scriptures when St. Paul warns that Christ is not divided, that the Church is the Body (ONE) of Christ, and that we should be imitators of him who is an imitator of Christ.

I’m sure that if we all paid heed to Scriptures dissension and schism would not rule over us.

Maran atha!

Angel
 
Call them “non-descript-person-thingy-whoever-whatever-you-are”.
 
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