Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
What is this all about. Seems like every time I see a black minister on television or a poster/billboard there HAS to be some title in front of the name and for some reason, I often get leery when I see it. I often see:
Dr
Bishop
Prophet
Evangelist
Deacon
Prophetess
Pastor (understandably common)
Reverend
Rev
Apostle
Disciple
Is it that important? Furthermore, it is even more disconcerting when you find out that the "Dr" is nothing more than something they picked up on the internet or some flight by night school.
How often are you seeing these black folks and their titles when they aren't operating in their official capacity?
Where I am from, it's just common respect to address a person by their official title be it Dr (physician, PhD, psychiatrist, theology) Reverend, etc. It doesn't matter if the person is black or white. They will usually correct you if it isn't necessary.
What is this all about. Seems like every time I see a black minister on television or a poster/billboard there HAS to be some title in front of the name and for some reason, I often get leery when I see it. I often see:
Dr
Bishop
Prophet
Evangelist
Deacon
Prophetess
Pastor (understandably common)
Reverend
Rev
Apostle
Disciple
Is it that important? Furthermore, it is even more disconcerting when you find out that the "Dr" is nothing more than something they picked up on the internet or some flight by night school.
One of the best pastors I ever had just liked to be called Rudy. That's his name. He despied being called Reverend.
My current pastor has a Phd...but we stilll just call him Pastor.
The titles you listed I'm guessing came from what you've seen on tv--the televangelists don't really reflect the averge pastor. The tvguys are more about show than substance so a pretty title (self-appointed no less) lends an air of credibility to them so the flock they're fleecing thinks the are something special.
Isn't there a Bible passage that forbids us Christians from even using such titles?
Not as far as I know and I was not saying they should not. I was just wondering if they were necessary in light of the fact that some of them seem very contrived.
One of the best pastors I ever had just liked to be called Rudy. That's his name. He despied being called Reverend.
My current pastor has a Phd...but we stilll just call him Pastor.
The titles you listed I'm guessing came from what you've seen on tv--the televangelists don't really reflect the averge pastor. The tvguys are more about show than substance so a pretty title (self-appointed no less) lends an air of credibility to them so the flock they're fleecing thinks the are something special.
It's not just the TV. I lived in South Florida for years and I observed something. In predominantly white areas, there would be a church or two, maybe a mega church here and there. In the black neighborhoods there would be a church on practically every corner or in every plaza as a storefront church. Now I live in New York City in Harlem and again, I see churches everywhere, both traditional and the storefronts, and as in Florida I see the same here when I look at the church signs. The names are often long and the pastors titles are sometimes compounded OR rather grand. In the white neighborhoods, all I would see is "Pastor." Now I don't know what it is like in small backwood "white" towns in the middle of Mississippi, for example.
I'm trying to figure out why this is? I know that my people can be very flashy and flamboyant and I wonder if they also feel the need to stress they are more than just a pastor. They want to be referred to as "Evangelist," Prophet" or "Apostle." Is this supposed give them credibility in a level even higher than just pastor?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
