"Do not call anyone on earth your father. Only one is your father, the One in heaven" Matthew (23:9)
Taken literally you would have to wonder this right?
It's important to remember context with a passage and not use any verse without context.
Jesus is addressing the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees - as he often did. They sit on Moses' seat and thus have an obligation to teach the people as Moses taught. but they do not practice what they teach. While Jesus tells the people to follow the teachings of the scribes and Pharisees, He warns them not to follow their prideful practices.
Given the context, he says not to call anyone "Rabbi," "Father" or "Teacher" in the sense of arrogating to oneself an authority that rests with God.
We call those who instruct us and others "teacher"; our male parent "father"; and Jewish religious leaders "rabbi." these titles are common.
Mark 7:9-13, Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for not honoring their "fathers." So the literal meaning to not call anyone father must be different than the literal interpretation.
In 1 Corinthians 4:15, Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says,
"For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel."
St. Paul calls himself "father" because he recognizes his cooperation with God in begetting the spiritual life of the community entrusted to his care.
Acts 7:2; Acts 22:1; Corinthians 4:15; Galatians 4:19; 1 John 2:12; and Philemon 10, which show that the title "father" was applied to others besides God and biological fathers in the New Testament.
/NOT. Well said. Not everything is literal. There are deeper meanings. We must look at the whole history. Not just pick and choose parts we've heard. Consider the source of the information everytime.
If you have kept up with all of the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals and tens of thousands of child molestations they've been involved in over the past 40 years... then you'll understand why Catholic priests are called "Father".
Because they aren't the same. I did an event last weekend that was primarily Catholics. Only two of us were Protestant and when they finished the prayer to mary, she and I both shared the same creeped out feeling. I think the Bible is pretty clear that we shouldn't be praying to any entity other than God....
I must not have had my coffee yet, could have SWORN I read a verse a couple months back about Jesus and a couple others praying to Moses. I can't find it so I must be on crack lol
But there is Revelation 5 which I interpret as the saints praying for us in heaven.
Jesus only ever prayed to the Father. We should only ever pray to Jesus and the Father; praying to anyone else is idolatry and strictly against Bible teaching.
Of all points you could put up, this isn't one of the best. Catholics call their priests father mostly because of the spiritual guidance their priests are to provide to the community they're estabilished in. The argument presented is that the priest's work isn't unlike parenting, and cite Paul's letters addressing the early Church as "my children", or "my sons". Not at all related to God, our Father in Heaven.
For anyone willing to research, there is overwhelming evidence Jesus founded a Church, and from the start, it taught exactly and only Catholic dogma. For over 1500 years, there were no Protestant denominations, until political interests coincided with supporting some who correctly objected to misplaced practices or abuses in the Church, but chose to separate from it, rather than working from within to reform it.
Unfortunately, despite good intentions, no one has authority to found an alternate Church, and sadly, we now have some 44,000 different denominations, all differing in one or more teachings, thereby leading millions astray.
If you look back at the Council of Nicea, the purpose and agendas, this is what was behind the creation of the Catholic Church. It was designed to make its adherents feel guilty, and tithe their belongings to appease that guilt and "buy" their way into heaven. I don't know this for certain, but I think the term, "father," to mean the leader of the church, was a way to surreptitiously "endow" him with spiritual authority, and help make the whole facade more mystical and beyond one's understanding.
That Is one interpretation. I see it from the opposite point of view. It was a way to standardize the messages of Jesus. As humans we make mistakes and sin. Just like any man made institution there will be arguments or corruption because humans aren't perfect.. At the base is an attempt to keep the Church one, holy, Catholic meaning universal , apostalic meaning passed on through a continuing line from the Apostles of Jesus.. Basically an attempt to prevent what goes on now. The petty disagreements over interpretations of doctrine.
Two different groups of people IMO.
St. Paul calls himself "father" because he recognizes his cooperation with God in begetting the spiritual life of the community entrusted to his care.
/NOT. Well said. Not everything is literal. There are deeper meanings. We must look at the whole history. Not just pick and choose parts we've heard. Consider the source of the information everytime.
Agreed
Because catholics and Protestants are not the same.
If you have kept up with all of the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandals and tens of thousands of child molestations they've been involved in over the past 40 years... then you'll understand why Catholic priests are called "Father".
Most of them probably ARE.
LOL! Good point!
Because they aren't the same. I did an event last weekend that was primarily Catholics. Only two of us were Protestant and when they finished the prayer to mary, she and I both shared the same creeped out feeling. I think the Bible is pretty clear that we shouldn't be praying to any entity other than God....
Where does it say Jesus, or anyone else, prayed to Moses?
I must not have had my coffee yet, could have SWORN I read a verse a couple months back about Jesus and a couple others praying to Moses. I can't find it so I must be on crack lol
But there is Revelation 5 which I interpret as the saints praying for us in heaven.
Jesus only ever prayed to the Father. We should only ever pray to Jesus and the Father; praying to anyone else is idolatry and strictly against Bible teaching.
Can't see it - which bit?
Of all points you could put up, this isn't one of the best. Catholics call their priests father mostly because of the spiritual guidance their priests are to provide to the community they're estabilished in. The argument presented is that the priest's work isn't unlike parenting, and cite Paul's letters addressing the early Church as "my children", or "my sons". Not at all related to God, our Father in Heaven.
All the answers are here: http://www.mtc.org/rc_bible.html
For anyone willing to research, there is overwhelming evidence Jesus founded a Church, and from the start, it taught exactly and only Catholic dogma. For over 1500 years, there were no Protestant denominations, until political interests coincided with supporting some who correctly objected to misplaced practices or abuses in the Church, but chose to separate from it, rather than working from within to reform it.
Unfortunately, despite good intentions, no one has authority to found an alternate Church, and sadly, we now have some 44,000 different denominations, all differing in one or more teachings, thereby leading millions astray.
WHY IS THIS POSTED ON GREAT AWAKENING?? WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT THINKING?? THE OP IS OFF TOPIC AND DEVISIVE. TAKE YOUR SHIT POST TO FACEBOOK.
Modern day Catholicism is a machine. They have come a long way from Jesus' brother Simon.
If you look back at the Council of Nicea, the purpose and agendas, this is what was behind the creation of the Catholic Church. It was designed to make its adherents feel guilty, and tithe their belongings to appease that guilt and "buy" their way into heaven. I don't know this for certain, but I think the term, "father," to mean the leader of the church, was a way to surreptitiously "endow" him with spiritual authority, and help make the whole facade more mystical and beyond one's understanding.
That Is one interpretation. I see it from the opposite point of view. It was a way to standardize the messages of Jesus. As humans we make mistakes and sin. Just like any man made institution there will be arguments or corruption because humans aren't perfect.. At the base is an attempt to keep the Church one, holy, Catholic meaning universal , apostalic meaning passed on through a continuing line from the Apostles of Jesus.. Basically an attempt to prevent what goes on now. The petty disagreements over interpretations of doctrine.