Titles and Idols...

 Titles and Idols...

Mary Ann Wray

Chances are if you give yourself or find it necessary to identify who you are and how you function within the Body of Christ, with a title of Apostle, Prophet, Pastor/ Teacher, Evangelist etc. there is a good possibility you are not. You may be puffed up with pride or depend on a title to identify your function to the flock of God.

A person's gift makes room for them. We are defined by our function not our title. Ministry and spiritual gifts (Ephesians 4 & Romans 12) are ascension gifts given by Christ to each individual as HE wills. These gifts were never meant to be titles that afford us automatic "respect" and awe but rather a calling from God by which we serve the Body of Christ.

Titles define Books not people. Jesus' "title" was nailed to the cross over His head. He came to earth as a servant to Humanity and Messiah to the lost sheep of the House of Israel; not a King or Over Lord demanding allegiance. When He returns, He will come back as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. EVERY knee will bow to Him then if they did not beforehand.

Too many people expect others to 'bow' to them because of their titles. Many times they are not actually who they say they are. They are operating in a "function" Jesus never equipped them with or gave them the grace for. In that case, their title is an idol. Our heart's passion and calling define how we serve the Body of Christ; not our self appointed or man appointed titles.

Perhaps we should consider nailing the notion of a "title" to our discipleship crosses and take on the form of a servant just like Our Lord Jesus Christ did....

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Philippians 2: 4-8