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You May Now Call Me Bishop…!
By Lafe Tolliver, Esq
Guest Column
Well, it’s fall and you know what that means. Come on
…you know. Don’t play “ignut” (abbreviated form for
ignorant). Think back over the past many, many years of
what happens in Toledo and you should come up with the
memory that it is time to play that tried and true game of
“What’s Your Title!”
You know. The season that we start conferring titles
and doo-dabs on people for whatever reason. You know… any
reason to gather around a plate of chicken and canned green
beans and puffy rolls and lukewarm iced tea and give polite
applause to whomever is on the guest podium.
I know….I know. We should give honor to those who
deserve honor for their splendid works of sacrifice to the
collective community. You know. Solid, verifiable community
works that either made a difference in the quality of people
lives or
is making an objective and positive difference in the lives
of people whom we consider less fortunate than that of the
degree giver or the degree receiver.
I know…I know. Everyone loves a festive occasion to
dress up and wear that dress or suit that you have not worn
for the past year or to get all dollied up at the local
beauty salon or have a spit shine on the shoes.
I know….I know. We like to gather and ogle whisper
hushed talk about who’s getting what and for what and why
Bill P., or Clara R., did not get his or her just desserts.
I mean that is what the world system does. It fawns and
bows and kisses the ring fingers of its celebrities for no
more than the reason that the media has plastered their
stories or their faces on the news, that by reason of media
saturation, we call them celebrities.
We give lavish adulation or attention to anyone who can
remotely be seen as someone who deserves five minutes of
fleeting fame or who engaged in risqué behavior, but that is
what we do. That is how we roll.
Why, with the right public relations firm and a bushel
basket of C note (hundred dollar bills) and the right edited
story, we can make heroes or heroines of almost anyone for
whatever reason.
But, that is what the world does. But what about those
who profess membership in the kingdom of God?
Are there different standards or requirements before
one can be “self” elevated to a title or a degree?
You know, it is said in the Bible that the greatest in
the kingdom are those who serve and who are servants, so it
makes me scratch my head and ponder out loud why do the
collective followers of God have any predilection to seek
out and
promote anyone to a title that bespeaks of what they are
already doing or are called to do?
Is a certain title more prestigious than another title?
Do the title recipients
feel that it is needed or necessary or even required that
they accept the accolades of their fellow believers in order
for them to complete or fulfill their calling or ministry?
I mean, what’s up with that? (Note: the title of bishop,
overseer, pastor, elder are all interchangeable in the word
of God…so why the craving to be called a bishop?)
Can’t one be satisfied with a title such as pastor or
elder or overseer without desiring or aspiring to be called
a bishop or an archbishop?
Can you imagine the astonishment and amazement in
Christendom if people were to reject any working title other
than servant or under shepherd?
Imagine all of the concocted nonsense that would or could be
eliminated if people did not seek out titles which by their
very nature do not imbue one with any special powers to do
the various works of ministries.
Now, the following paragraph may be difficult to
swallow but try it on anyway:
The workings of the Holy Spirit of God are not increased or
lessened in a person’s ministry if that person is already
doing the work of ministry and he affixes the title Ph.D. or
Doctor or Bishop to his name.
Being called a bishop does not impress God or our
adversary, Satan.
A title for the sake of a title is akin to someone calling
you a soldier when you are already in a military uniform.
Duh…I know I am a soldier because I am officially and
properly wearing the garb of a Navy sailor or an Army
officer. I do not need you to call me a soldier.
I know that. I am already doing the works assigned to me as
a soldier.
But. Somehow (and there is a why somewhere in this
story), people loved to be called Doctor or Bishop or
Reverend (no such Bible title) or _____________ fill in the
blank.
Why? Because it is flattering to the ego and it makes
one feel important and that he has perceived power. Sadly,
in my humble opinion too many pastors love to have honorary
degrees conferred upon them even though they may not have
seen the inside of a classroom for the past 20 years.
It is just something that is soothing and tingling to
the ear to have some address you as Dr. So and So or Bishop
So and So. It makes you strut a little taller and can make
you feel as if you have arrived. That you are somebody.
I mean, after all, what pride and glory and pomp is
there in being called a lowly servant? Why, servants are a
dime a dozen and who respects and looks up to a servant?
Servants clean beds and empty pots and pans and clean up
garbage and wash feet and serve food and take abuse. That
servant stuff is not for me!
But call me a Bishop or a Pope or a Cardinal or an
Archbishop, man, you got me!
Why anyone in the church continues to chase after titles and
honorary doctorate degrees and places of honor and the
wearing of regalia costumes is an affront to the real gospel
and ministry of Christ.
I will bet you two hymnbooks to a church bulletin that
I can command more money when I am a guest speaker when it
is announced that Bishop Franklin Bigpants is in the pulpit
as opposed to servant Marvin Mundane.
Oh, for the day when the church will stop taking its
cues from the world and follow its own rulebook!
Contact Lafe Tolliver at
Tolliver@Juno.com
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