Celestial Diary

In the Spirit of studying titles; let’s go into another commonly used one. “The Reverend”

I know someone who completed a bachelor’s degree in theology and, at some point, began using the title Reverend. As far as I know, this person had not been ordained, had not served as a pastor, and had not been involved in preaching or teaching the congregation. Their primary ministry was in the choir and yet, suddenly, the title appeared on event flyers.

Disclaimer: there is absolutely nothing wrong with studying theology. There is nothing wrong with singing in church or using the gifts God has given you….But what makes someone qualified to be called a Reverend?

Are we pursuing service and ministry, or are we collecting titles like Pokémons?

What Does “Reverend” Actually Mean?

Before we can discuss who should or should not use the title, we need to understand where it came from.

The word Reverend comes from the Latin reverendus (revereri) meaning to respect or revere; probably for someone worthy of reverence or respect. Historically, it developed as a form of respectful address and became associated with Christian clergy. Its use has varied across church traditions and denominations. Today, “The Reverend” is commonly used as an honorific style for Christian ministers and clergy.

Reverend is not a spiritual gift!!!!!
In fact, it is not even an office recognized by the New Testament. It also isn’t a synonym for someone who prays powerfully nor is it an academic qualification. And it surely isn’t a title that the New Testament instructs every Christian to pursue.

So….again, what are we doing?

It is a churchy way of addressing someone and it also depends on the traditions and structures of those churches in particular.

A theology degree is an academic qualification.
Singing is a ministry through which someone may serve the church.
Preaching is an activity.
Ordination is a formal recognition or setting apart for ministry in churches that practice it.

“Reverend” is a respectful title that some Christian churches use when addressing or referring to a person who has been formally recognized as a church minister/clergy member.

Some people claim it’s in the Bible and refer to Psalm 111:9 in the King James Version, which says that God’s name is “holy and reverend.” Other translations express the idea using words such as awesome or to be revered. But the verse is speaking about the holiness and majesty of God’s name. It is not laying down a rule about which human beings may or may not use the word Reverend as a form of address.

So, although we cannot point to that verse and conclude that using Reverend for a minister is automatically sinful…..the Bible does not present Reverend as a specific ministry/office that believers are instructed to attain. When the New Testament discusses church leadership, it speaks about elders, overseers and deacons, among other roles.

For example, 1 Timothy 3:1–7 shows us the qualifications for overseers, while Titus 1:5–9 discusses the appointment and character of elders.

These passages focus on character, conduct, doctrine and responsibility. They do not give us a procedure for acquiring the title Reverend.

And maybe that is where we should begin: not with what we want to be called, but with what Scripture says about the people entrusted with leading God’s church.

We need to stop confusing education with appointment. A person can have a bachelor’s degree in theology without being ordained. A person can understand biblical doctrine without holding a recognized ministry office. A person can be an excellent singer, worship leader or intercessor without being ordained.

For example: not everyone with a degree in medicine should be allowed to practice. That degree is a significant academic achievement, but it does not automatically mean that every professional qualification, registration or license required to practice medicine has been granted. Each stage has its own requirements, and even meeting those requirements does not mean someone should automatically be entrusted with every kind of responsibility. Not every licensed doctor is a good doctor!

The same principle applies in the church. It is not because you studied something or have a particular gift that you should automatically be given authority over God’s children. Character matters, maturity matters and God’s appointment matters even more.

The problem starts once we assume that because someone has acquired knowledge, they have automatically acquired an office.

The requirements for ordination vary: some churches require formal theological education; others place greater emphasis on supervised ministry, discernment, examination, church recognition or a combination of these.

You can sing beautifully, so you must be anointed for ministry. You have a degree in theology, so surely you can call yourself Reverend.

But who established these rules?

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 explains that there are different gifts, services and workings, but the same Spirit. Later, in verses 27–30, Paul explains that not everyone has the same function or gift.

In other words, the fact that God has gifted someone in one area does not mean that person has automatically been appointed to every other area of ministry.

Romans 12:4–8 makes a similar point. We have different gifts and functions within one body.

Giftedness is not the same as office, and ability is not the same as appointment.

Just because someone can do something or has the gift of that thing doesn’t mean you should appoint them that task! This is where frustration and manipulation can sneak in. Service unto God should be done willingly and in a correct manner.

You can be gifted to sing without being the worship leader. You can be gifted in prayer without being ordained an intercessor. You can be knowledgeable in Scripture without becoming a Pastor.

And you can be genuinely called to serve God without needing a title to validate your service.

There is no single, universal biblical checklist for becoming a Reverend because Reverend is not a specific office defined in the New Testament. The requirements vary from church to church and in many churches, the title is associated with ordained ministers (a nickname basically). The process to get this title also varies.

We need to stop creating rules Scripture does not give us, but we must also stop treating established church offices and their requirements as if they are meaningless.

Although the Bible does not give us a universal qualification process for the title Reverend, it has plenty to say about the character and responsibilities of those entrusted with leading God’s church.

Titus gives similar instructions concerning elders and overseers and these are not instructions about how to make a name for yourself. They are instructions about the kind of person entrusted with responsibility in God’s household.

And maybe that is what we should really be asking ourselves.

If we are so eager to be called Reverend, are we equally eager to live in a way that reflects the seriousness of ministry?

Because people may place trust in someone simply because of the authority they believe a title represents. They may assume that person is qualified to teach them, counsel them, guide them through spiritual difficulties or exercise a particular form of church leadership.

So perhaps ministry titles should not be treated as decorative additions to our names. They can shape people’s expectations, influence how much authority they give us and affect how they respond to what we say.

If someone uses a title that communicates a status or appointment they have not actually received, that can create a misleading impression, whether or not that was their intention.

I sometimes wonder whether we have become more interested in being recognized as ministers than in being faithful servants of God.

We want to be introduced with a title, we want said title on the flyer, we want it on our social media profiles and we want people to acknowledge it when they address us (we might even get offended when they don’t address us ‘properly’).

But are we equally concerned with the responsibility that comes with it?

Are we as interested in being corrected as we are in being celebrated?

Are we willing to serve when nobody knows our name?

Or have we reached a point where serving God quietly is no longer enough unless people know what to call us?

Today, someone is a pastor…by tomorrow, they are a Reverend and by next week, they are a bishop. Stacking titles without even understanding what the job entails.

Let’s please check ourselves and remember to be humble before God humbles us.

Stay Blessed x