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To: backslacker
“And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.” -—Matthew 23:9

Let us quote the verse in context.

Matthew 23: 8 6 As for you, do not be called 'Rabbi.' You have but one teacher, and you are all brothers. 9 Call no one on earth your father; you have but one Father in heaven. 10 Do not be called 'Master'; you have but one master, the Messiah. 11 The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled; but whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

The context of a verse very often depends on the verses surrounding it. Do you wish more? Let us turn to Paul:

1 Corinthians 14: 14 I am writing you this not to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. 5 15 Even if you should have countless guides to Christ, yet you do not have many fathers, for I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 Therefore, I urge you, be imitators of me. 17 For this reason I am sending you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord; he will remind you of my ways in Christ (Jesus), just as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Better excise Paul from your Bible. Stephen appears to have missed the memo.

Acts 7: 1 Then the high priest asked, "Is this so?" 2 And he replied, 1 "My brothers and fathers, listen. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham while he was in Mesopotamia, 2 before he had settled in Haran, 3 and said to him, 'Go forth from your land and (from) your kinsfolk to the land that I will show you.'

Taken in context, it appears that Jesus wants us to shun pursuing the titles of greatness and authority. He was pretty good at metaphors and parables. Too good for some.

12 posted on 02/01/2010 8:09:49 PM PST by MarkBsnr ( I would not believe in the Gospel if the authority of the Catholic Church did not move me to do so.)
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To: MarkBsnr; Notwithstanding
The commandment of Matthew 23:9 (And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven) is certainly directed at the Catholic church. Our parents can be called 'father, mother' as this is permitted in the Ten Commandments (grandfather, great-grandfather, etc.). Our city fathers, e.g., can be referred to as father. They are NEVER called father!

Abraham is called father. He is literally our father as he begat many nations through his two sons, Ishmael (ten tribes) and Isaac (Twelve tribes plus Levi). The continents and countries of Africa, Middle East, Europe, Americas (perhaps?), India, Pakistan can trace their lineage back to Abraham, the father of many nations.

Why violate the commandments of God? To please the Vatican?

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. 14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 16 ¶Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. 19 ¶Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be.

13 posted on 02/01/2010 9:13:29 PM PST by backslacker (In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form...)
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To: MarkBsnr
Im still waiting for you to give an example of where is is permitted (by God, not the RCC) to address another person as father. You provided examples of Paul addressing a group that is composed of brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, etc. BUT he did not address an individual as 'father.'

The Roman Catholic Church has you confused on the subject of "sons.' This is expected when you reject the full authority of God only and allow a mere human to rise to the level of God. I can call you my son since I am probably older than you. This does not require that you call me 'father.' I could be an elder, not father. Only to those I have begotten, i.e. my children. I am not acquainted with the teachings of the Catholic Church such as the Catechism but I know it is from man not God therefore not to be trusted.

18 posted on 02/03/2010 12:48:53 AM PST by backslacker (In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form...)
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