I never did understand how they could disobey a direct order. Don't their parishioners read the bible?
Do you? Do you read it by taking one sentence and not considering the whole context? Because if you do, that's not the right way to read it.
Jesus is talking about the Pharisees who want to kill him, but want to be addressed as "teacher," "master," and "father". He's using hyperbole and saying that it would be better not to call anyone "father," except God.
Incidentally, if you call your minister "doctor," you're disobeying this "direct order" also. "Doctor" is just Latin for "teacher".
In 1 Cor 4:15, Paul says:
For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
(Some translations, e.g., NASB, read "I have *become your father* through the Gospel". Regardless, when a man "begets," he becomes a father, by definition.)
Paul, in Philemon, also refers to Onesimus as "my child, whom I have begotten during my imprisonment". He's not referring to any biological relationship; he's calling himself Onesimus' spiritual father.
So evidently the concept of spiritual fatherhood wasn't anathema to Paul. He explains in Ephesians 3:15 that all (authentic) fatherhood, including the biological kind, is derived from the fatherhood of God.
So I think we stand on pretty strong ground. And yes, I do read my Bible.
Ever need a hair splitter you know who to call. But, you know, they did at least add 'holy' poppy to their man. s/
It does seem weird...
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”
It does seem weird...
NIV 1 Corinthians 4:6
Now, brothers, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, "Do not go beyond what is written." Then you will not take pride in one man over against another.