Call no man father

by Fr Calvin Robinson

In my tradition, it is common practice to call ordained ministers ‘fathers’, not as a prideful boast but as a sign of recognition of their position as servant-leaders in the community.

The father is the provider and protector, the leader of the flock who feeds his family, tends to their needs and shepherds his flock.

In Roman Catholicism, it is usual for a priest to be called ‘father’. In Anglo-Catholic circles in England, it has become the norm to do so for deacons and priests. Outside of these circles, the practice can seem very strange. Our more evangelical brethren often baulk at the phrase; some even recoil.

In an effort to be more ecumenical, I removed the title from my Twitter handle some months ago, but I still receive a number of emails - some more polite than others - exclaiming concern for my continuation of this tradition. So, I wanted to take a moment to explore the Biblical context and reflect on the Church’s teaching in this area.

Matthew 23 begins with, ‘Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice. They bind heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger. They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren. And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven. Neither be called masters, for you have one master, the Christ. He who is greatest among you shall be your servant; whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.’

The immediate message is clear: it is a topic Christ often preached on, especially in regards to the scribes and Pharisees: do not be hypocrites. In fact, the rest of this chapter begins with a number of exhortations, which start with, “But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”

In this chapter, Jesus gave us a few lessons: not to be hypocrites, not to be proud, not to seek authority, and not to inaccurately assign titles to people who do not fulfil those roles.

The lesson is hyperbolic, though. It is one of Jesus’ allegorical styles when he really wants to drive a message home, much like when he advises us to pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin, a few chapters prior in the same Gospel of Matthew. A few lines further down this chapter, Jesus says, “You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!” Now, we know the people he was speaking to were not blind, nor were they straining out a gnat or swallowing camels. The idea would be preposterous. Our Lord is exaggerating to make a point.

How do we know it is not to be taken literally? Well, because the inerrant Word of God cannot contradict itself. In the New Testament, Stephen and Paul refer to the prophets as fathers (Romans 9:10), which is in line with the Old Testament teaching (2 Kings 2:12 & Job 29:16 & Isaiah 22:20 & Genesis 45:8). There is a pattern of the patriarchs being referred to as fathers (Luke 16:24 & John 8:56 & Acts 7:2 & Romans 4). In the first and second epistles to Timothy, Paul speaks of himself as a teacher (1 Timothy 2:7 & 2 Tim. 1:11). Likewise, in the first epistle to the Corinthians and Ephesians, Paul reminds us the Church recognises the role of the teacher (1 Corinthians 12:28 & Ephesians 4:11).

We are not forbidden from calling fathers ‘fathers’, only from attributing the title to people who are not acting in the role of a father. We are not to assume authority and prestige but to serve.

Interestingly, people who cherry-pick Matthew 23 as an attack line on Catholic priests and Anglo-Catholic deacons and priests only take this passage literally in terms of fathers within the church. What about everyone else to whom we attribute the title father?

What do you call your parent who isn’t your mother, if not your father?

What do you call the man who leaves your children presents at Christmas, if not Father Christmas?

What do you call the early Christian leaders, if not the Church Fathers?

What do you call the founders of America, if not the Founding Fathers?

The very same verse also says to call no one teacher. What do you call the people who teach your children? Likewise, it says to call no one master. In Western society, we call men mister and women miss or missus, a direct translation from the Latin for master. It says not to call anyone rabbi. We often call people doctor and teacher, from the word rabbi. Why are these not forbidden to the same degree as father? Well, they are if you take Matthew 23 literally. Think about that the next time you visit a GP or attend a parents’ evening.

Not only is the puritanical Protestant understanding of this verse inherently flawed, but it is also entirely inconsistent.

Christ appointed teachers of the faith. Peter and Paul often refer to themselves as teachers and fathers (1 Corinthians 4:15 & Philippians 2:22). We have biological fathers and spiritual fathers; we have academic teachers and faith teachers; we have medical doctors, academic doctors and doctors of the Church.

Indeed, Christ instructs us to honour our father (Matthew 15:4), to leave our father and get married (Matthew 19:5), and to submit to the will of our heavenly Father (Matthew 21:31). This is language he is comfortable with.

The Book of Common Prayer - one of the key formularies of the Anglican tradition - refers to the bishop as “Reverend Father in God” in the form and manner of making deacons and ordering of priests (the ordinal, used for ordaining men to the diaconate and to the presbyterate).

We are a patriarchal faith. God the Father is the ultimate patriarch. By following Christ’s example, we are to imitate his style of servant leadership in our fatherly, teaching, and doctoral roles. We are not to be hypocrites but to lead by example.

We are not forbidden from becoming teachers, doctors or fathers.

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

Fr Calvin Robinson