inquiringmind Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?
Darren10 Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?I wouldn't. Though I would not necessarily call it a "sin", it does seem inappropriate. 1
Calm Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 I assume this verse brought it up?:1 Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, 2 Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: 3 All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. 4 For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and laythem on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. 5 But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, 6 And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, 7 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. 8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, evenChrist. 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.http://www.lds.org/scriptures/nt/matt/23.9?lang=eng&country=ca#8
Calm Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 (edited) We tend to expect other faiths to call our missionaries "Elder". I would think we would share the same respect of calling them some appropriate title, doesn't have to be "Father". I think I would go with "Your Reverence". Edited June 27, 2013 by calmoriah 1
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?I feel it is something our Father doesn't want us to do because it might give that clergyman the wrong idea. He isn't our Father in any sense of the word. My Dad is a minister/clergyman in another organization outside of the true Church and I refer to him simply as Dad. If he were not my Dad I would refer to him by his own name, maybe with the addition of Mr.
Questing Beast Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Whatever the common title is: if it's "Father What's'isbucket" then I wouldn't have a problem calling him by his title. If for some reason I find an individual in a religious leadership position offensive to my personal ethics, I would refrain from addressing him/her in the first place, and would only respond in monosyllables if required to converse at all.... 1
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 We tend to expect other faiths to call our missionaries "Elder". I would think we would share the same respect of calling them some appropriate title, doesn't have to be "Father". I think I would go with "Your Reverence".Really? You can actually picture yourself referring to a preacher as "Your Reverence" ?Mudcat is a preacher, I think. If not somebody else on this board probably is. How about calling one of those people "Your Reverence" ?
Damien the Leper Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 I wouldn't. Though I would not necessarily call it a "sin", it does seem inappropriate.Just the same, it could be inappropriate for a non-LDS to address an LDS bishop as "Bishop" or an SP as "President".
ChristKnight Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?No, in the same way it isn't a sin for me to refer to my or someone else's dad as "father".
Calm Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 (edited) Bishops in our faith assume a responsibility of sorts for even the nonmembers in the geographical boundary of their wards. I wonder if the same could be said of other faiths, especially Catholic which also does their congregations by geography to a certain extent I believe. If so, I think respect for their willingness to care for others not of their faith should be recognized.And I would have no problem save unfamiliarity in calling someone "Your Reverence" if they were acting in their office and that was an official title. I don't call a Bishop on the board "Bishop" because they are not here as bishops, why would I need to call anyone else here by such a title?Ahab, do you think other faiths should respect our missionaries and not call them by their first names or "mister" but use Elder instead? Edited June 27, 2013 by calmoriah
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Ahab, do you think other faiths should respect our missionaries...Respect as in be nice to, sure, but I don't think they should regard them as anything special just because of the fact that we do.... and not call them by their first names or "mister" but use Elder instead?When I first met missionaries of the Church I called them by their name without using the term "Elder" becuase the term had a different meaning to me in another church and I didn't think they qualified as elders in that sense. And I didn't call them Mr either because they were younger than I was and that would have also felt strange to me.Now that I know more about our Elders and how they quality I don't have a problem with calling them Elder, though. I just don't expect others to know what I know or treat others as I treat them if they don't know as much about who and what they are as I do.
BCSpace Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?Would it be a sin to call him "brother" since he does not hold the authorized priesthood?
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Would it be a sin to call him "brother" since he does not hold the authorized priesthood? I think it's weird when people refer to another man as brother [so and so] as if they couldn't call any other man their brother.... and I think it's even more weird when they use the designation "Bro." on ward bulletins and what not.I think calling people by their first given name (aka Christian name) signifies that we know and feel comfortable with them more than when we use some high-falluting title, or when we don't use one of their real names when we refer to them.
halconero Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Joseph Smith referred to John Tanner as Father Tanner due to all the care he provided for many members.As for the "Your Reverence" debate the First Presidency referred to Pope Francis I as "His Holiness" in their letter of congratulations.Render unto other Churches the titles of those Churches and render into God the titles of God. 2
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Joseph Smith referred to John Tanner as Father Tanner due to all the care he provided for many members.Well isn't that special (in Church lady voice).As for the "Your Reverence" debate the First Presidency referred to Pope Francis I as "His Holiness" in their letter of congratulations.Sheesh. Politics.Render unto other Churches the titles of those Churches and render into God the titles of God.All of us are the same kind of being which we refer to as God so I suppose God just has a bunch of different titles. The moral of the story: Feel free to call any of us whatever you feel comfortable calling us, I suppose.
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Is it a sin for a Mormon to call a clergyman belonging to another denomination "Father" out of respect?No...was put in the Protestant version of the Bible, I believe. If in the Catholic Bible then yes it is...
ChristKnight Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 No...was put in the Protestant version of the Bible, I believe. If in the Catholic Bible then yes it is...What?
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 What? If early Apostles indeed said, "call no man father" then I assume this is what they meant. This is why Protestants don't do so. I apologize if this hurts, but when it comes to scripture, I am a purest.
Ahab Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 If early Apostles indeed said, "call no man father" then I assume this is what they meant. This is why Protestants don't do so. I apologize if this hurts, but when it comes to scripture, I am a purest.It was Paul who said that, and he also said something about how we have many fathers, so what we have to get it is what he meant when he said what he said and the Holy Spirit can hep us with that.
3DOP Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 Our current pastor who is of course a Catholic priest, Fr._____, was ordained in 2011 I believe. It raised an interesting situation at the seminary because His dad is an Anglican priest, also known as Fr. ______ to his flock. Of course Dad attended ordinations but the seminarians weren't sure how they should address him seeing as we do not recognize Anglican orders. I don't remember how it was resolved.
ChristKnight Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 (edited) If early Apostles indeed said, "call no man father" then I assume this is what they meant. This is why Protestants don't do so. I apologize if this hurts, but when it comes to scripture, I am a purest.No apology necessary.Why do you assume that is what is meant? Could it be that Protestants (well not all Protestants as we see 3DOP demonstrating that Anglicans also use "Father" in reference to their priests. I assume you mean the more recent Protestants, the Evangelicals?) misunderstand that verse (or do you agree with the Protestant interpretation of everything in the Bible? I assume not)? Do you also not refer to dads as "fathers"? Edited June 27, 2013 by ChristKnight
Bill “Papa” Lee Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 No apology necessary.Why do you assume that is what is meant? Could it be that Protestants (well not all Protestants as we see 3DOP demonstrating that Anglicans also use "Father" in reference to their priests. I assume you mean the more recent Protestants, the Evangelicals?) misunderstand that verse (or do you agree with the Protestant interpretation of everything in the Bible? I assume not)? Do you also not refer to dads as "fathers"?I am just kind hearted and thought maybe some might have been offended. Just used your post to explain...seems I should have stayed out of this one. I grew up Baptist and this is how it was explained to me and that it did not apply to dads but Priests. Keep in mind the Church of England and the Catholic Church were are war...thus inspiring the KJV 1611 version of the Bible. So to any Catholics or anyone who calls their Priests "Father"...I apologize for my opinion or error concerning the matter.
mrmandias Posted June 27, 2013 Posted June 27, 2013 I don't have a problem with basic, standard titles, including "Father." But I like the 1950s solution, which is to call 'em "Padre."
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