In Psalm 111:9 we read, "He has sent redemption to his people; he has ordained his covenant forever; holy and reverend is his name." Many times in the Bible we see references to the holiness of God, such as Isaiah 6:2,3: ". . . Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of His glory." Also, He is often called the "Holy One", or the "Holy One of Israel."
We read in Psalm 99:3, "Let them praise thy great and terrible name, for it is holy." In the light of such verses it is evident that men should have great respect and fear for God and the holiness of God. The fact that some religions refer to their leaders as "holy father", or address them as "your holiness", shows that they do not realize that such titles are reserved for Deity alone. (Jesus Christ is referred to as the "holy one" in Acts 3:14.)
The last part of our reference in Psalm 111:9 states, ". . . reverend is his name." This is the only time we find the word "reverend" in the Scriptures, although the word "reverence" is used several times. A note in Cruden's Concordance says, When used in reference to God, it means godly fear and awe." This is the meaning we have in Psalm 89:7: "God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about Him." Note also Hebrews 12:28: let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear."
Since it is not Scriptural to refer to a religious leader or a minister as "holy father", or "your holiness", it must be also unscriptural to address one as "reverend," or "your reverence". Men in their pride like their positions and titles, as did the Pharisees who loved to be called of men "Rabbi, Rabbi", meaning Master (Matt. 23:7,8). But what did Ehhu say about this in Job 32:21? "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my maker would soon take me away."
So why do we often see the title "Reverend" before a preacher's name? Perhaps it is lack of respect and awe for our God of whom it is said, holy and reverend is His name."
Reprinted from the Berean Searchlight, the official organ of the Berean Bible Society, Volume LVI, Number 5
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