Who’s your daddy ?!?Question: In the Bible it Jesus says to call no one Father. In a regular community gathering I attend, there is a Catholic priest.  I don't know how I should address him. I really don't feel right calling him father. Any suggestions?

Answer: I would suggest you call him Reverend or Pastor if he insists on a title.   These are titles conferred on men by men.   They should not cause him or you any discomfort.   I assume he knows you are not a practicing Catholic so if anything he should cut you some slack.  If he doesn’t understand or if he insists on being called ‘Father’, it’s his problem not yours. Many Catholic priests go by their first names, if you know it try it. 

How did he introduce himself?  If he introduces himself as ‘Father so and so’, it may give you some insight into his thinking and Biblical knowledge.

Tell him you were reading Matthew 23:8-12; particularly verse 9 and ask him to explain it to you.  Don’t do it critically or as an accusation but ask for his honest opinion and listen to his explanation.   It may give you an opportunity to witness to him or you may discover a new Christian friend… 

Just remember, that none of us, you, me, nor he has the right to contradict or explain away what scripture clearly and plainly says…

Mat 23:8-12  But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master: and all you are brethren.  9  And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven.  10  Neither be ye called masters: for one is your master, Christ.  11  He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant.  12  And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.         1899 Douay-Rheims

Mat 23:8-12  8 You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one Master, and you are all brothers. 9 You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. 11The greatest among you must be your servant. 12 Anyone who raises himself up will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be raised up.     1966 New Jerusalem Bible

Douay-Rheims is an early Catholic translation translated from the Latin Vulgate; used by the Catholic for centuries.  It was replaced by the New Jerusalem Bible which itself has recently been replaced just as Protestants replaced the use of the King James with the new American Standard and then the NIV and then…

What about my earthly father ?

Some may get really ‘head spiritual’ and say that this then means you should also not call your earthly biological father, ‘Father’…

Yes and No !

Calling your earthly biological genetic father ‘father’ is simply defining your relationship to him and showing respect for him – as the Bible does in a multitude of examples. You were after all ‘born’ of or ‘adopted’ by him.

No one, however, is to give or take or demand the title or anything else that rightly belongs to your heavenly Father – God Almighty… You call him Father because you were ‘born again’ of Him.

Calling a stranger ‘Father’ who is not your father is to denigrate your true Father – earthly and heavenly – of whom you were born. You were not born to a stranger demanding a title and who at best could only be called your Brother.

No one is to take the place of your Father of whom you are born and born again.