Call No Man Reverend!

By Henry B. Waiters ThB ThM ThD

The purpose of this book is to call attention to the 514 years man has used God’s name as a title for himself, and other instances of rejection of scriptural mandates that may have brought about the decline in respect for clergy and congregation.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Sep 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781490893594

Henry B. Waiters ThB ThM ThD

For thirty-eight-and-a-half years, Dr. Henry Belton Waiters was a devoted pastor and educator of Friendship Baptist Church, in Lexington, North Carolina. He greatly increased the membership through instilling biblical discipline and scriptural doctrine. Dr. Waiters, a semiretired minister, studied at Hood Theology Seminary prior to receiving his Doctor of Theology, Master of Theology, and Bachelor of Theology from Clarksville School of Theology in Clarksville, Tennessee. As a gifted writer, he has written many sermons based on scriptural principles. He currently resides in Salisbury, North Carolina.

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Copyright © 2015 Henry B. Waiters, ThB; ThM; ThD.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means,

graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any

information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher

except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

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ISBN: 978-1-4908-9358-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9360-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4908-9359-4 (e)

WestBow Press rev. date: 03/31/2023

Contents

Forward to Call No Man Reverend

The Inclusion of Scriptures and Contexts

Helpful Study Instructions!

1   The Psalmist

2   Reverend

3   Reverence

4   God’s Nature and Personality

5   The Attributes of God

6   Equal With God

7   Man’s Fall and the Cause

8   God’s Provision For Restoration

9   Jesus Begins His Ministry

10  The Beginning of The Christian Church

11  Church Growth and Ministry Need

12  Scriptural Designations

13  Old Testament and New Testament Titles

14  Non-Scriptural Titles

15  Worship

16  Praise

17  Fear and Awe

18  Call No Man Father Or Master

19  Swear Not

20  Pursuit Of Objectives

21  An Honest Perspective

22  Continued Misapplication of Scripture

23  The Beginning of My Concernment

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Forward to Call No Man Reverend

Scenario #1:

I was serving as an adjunct professor of pastoral ministries at a seminary in Charlotte, NC. Between classes, I was in the library correcting papers. I could not help overhearing a conversation between two students. These men appeared to be in their twenties. They were discussing how long it would take them to attain to the rank of apostle in their denomination. One claimed, quite confidently, that he would be named an apostle in ten to fifteen years. The other was doubtful, exclaiming that no one could become an apostle in less than twenty years. He was just as confident as the first student that he too would eventually earn the title apostle. Furthermore, he iterated that his church would be one of the largest in the state. As I headed toward my next class, I wondered, Who has co-opted the hold office of Apostle of Jesus Christ and turned it into a prize to be coveted by ambitious men.

Scenario #2:

In my daily work as a pastor, I was driving to the hospital to visit church members. My car radio was tuned to a local news/talk male host asked a female caller, May I ask if you are a Christian? Yes, she replied. I thought you might be, said the host. As a matter of fact, I am an ordained minister in my church, offered the caller. You are a reverend? No, I am more than just a reverend. I hold the rank of prophetess in my church. Really? asked the host, clearly taken aback. At this point the host cut to a commercial and I turned off the radio. But I thought, What is a prophetess? Does this lady receive direct revelation from God and inform her pastor what he should preach?"

Scenario #3:

The international news reports that the Vatican has just announced the defrocking of almost 400 Roman Catholic priests in just the last two years (2011-12). This housecleaning was done in response to widespread cases of sexual abuse of minors among the Catholic clergy. The current pontiff, Pope Francis, also suspended a German Bishop for his lavish lifestyle and his palatial home. This priest, known as the Bishop of Bling, has spent $55 million on renovations to his residence. In the same time period the Charlotte (NC) Observer newspaper published a story about a well-known Baptist Pastor in their city who is building a 16,000 sq. ft. home in an exclusive gated neighborhood. This estate will dwarf the home of the wealthiest businessman in Charlotte, which measures only 6,169 sq. ft. I wondered, "Has the Christian ministry become a pathway to wealth and fame? Is it a cloak to hide immoral and criminal behavior? Sources: The London Daily Mail Online Edition, Jan. 17, 2014. The Washington Post, Oct. 23, 2013. The Charlotte Observer, Oct. 23, 2013.

What has happened to the Christian church in the 21st century? Are we entering a post-Christian era in Europe and North America? It seems so. The Barna Research group reports that less than half of all Americans have attended church worship services in the last six months. The Pew Research Center reported that the number of Americans who identify as Protestant/Evangelical has dropped from 62% in 1972 to 51% in 2010. In the same time frame, the number who identify as Catholic has declined from 26% to 25%. During the same period the number of Americans who report no religious affiliation whatsoever has risen from 7% to 18%.

This decline in religious affiliation may be occurring because people are becoming more independent an individualistic in their religious expression. Many people describe themselves as religious or spiritual who do not desire affiliation with any established church. The decline in public worship may originate in the general secularization of society. Several decades of radically secularized public education have surely taken its toll on the traditional faith of young people in America.

Could there be a third cause for the deterioration of religious belief in America? Could it be that some people feel abused and betrayed by those who purport to represent God? As some in the clergy have sought to elevate and enrich themselves through modern marketing schemes, the adoption of impressive sounding ecclesiastical titles, and the acquisition of bogus academic credentials, it is possible they have brought about a decline in public respect for all the clergy?

Have we entered into an era when the Christian ministry is not respected as it once was? A 2007 Harris Poll ranks clergy in only the 18th position of the 20 most respected professions. A 2013 survey by the Pew Research Group found that only 37% of respondents view clergy as contributing a lot to society’s wellbeing. Ministries rank behind military officers, teachers, medical doctors, scientists and engineers in the ranking of most respected professions. This writer fears that many of the current generation of young clergy are adept at marketing the church, gathering crowds, prompting themselves, and raising money; but are woefully deficient in the spiritual skills of holy living, humble service, personal integrity, doctrinal fidelity, and servant leadership.

Dr. Henry B. Waiters was for 38 years, the Pastor of the Friendship Baptist Church in Lexington, NC. During his tenure of service the church grew steadily in number, spiritual maturity, and service to the community. Throughout his long and fruitful ministry, Dr.