Just Call Me Brother Cox

A church member yelled across the street at another member who he recognized. He said, "Hey Brother Lance" (not his real name). Brother Lance yelled back, "don't call me brother, call me pastor." This story illustrates something that I see a lot amongst us.

There is the question of disrespect, but there is also the issue of folks making a big deal out of titles. There is the issue of wanting to have the title without ministering.

Being in interdenominational ministry is interesting as it comes to titles. Some folks can make a really big deal out of them. Some folks care little about them. I try to use a generic title that can be applicable to everyone and I get grief. some are offended that I didn't call them Pastor. Some are offended that I called them pastor. Some are offended that I simply called them Reverend while others are offended if you don't call them reverend.

It looks like a lot of folks have a number of titles that move up. There is the lowly Brother and Sister that goes for the laity. They don't deserve the titles that we ministers believe we deserve. Then there are the lowly "ministers" who haven't been ordained yet and thus don't have the title Reverend. Some ordained ministers will get upset if you call an unordained preacher a reverend.

Then there is Reverend. They have been ordained, but they haven't got a church yet. Don't make the mistake of calling a Pastor "Reverend"...they might bite your head off.

Then there is evangelist. That can be an ordained person or it might be an unordained person that takes the title because their church won't ordain them. Likewise in some churches they take the title "minster" because their church doesn't use the term and they are trying to claim ministerial standing.

But after all that then there is Bishop.

I can just call someone what they wish to be called. But should I get into their denominational squabbles? At the end of the day, I mean you no disrespect. I often use the term "pastor" or a generic "preacher" when referring to you. yes it is probably above what some of you think you should have...and below what others think they should have.

But as for myself. I think I'm gonna take the term "Brother." Just call me Brother Cox. While I am ordained and have a theological degree, I think there can be no higher calling then to be a brother in the kingdom of God. I had been using the term "elder" which is a Biblical term and one that I have been ordained to. I have been called Reverend, because I am ordained. I have been called pastor because I have served in an assistant pastoral position. But the title game is one we need to get over...and I will make my little step in that direction. I will still call you reverend, pastor, or the like...but as for me...just call me Brother...I am your brother...

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Turn The Other Cheek. What!?

"I believe in turning the other cheek and all, but you can't let people take advantage of you." That, is a very sensible sentiment that one often hears from Christians. In fact it seems to be the normal way we teach the call found in Matthew 5:39. Like so many other aspects of the radical call to discipleship, we have taken its teeth out and left it as an empty meaningless shell.

But what does it mean? One thing we learn from the text is that Jesus is not calling for us to avoid the confrontation. In this text, Jesus didn't say "stay away from those who might smite you on the cheek." That certainly is good practice. It makes sense to stay away from those who might


We can become immune to the radical nature of our faith by hearing something over and over again. One of the radical statements that we domesticate is the call to "Turn The Other Cheek" found in Matthew 5:39. This is an interesting call.

There are some interesting thoughts from this call. First, the Master didn't say run away from the "evil person." Such a call might infer cowardice. That is not the only interpretation of such an event, but certainly it is one.

The Master didn't say try not to be invovled with the evil person. Keep your face away from the evil person.

The master didn't say return the swat on the face.

No the master demonstrated a radical way of being in the world. We stand there and take it, but we don't return the evil.



It is not a call to cowardice. The master didn't say run away from the Turnign the other cheek is an interesting call. Sometimes we are immune to how radical of some of our statements. We quickly say "turn the other cheek." Many of us say we attempt to live by this and some of the other statements of Jesus.

However, when the rubber hits the road, we start dancing. Jesus tells us that we have heard "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth." First, where have you heard such a thing?

You have heard it in just about every area of life. In fact it is the very code of our existence. When our children are bullied we teach them to not allow themselves to be taken advantage of. When someone cuts us in line, we don't allow it to happen.

In fact some have even said that Jesus didn't mean that you let people take advantage of you...Well if this text does not say that, what could he have said to imply that. Clearly Jesus says if someone strikes you, turn the other cheek onto that one.

And if you want to argue that it does not mean what we know it means, as some seek to argue, the next verse tells us that if someone takes you to court and takes your shirt, go head on and give that one your jacket. Matthew 5:40. Again, I say, What?!

How can one live like that. Will that one have any possessions at all? Will that one simply go through life allowing others to get over on them? Will that one be able to live in this life?

Now some want to argue, "Hey the scripture is telling us not to allow these things to take first place....If we do


Christianity is to live a "Christ Centered Life." That is to take the sermon on the mount and truly live by these principles. That sounds so good, but we Christians can say that very clearly and forcefully, until someone starts reading the sermon on the mount...

At that point we start dancing and dodging. I mean what does the sermon on the mount say? "turn the other cheek." Will that work?

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