Expert: D.David - 12/2/2009

Question
Within scripture I see no where that anyone has refered to anyone else in the term of Brother John, Brother Matthew etc. Even when Jesus spoke concerning the others around him he affectionately refered to them by their first name. Now I am assured that within the kingdom we are brothers and sisters but to preface the word brother every time we refer to another in the church as brother gets kind of redundant. And for the most part if husband and wife are brothers and sisters in Christ then should we defer our position in marriage to wife Jane or husband John.

Answer
Hello, Danny k Doss

Extremely sorry for the delay in answering your question.

I do understand your question on addressing each other as 'Brother or Sister'. What we need to understand is what Christ meant is He is the Head of the Church. God is the Father of all of us and if we regard Him to be our Father then we are His Children. If Children, then we are Brothers and Sisters, 'IN CHRIST'. While we do have our relationships as Husbands and Wives in Society. But we are on the same level when it comes to Spiritual level as 'One in Christ'.

While some Churches keep calling each other as 'brothers/sisters' there are others that do not use these terms as often, rather names or 'saints' or even Children at times(specially the Pastor/Priest use them).

I hope I have answered your question to your expectation. Thank you very much for patiently waiting. God bless you.