Expert: Rev. Stuart Woodward - 8/2/2007

Question
How can a preacher call himself Reverend when in Psalms 111:9, He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
Are you equating yourself as equal to God?

Answer
Hello Alan,
To an extent I agree with the point you make in that titles for those ministering the Gospel tend to become issues of pride rather than description. Although I am an ordained minister in the Baptist denomination and therefore am technically 'a reverend' I try not to use the title.
However, I think it is important we don't get bound up in legalism here. To revere someone can be taken in different contexts just as to worship can. In the old English marriage ceremony the groom used to say to the bride 'with my body I Thee worship'. There was no intention here of ever giving to a marriage partner what was due to God alone rather the English word had more than one usage.
Jesus Himself tells us that there is none holy but God and yet we are commanded to be holy. It is the same word but the context gives it a slightly different meaning.
The NIV translation of Psalm 111:9 simply says 'holy and awesome is his name'
The word reverend is used to indicate that someone has been set apart (same root word as holy) for the work of ministry. It has never in history been used to indicate any equality with God. I don't like the title because it is archaic and tends to put an artificial barrier between leader and people but I do think we need to be careful when we decide to single out a word and not allow for the fact that it can have many different usages.
I hope my comments are of some help to you.
Stuart Woodward