Sunday, November 2, 2014

LDS Church Titles Against Christ's Teachings?

And [the scribes and pharisees; church leaders of the day] love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,
 And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi,Rabbi.
 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.
 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.
 10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
 11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.
 12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.
Does the tradition of giving status and stature (calling another man anything but brother) through titles within the church draw us closer to Christ or not?  How so?  Why do we feel comfortable calling the most important individual in our lives simply by his given name, Jesus, but would consider calling someone of position by their first name some kind of offense?
If we must look to the opinions of men on the matter, what would Brother Joseph and Brother Brigham think of today's customs?  Brother Tom sounds sacrilegious to most of today's members who would insist on calling him President Thomas S. Monson.  Why?