"Doctor" or "Brother"

[jiggyfly]

"Doctor" or "Brother"
By A.W. Pink


What strange methods God sometimes employs in teaching His Children much needed lessons! This has recently been the writer's experience. I have been approached by a "university" to accept from them a degree of "D. D." Asking for time to be given so that I might prayerfully seek from God, through His written word, a knowledge of His will, fuller light came than was expected. I had very serious doubt's as to the permissibility of one of God's servants accepting a title of fleshly honor. I now perceive that it is wrong for me to receive it even complimentary. Various friends, as a mark of respect, have addressed me as "Dr. Pink." I now ask them to please CEASE from doing so. Let it not be understood that I hereby condemn other men for what they allow. No, to their own Master they stand or fall. The principal passages which have helped me I now mention, praying that it may please God to also bless them to others.

FIRST, to the false comforters of Job, Elihu (God's representative) said. "Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give FLATTERING TITLES unto men" (Job 32:31). SECOND, "Be NOT ye called Rabbi" or teacher" (Matthew 23:8), which is what "Doctor" signifies. THIRD, John 5:44 reproves those who "receive honor one of another" and bids us seek "the honor that cometh from God ONLY." FOURTH, none of the Lord's servants in the New Testament ever employed a title. "Paul, an apostle, "but never "the apostle Paul." FIFTH, the Son of God "made Himself of no reputation" (Phil. 2:7); is it then fitting that His servants should now follow an opposite course? SIXTH, Christ bids us learn of Him who was "meek and lowly" (Matthew 11:29). SEVENTH, one of the marks of the apostasy as "having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" (Jude 17). EIGHTH, we are bidden to go forth unto Christ outside the camp "bearing His reproach" (Heb. 13:13).

For these reasons it does not seem to me to be fitting that one who is here as a representative and witness for a "despised and rejected" Christ should be honored and flattered of men. Please address me as "BROTHER PINK"

 

[Coconut]

I love this message mudman!
Does the A.W. mean Tozer wrote it?
"What strange methods God sometimes employs in teaching His Children much needed lessons!" How true! In much the same way God spoke to me a short while back, and told me I must care only to be approved of God. Praise God!


2Ti 2:15 Study [means to make an earnest effort] to shew thyself approved unto God;

2Co 10:18 For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.

 

[casmark]

But accepting a degree of 'D.D' means furthering your studies and being able to delight even more in your work....I don't see anything wrong in accepting, but everyone has his own opinion I guess.

 

[sunshine307]

"Doctor" or "Brother"
By A.W. Pink
For these reasons it does not seem to me to be fitting that one who is here as a representative and witness for a "despised and rejected" Christ should be honored and flattered of men. Please address me as "BROTHER PINK"

These words speak volumes about Brother Pink's humility.

 

[jiggyfly]

Arthur W. Pink was born in England on April 1, 1886 of godly parents. In 1892 when C. H. Spurgeon died, Pink was a boy of six and standing in the wings to become molded by God to, in the last years of his life, become a prolific writer, whose writings are more sought after now than ever before. He was a pastor in Scotland, USA, Australia and England, but there is little doubt that his calling was to the "ready pen." He was well educated and spent a short time at Moody College, married a southern girl named Vera and had no children. His writings are unique in that they are to the point, no nonsense, Scriptural and written in a style easily understood. His monthly magazine "Studies in the Scriptures" is still available and his other writings are to be greatly desired. He died in Stornaway, in the Outer Hebrides, on July 15, 1952.