Doctor Or Brother? By A. W. Pink

"Doctor" or "Brother"?
A. W. Pink     What strange methods God sometimes employs in teaching His children much needed lessons. This has recently been the writer's experience. He has been approached by a "University" to accept from them a degree of "D. D." Asking for time to be given so that he might prayerfully seek from God, through His written Word, a knowledge of His will, fuller light came than was expected. He had very serious doubts as to the permissibility of one of God's servants accepting a title of (fleshly) honour. He now perceives that it is wrong for him to receive it even complimentary. Various friends, as a mark of respect, have addressed us as "Dr. Pink." We now ask them to please cease from doing so. Let it not be understood that we hereby condemn other men for what they allow. No, to their own Master they stand or fall. The principal passages which have helped us we 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 man" (Job 32:21 ).
    Second, "Be not ye called Rabbi" or "Teacher" ( Matthew 23:8 ), which is what "Doctor" signifies.
    Third, John 5:44 reproves those who "receive honour one of another," and bids us seek "the honour 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" ( Philippians 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 Apostacy is "having men's persons in admiration because of advantage" ( Jude 16 ).
    Eighth, we are bidden to go forth unto Christ outside the camp "bearing His reproach" ( Hebrews 13:13 ).
For these reasons it does not seem to us to be fitting that one who is here as a representative and witness for a "despised and rejected" Christ should be honoured and flattered of men.
    Please address us as "Brother Pink." Studies in the Scriptures
April - 1930