Holy And Reverend Is His Name
The psalmist was inspired to write, "He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name." Psa. 11:9.
God is called holy and reverend because of his great power by which he sent redemption to his people and enjoined upon them the keeping of his covenant. Self possessed holiness and reverence are, then, attributes which belong to God and not to man. Hence, God's name is holy and reverend because he is God.
Yet, in disregard of this fact, and in arrogant self exaltation against God, men dare to wear the title "reverend." If men can assume the title of "reverend," which title the Bible ascribes only to God, why can they not also wear the name "God" itself? Both of these names apply only to deity; for men to assume either is sheer blasphemy!
Against those who, in a spiritual sense, exalt themselves above others by the assumption of religious titles Jesus said, "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." Matt 23:8-9. It is indeed pathetic to see men, who in relationship to God, are spiritual, moral, and mental pygmies, exalt themselves against his glory by the wearing of his name. Such men "measure themselves by themselves" and, therefore, think of themselves more highly than they ought to think. It is equally pathetic to see the masses who are either too gullible or too lazy to study the Bible for themselves duped into honoring such religious shirts as though they were deity. Remember, man is just man, but God is God — and "holy and reverend is his name."