Mat 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

We see these titles around us: Daddy GO, Daddy Mission, Papa Ayo, even the catholic religion thrives on the title 'Father' culminating in the Pope (papal/pontiff).

Is Mat. 23:9 that hard to understand? IS it not clear and direct enough? Except if we want to twist it to justify our antichristian habits?

'The word "father" also denotes "authority, eminence, superiority, a right to command, and a claim to particular respect." In this sense it is used here. In this sense it belongs eminently to God, and it is not right to give it to people. Christian brethren are equal. Only God has supreme authority. He only has a right to give laws; to declare doctrines that shall bind the conscience; to punish disobedience.' (Barnes Note on the Bible)

Sure, there are biological fathers and spiritual fathers but what we have around us nowadays, if we are to be honest, is a system whereby "such names and titles, as are used to signify an authoritative power over men's consciences, in matters of faith and obedience; in which, God and Christ are only to be attended to."

That is disobedience to the Word of God.

As we 'church workers' are full of extremes bordering on idolatry when matters concern our pastors (pastolary?), "let us see to it that we retain the full spirit of this warning against that itch for ecclesiastical superiority which has been the bane and the scandal of Christ's ministers in every age" (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary) otherwise we will have no one to blame but ourselves.