From the Elder's Pen "Religious Titles" 11/11/01 Past/Future Articles

The Pharisees, a religious group in the days of Christ, loved to make a show of their religion by enlarging the borders of their garments, loved the chief place at the feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, and to be called Rabbi.  All the work they did was to be seen of men, for "they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God."  Any religious title that sets one person above another is condemned by Christ.  He says "Be not ye called Rabbi; for one is your teacher, and ye all are brethren.  And call no man your father on the earth; for one is your father, even he who is in heaven.  Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, even Christ (Matt. 23:8-10).

A person that earns a degree certainly has the right to wear these titles in the field in which he or she has earned them, but not in the church of our Lord as Christ does not authorize any religious degrees.  All Christians are "brothers" or "sisters" in Christ.  No one is above another.  We are "all one in Christ" (Gal. 3:28).  All the saved are in the church of our Lord, and are Christians and Christians only.