The following selected verses are for reference to the topic under discussion.


1Co 12:1  Now, concerning what you wrote about the gifts from the Holy Spirit. I want you to know the truth about them, my friends.
1Co 12:2  You know that while you were still heathen, you were led astray in many ways to the worship of lifeless idols.
1Co 12:3  I want you to know that no one who is led by God's Spirit can say "A curse on Jesus!" and no one can confess "Jesus is Lord," without being guided by the Holy Spirit.
1Co 12:4  There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit gives them.
1Co 12:5  There are different ways of serving, but the same Lord is served.
1Co 12:6  There are different abilities to perform service, but the same God gives ability to all for their particular service.
1Co 12:7  The Spirit's presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.

1Co 12:24  which the more beautiful parts do not need. God himself has put the body together in such a way as to give greater honor to those parts that need it.

1Co 12:25  And so there is no division in the body, but all its different parts have the same concern for one another.

1Co 12:28  In the church God has put all in place: in the first place apostles, in the second place prophets, and in the third place teachers; then those who perform miracles, followed by those who are given the power to heal or to help others or to direct them or to speak in strange tongues.
1Co 12:29  They are not all apostles or prophets or teachers. Not everyone has the power to work miracles
1Co 12:30  or to heal diseases or to speak in strange tongues or to explain what is said.
1Co 12:31  Set your hearts, then, on the more important gifts. Best of all, however, is the following way.


1Co 13:8  Love is eternal. There are inspired messages, but they are temporary; there are gifts of speaking in strange tongues, but they will cease; there is knowledge, but it will pass.
1Co 13:9  For our gifts of knowledge and of inspired messages are only partial;
1Co 13:10  but when what is perfect comes, then what is partial will disappear.

1Co 13:13  Meanwhile these three remain: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.

As I look around this site I wonder why all the titles??
The early institutional church saw no need for nameing people or their roles but it seems my people have taken it to the extreme and I wonder why?

Does it add to anyone, or does the person welding the title feel "bigger".  The plethora of prophets and the female corollaries who do not seem to fit the biblical image.  Jesus never called himself a healer he simply prayed for  those in need that his Father would heal them, Jesus the man was not pretentious and self promoting.

I introduce myself to virtually everyone with only my name even when wearing my collar.  That in itself is identification enough.

I am asked are you a priest, preacher, pastor, minister, or what ever is comfortable to the questioner.  And I answer, yes. 
I used to explain what each title meant to my position now I just answer yes and do my best to show out for Jesus.

I will be interested to hear from persons who have assumed the non traditional titles as ways of identifying themselves as to why they did.

How do the titles improve what they do.

God talks to prophets to tell his people to do something or not do something at least that is the role of those in the bible.

God works through healers to pass on healing, to change the physical conditions of those who are touched, prayed for and so on.  These in the gospels are never chance occurrences, Jesus prayed the physical condition changed, right then, on the spot.  It never took a second visit and never for money.

I do not deny gifts of the spirit, I am a teacher, I teach, any thing.
It is a gift not a title, it is a suffix and not a prefix. 

What I have is to add to and draw the body together.
The body is so fractured, separated, and disjointed how do the titles that are worn draw us together?

And the greatest of these is love.


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Actually one of the first things I learned on my way to ordination was that I am no one to be revered.
Only God.

It is a title that came with the office. You don't like it don't use it, I don't care, my name is Gerald.
one who claims their "Roman Catholic invented" .....

Gee when you don;t know your history either.
I have explained Apostle, and Prophet elsewhere, pastor is not an office but a job. Do you have it.
It is you working for the people and it goes along with priest and preacher all in one package. But you knew that.

Study up!
Chaplaincy is a very specialized ministry where the minister serves not in a church nor "para-church" ministry, but in an institutional setting. The chaplain ministers not to a congregation, but to the public at-large. The people who make up this community may wear military uniforms, hospital gowns, hard hats, badges, and inmate orange-glow jumpsuits. Like the Apostle Paul, chaplains are generally "tent-makers": they usually have institutional administrative and staff jobs in addition to their ministries. But that is acceptable to chaplains, for serving in such "non-ministry" roles puts them in places where people – people with needs who ordinarily would never darken the doors of a church (much less talk to a minister) – come to talk and interact with the chaplain. The chaplain is there to listen, care, and respond appropriately to the agenda of the client. Such is the ministry of chaplaincy.

I received my certification from the Baptist General Convention of Texas Chaplaincy Department 10 years ago. I am also state certified as a volunteer chaplain with the Chaplaincy Department of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. I currently minister to the women who are incarcerated in the Dawson State Jail located in the Dallas metroplex.

Chaplaincy is not who I am but what I do in ministry.
Chaplaincy has been made into something that people can make money on by charging for classes and turning Gods people into secular psychiatrist.
Not knocking you my sister but when I saw what it took to do what I've been doing without the title of Chaplain all I could do was shake my head and say my Lord look what has been done to service in your name.

I saw chaplains when I was a Marine and they were like any other pastor I had ever known.
I have worked in hospitals for a long time and now I wonder why the ones I see do not smile, where is the joy of Jesus? Is it all the psycho babble training?

Someone has decided that God's word is not enough to soothe a sick mind, body, and soul?

May God continue to bless your service, and smile.
RevZ62,

Are there any schools of higher learning that offer classes for FREE; if so, please share.

I have taken psychology classes and I have found them to be quite different from the bible classes I have taken. However, psychology can be helpful in more ways than one if the minister uses this training as a tool to point the person towards Jesus.

For the record, I do not insist on being addressed by my "title." I used this title where I think it may be appropriate and acceptable. I am just fine with people calling me by my first name.
Sister Harris is doing a great job in being an example to the Flock.. Good Going Chaplain Harris.. Keep it up!!!
Thanks Bro. Hezekiah for your kind words of encouragement.

However, as you might agree, topics like this one isn't as fruitful or edifying as the topics that lead the lost to salvation and the saved to seek further into biblical truths while encouraging all to obey the commandments of God with love, honor and praises to Him while we continue this journey of life here on earth.
Actually, yes it does. All that you just mentioned go under the category of Evangelism. What this is doing goes under the category of Edification which a Teacher's category. Evangelism isn't our only focus, or even our MAIN focus. Evangelistic Ministry is big in the minds of men and even GOD, but it is but 20% of the Church's ministry mission.
Huh?????????
It is my understanding, according to scripture, that the primary mission of the Church is to spread the Gospel.

While topics like this may be helpful, knowing or not knowing the difference between a bishop, preacher, apostle, etc., is not a prerequisite for salvation nor does it pave the way to salvation. Jesus is the Way; not titles, positions, offices or the likes thereof.

If every believer would seriously and earnestly take advantage of every opportunity (opporunity always avails itself) to share the Gospel, imagine the impact this would have on our efforts to lead souls to salvation!
"If every believer would seriously and earnestly take advantage of every opportunity (opporunity always avails itself) to share the Gospel, imagine the impact this would have on our efforts to lead souls to salvation!"

The second best post I've seen on this site thus far!!!

All these titles do nothing but seperate people and cause seperatism, elitism and strife. SOME people feel just because they have a title that they can do as they please, say as they please and LIVE as they please. However, I know who I am in God- will having a title in front of my name change me or my ministry challenge? I would hope not because the main reason for us being on this earth is to show the love of God and give life to the saving and changing power blood of Jesus.
I doubt you'll get into heaven just because you have a title but on the contrary a title CAN send you to hell.
Matthew 23
1Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,

2Saying The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat:

3All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not.

4For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.

5But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments,

6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

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

10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.



the thing we have taken as titles ,are gifts of the spirit ,abilities given for the edifing of the boby of the church
jesus say "all ye are bruthas"(((this is why you alway see i refer each as brutha or sista))) as the lord said the geatest amonst you should be your"servant"

that is that humbleness that the lord requires of us to do his bizness without the need of notarity tthis is truth and very much the love of god ,there is office's of the body that make the body function,but thee use of the titles should not be abused

My personal thoughts on it is, "things understood ,need not be explained",saying if you are indeed a prophet of the lord you want have to tell them, they'll tell you

Luv/NoMalice2TheNcrease of Knowledge&Truth-BruthaPharoah
Jesus and Lord are proper nouns and are always capitalized in English.

""things understood ,need not be explained",saying if you are indeed a prophet of the lord you want have to tell them, they'll tell you"

I can agree with that thought. No where in Paul's writings do I see the gifts of God as offices of the then unformed "church" as an institution. Nor does it suggest they should be paid for. I have come across that also.
Not saying that you do.

If you read my reponses to other posting you will see some titles defined as they are used in the language of the bible not English.
The translation in way too many cases has different meaning than the original conversation.

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