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.