Is it important to use the titles "presbyter" and "deacon"?

Respond:

Although the titles "elder" and "deacon" are not required for church service, there are several good reasons why churches should use these biblical titles:

1. This demonstrates that Scripture is our authority, not human wisdom. Using biblical titles shows that we are following God’s direction, not deciding for ourselves what the leadership structure of the church should be. God has given the church a basic structure that we must strictly adhere to. To deviate from this structure or to decide that we do not need to call our leaders by the names given in Scripture is to say that we know better than God.
2. This helps the church know what to expect from leadership. When a church uses the terms «elder» and «deacon» as the Bible does, a church member can easily turn to Scripture and see their «job descriptions.» They can turn to Scripture and know exactly what to expect from their leaders.
3. This ensures that leaders meet biblical qualifications. The Bible does not provide qualifications for positions such as «overseers,» «board members,» «leadership teams,» or other human inventions. However, there are biblical qualifications for elders and deacons. Using biblical terms for these positions is essential to ensure that biblical standards of leadership are met. This is especially important for elders, who are to be able to teach the Word of God (1 Tim. 3:2). The church will benefit greatly if those who oversee the affairs of the church have a clear understanding of the Scriptures and are able to teach the Scriptures. In this way, the church will be continually and practically shaped by the Word of God, not by human wisdom.