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Nowhere is this definition problem more evident than with the vocabulary Christians use to describe their church officials.  Much of our church vocabulary is unscriptural and terribly misleading.  Words such as clergyman, layman, reverend, minister, priest, bishop, ordained, and ministerial convey ideas contrary to what Jesus Christ and His apostles taught.  Such terminology misrepresents the true nature of apostolic Christianity and make it difficult, if not impossible, to recapture it.  As a result, most of our churches are in desperate need of language reform.  I hope that this book will challenge church leaders to more faithfully adhere to the true meaning of biblical terms and concepts.

Biblical Eldership, Alexander Strauch, page 34