To The Daily: I read with interest Billy Graham’s answer to an inquiry by a church member who was asked to become a church officer.

Graham’s answer was to forgo the invitation and to improve the spiritual life of the church member.

Nowhere did he explain to the church member the requirements for leadership. Neither did he explain that requirements for the office of elders are found in the letters to Titus and Timothy, or that the requirements for deacons are found in the same epistles.

Church officers are not born. They are made by first becoming a Christian and perfecting one’s spiritual life to meet the requirements laid down by Scripture. There are certainly some appointments in a church’s makeup, such as preachers, teachers, helpers. All are members of the Lord’s church, are saints and all are priests who are able to offer up worship to God.

The requirements for becoming a Christian are laid down specifically: believe, repent, confess Christ, be baptized and remain faithful.

William Treadway
Decatur