Let me add another question to this, “When was the last time that you heard or were taught anything with any depth concerning the office and work of the deacon?” I ask this for a few reasons, first, because I was ordained and served as a deacon, before I was ordained as an elder. And second, because I believe it is important for us who live in God’s Kingdom Church to understand the function of the office of a deacon. And on top of these reasons, can be added this question, can there be any doubt that it ought to be included in the preaching of the whole counsel of God? And third, because we in the little church at Dixie of which I serve as pastor have been considering weather or not we need another deacon, and who that person might be.

We are admonished by Holy Scripture in 1 Tim 5:22, to “Lay hands suddenly on no man.” And with good reason…how many troubles have come into the churches as a result of not following after this very critical passage? I mean that there is a reason for every word that has been written by the inspired men of old; “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is important because it is written for, and to the “man of God” so that he “may be perfect,” and “thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” We need to know the answer to such questions as, “Who is “qualified” to be a deacon? Is he to be a married or a single man? How many deacons are needed, and how long will they serve? Who does the choosing? What are the wages of the deacon? What is the difference in the ordination of an elder and a deacon? These questions and more are thoughts that I would like to take out some time to prayerfully consider.

As far as I can see the only reason that anyone would even consider the thought that deacons may be obsolete today is because they simply don’t understand the scriptures. And the reason is that for most people the office of deacon simply has not been clearly defined and is often little understood by some that are in the church, and this is often true in speaking of other pastors and deacons that are already serving in their offices. The result of this being uninformed is often a place that sometimes serves to cause tension between a pastor and the deacons within the church. Sometimes there may even be open warfare between the two because the pastor and deacons simply CANNOT or WILL NOT work together or they simply don’t understand how God has designed these two offices to work together. And sadly these types of problems only serve to cripple the body of the church. And there have even been instances where deacons have…for whatever reason…taken for themselves an authority, which can frankly only be viewed as being contrary to the scriptures, and is always detrimental to the Old Line Baptist Church of Christ. For example, there have been cases where a deacon became the “boss” of the church, and have become “lords” in their office over God’s people, and these end up literally holding the membership under a heavy hand, and also that we; because of our own false understanding, believe that a deacon are somehow to be the “directors” of the church.

Beloved this is simply not the case at all, and it ought never to happen in any church. And anywhere that we find this sort of thing happening in the churches there are going to be those who will come to the false conclusion that maybe deacons are not needed anymore! And under these circumstances can’t we truthfully say that we would understand it…well, wouldn’t we? Yes, we most certainly would understand, but the real truth is that the church doesn’t really need that type of deacon, elder or any member for that member that would bring about such disharmony and disorder to the church congregation!  Yes, beloved we most certainly do need deacons today. But we the true Church of the Living God need them to go about it in way and manner that is prescribed to us by His word…the Bible; And we thus must rely only on “thus saith the Lord.” We must hold to the “old paths” and the “good ways” if we are to be in harmony with God’s word. Yes, dear child of God deacons are needed as much today as they were needed in the first Old Baptist Church in Jerusalem over two thousand years ago. But we today, more than ever need to have the right and proper understanding of the use and function of the office of deacon.

With that all being said, lets move on to our first consideration. Are deacons obsolete? Do we need deacons today in this modern world? And the answer to the first question is NO…they are not obsolete; and to the second, YES…we most certainly do need deacons today! They are needed today just as much as they were way back then because they are a vital part of the New Testament pattern that has been set down to us from God the Holy Ghost. Just like God said to Moses when the children of Israel were going about to build the tabernacle; in Exodus 25:40, “And look that thou make them after their pattern, which was showed thee in the mount.” And it’s this pattern that sets the Old Line Primitive Baptist apart from other worldly religious orders of people. It’s the plain teachings of Holy Scripture that is enough for us to determine the doctrines and practices of the Old Line Churches, adding nothing to it…and taking nothing away from it. There can be no other reason for any other belief or practice then simply that the Word of God has established the pattern that we must follow; and deacons are a part of the pattern.

And the first place that we will need to go in our efforts to understand and properly use the office of deacon is to God the Holy Ghost, the first person of the Godhead, and ask Him to lead and to guide our thoughts and to aid us in a proper understanding of the office. Then only after doing so will turn and go the scriptures.

Now in the sixth chapter of the book of Acts of the Apostles we learn that it is not always the storms of persecution from those outside of the church that damage the church, but it is the storms from within the church which do the real damage. In Acts 8:1, 4 we find that “…at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem…’ and ‘Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.”

And thus we see that it was one of these storms that occurred within the church that came before the first Church at Jerusalem in Acts chapter six. It seems that the “widows were neglected in the daily ministration.” And the solution was that the apostles, who were being led by the Holy Ghost, called together “the multitude of the disciples unto them and said, It is not reasonable that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out from among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business” (Acts 6:1-4). And the church chose out the first seven men to fill the office of deacon in the church. We will pause here and the next time we will try to consider the “function of the deacon” and whether or not we are seeking those who are “qualified” or whether we are seeking certain “qualities.” May God bless you and keep you is my prayer.

“Deacons – Qualification or Quality?”

In our last article we tried to take out a little time to consider the office of deacon, and we asked the question “are deacons really needed today?” And we understood that the God the Holy Ghost gave the office to the church so that she might be completely furnished, lacking nothing; especially that which man might attempt to add as his so-called improvements to the church.

And so now moving on I think that it would be a good idea now to take out a little time to consider the thought of whether or not 1 Timothy chapter three is what most folks tend are the “qualifications” of a bishop or pastor and a deacon.

And just before we go there I would like to point out that none of the offices were considered to be a temporary office, limited to just one church, such as in this case; at Jerusalem. We know this to be true because we read in Philippians chapter one verse one where the Apostle Paul writes, “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints which are at Philippi, with BISHOPS and DEACONS.” Notice the phrase “BISHOPS and DEACONS is used here, and this is some thirty years after the choosing if the first seven men as deacons in Jerusalem. There can be no doubt at all that the office of deacon started at the first church and was blessed by the Holy Ghost to be in other churches as well? And as it was then so it is today.

Beloved the work of the deacon is vital to the health and well being of the church! And since the work of the deacon is so vital, we must look to the scriptures to know what type of man would be suitable to fill this vital office. It’s imperative that we prayerfully and carefully study the word of God; the Bible so that we might fully understand this critical process. And beloved, as we undertake this goal we must move forward with much caution. For I believe that these scriptural “qualifications” are not so much “qualifications” as they are “qualities.”

And would you agree with me when I say that not every person who is to be considered for the office of deacon will be perfectly “suited” or “qualified” to fill the office? Yes, maybe a few may be, but in the real world it is certain that perhaps not any at all will perfectly suited these spiritual concerns.

For example, lets take out some time to consider 1 Tim 3:12, where we read, “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well.” Does this passage mean that ALL deacons must be married? If that is the case then there ought to never be any single male deacons. And we must not lose sight of the fact that 1 Tim. 3:2 plainly tells us that a “bishop” or “pastor” and “elder” must also be “then must be blameless, the husband of one wife.” Are we here also to conclude that all elders who are called to the office of pastor…MUST BE MARRIED as well? Are all “elders” and “pastors” married? The real truth is that the answer is no that this is not always the case.

And again these same passages also say that a deacon must be “grave” (1 Tim. 3:8), but beloved does that then mean that every male member who is “grave” automatically become qualified to be a deacon? And you would agree with me and say no, of course not. And I believe that this would be a proper understanding of these passages. But it is also proper to say that each and every man who is to be considered for the office of deacon MUST be “grave,” just as the scriptures describe to us. And so the conclusion must surely be that no deacon has all of the scriptural qualities brought to perfection; these are “qualities” more than they are “qualifications.” These spiritual “qualities” must be found in any one who will be considered for the office, even before it is decided what the work of the deacon will be are discussed. To neglect or cut corners here would bring disaster, shame and much trouble to the church of God and the Lord’s people.

But who is the right person? Who is worthy of this office? If any man who is in the right spirit reads the third chapter of First Timothy as “qualifications” he will no doubt say to himself, “I feel to be so unworthy, I know that I am not able to be all of these things.” And what elder for that matter who reads and considers these passages would not come away with feelings of shame, unworthiness, and inadequacy? I know that I myself most certainly feel that way!

And dear child of God it would be foolish on our part to expect that we will find a perfect man to fill the office of deacon. After all, all of us who are born of the Spirit of God, have two district natures while we live in this would; the inner or spiritual man or and the outward nature of the flesh. Therefore the only complete and real perfection that we will ever have will be found when we are on the other side of in heaven. So until that day we must rely on God’s grace to help us in every capacity, to lead and direct us in the world, and especially in matters of the Kingdom Church.

And I would like to say to those who would are being considered for the office of deacon and feel that their shortcomings are only a hindrance to the service of Christ and His people; I would not decline the office “because you are not good enough.” The truth is that none of us are really good enough but I can tell you that if you are waiting until you are better, that day will never come, and I can assure you that you will never get any better by declining the work and service to Jesus Christ and His Kingdom Church. And I also want to assure you that if you have these “qualities” within yourself that are there only by and through the Spirit that God will most certainly give you sufficient grace to grow and to serve Him in the way and manner that He will be pleased to bless in.

Well we’ll pause here until next time, and then we’ll try to look at the “Wages of a Deacon.” God bless us all to live according to the leading of the Spirit.

Elder Thomas McDonald