What is a deacon? Vine writes,
"primarily denotes a servant, whether doing servile work, or as an attendant
rendering free service, without a particular reference to its character."
Thayer writes, "one who executes the command of another, a servant, an
attendant, minister."
Of course, all of us are to be servants
of Christ, but deacons are distinguished from the rest of us (Phi. 1:1). Just as the
men selected to distribute food to widows allowed the apostles to give themselves to
prayer and the ministry of the word (Acts 6:1-7). The service that deacons provide
allows the elders to concentrate on shepherding the church. Reliable and responsible
deacons are of great benefit to the work and growth of the church. Without them the
church suffers and the work is hindered.
Like bishops, deacons must meet certain
qualifications:
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not
doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of
the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the
office of a deacon, being found blameless. Even so must their wives be grave, not
slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife,
ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a
deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is
in Christ Jesus.(I Tim. 3:8-13 KJV)
It is clear from these qualifications
that the role of deacon is important and not left to just any member of the
congregation. Now, God has not left it up to us to decide what kind of a man should
be deacon. God doesn't ask us to look at business expertise, level of education,
popularity or the amount of money one has. The important question is what kind of
man is he? God only wants one kind of man-a servant!
The church of Christ is a servant
church. The bottom line in all church work is ministry. Deacons epitomize
ministry. Deacons are critical. To err here is to doom the church.