Being a servant

I've been preparing some deacon training materials for my church. Part of that process is going through the passages in the New Testament that discuss, directly or indirectly, the office and ministry of the deacon. Whether you see the Seven as the first deacons as is common, or believe the diaconate arose sometime later, we have clear NT evidence that the office was an integral part of church life and ministry in the early days of the church.

The role of the deacon and its definition varies considerably throughout Christendom. Denominations take a variety of views as to the position and role of the deacon. In some it is essentially a first step in ordained ministry. In others, it is a position of decisive leadership. Still others see deacons as primarily servant-ministers. There isn't even agreement as to whether a deacon should be ordained or not. My own church (and many, if not most Southern Baptist churches) do ordain deacons, but I grew up in a Baptist tradition that did not. (For the record, I am an ordained Southern Baptist deacon as well as an ordained minister.)

As I prepared for the session this week, I came across an intriguing quote from a book I was using: "There are no duties in the Scriptures specifically and exclusive assigned to the deacon." (Naylor, The Baptist Deacon, p.61) The author examined what we know deacons did in the early church, and pointed out that all those duties are assigned to the church and Christians in general.

So why have deacons? As we look at the qualifications for a deacon in the New Testament, what impresses me most is that the chief concern is for character over function. Looking at the selection of the Seven in Acts, as well as 1 Timothy 3:8-13, we see a list that largely consists of elements of personal faith and integrity. What the Spirit called for, and the church sought, was men who were sensitive to His leading, mature in their faith, and of impeccable reputations.

So why have deacons? I believe the chief purpose of the deacon is to be an example of Christian service for the church. This in no way minimizes the ministries deacons do. In whatever way the church calls its deacons to serve, they need to carry out their ministry effectively for the glory of Christ. But the Biblical picture of a deacon is someone who truly lives out the Christian life, and has done so consistently and publicly for some time.

This is contrary to the way some churches choose deacons. I've been a member of churches that look at how successful a man is in his profession, or what skills he might bring to the position. Sadly, I've seen some men elected deacons who lacked the spiritual criteria that the Bible emphasizes. Those men failed to provide solid spiritual leadership, and a few even damaged the churches they were called to serve.

Maybe this should also be a broader lesson for Christians. While it is important to serve the Lord, it is more important to live for Him. Our service should follow our spiritual growth. As we become the people God created us to be, whether we serve in any particular office or not, we will become more effective in ministry, and I believe as we do that we'll see our churches become stronger and grow.