In recent weeks, it has been made known that we are in the process of appointing new deacons at Augusta Road. To review some of the recent lessons on this subject, I want us to make the following observations about deacons, as is found in 1 Timothy 3:8-15.
Deacons are not to be double-tongued.
A deacon is not to be like the politician who says, “I have friends on both sides of that issue and I always stay loyal to my friends!” A deacon is not to be someone who says one thing, and then does another. He needs to be a straight shooter.
Deacons are not to be given to much wine.
“Here it is,” somebody says’ approval of drinking alcohol (social drinking, etc.). To the elders it says “no wine.” To the deacons it says “not much wine.” In view of this passage, J.D. Tant was once asked if it was alright to drink a little. He responded by saying that it is just as acceptable to drink a little as it is to “curse a little, lie a little, kill a little, commit a little adultery and steal a little!.”
In this passage, Paul is not advocating the drinking of alcoholic beverages with any degree of approval. The fact of the matter is that one who consumes alcoholic beverages, in any amounts, loses all of their good influencing powers. Even the world will not put holiness and alcohol together.
Deacons are not to be greedy of filthy lucre.
Deacons must be honest and honorable. They must be of sterling reputation. The seven special servants of Acts 6 were to be of “honest report.”
Deacons are to be grave.
The work of the deacon must not be approached flippantly or light heartedly. Deacons are to be men of dignity, honorability, and respectability. The deacons’ work is serious business, and must be treated as such.
Deacons are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
The faith here is a reference to the gospel. So, a deacon must know, obey, and defend the gospel—the faith. I once read this, “When preachers preach and practice the Word, when elders hold fast the faithful Word as they have been taught and when deacons hold the mystery of the faith in a good conscience, congregation are in good hands with its preachers, elders and deacons.”
Deacons must be proved.
A man who is proved is one who has been tested, examined, or approved. So, men who are lukewarm should not be appointed as a deacon in hopes that they will be more diligent. “Men who are unfaithful toward the worship periods should not be made deacons with the hope they will become more regular in attendance. Men who are careless in their dress, speech and decorum are not potential deacons.”
Deacons must be blameless.
Blameless does not mean sinless. Deacons must be upright and of good behavior—willing to make wrongs right. One who daily falls to his knees in prayer for strength, wisdom, and at times, forgiveness.
Deacons must be the husband of one wife.
He must be the aner (man) of one gune (woman). He can’t be a she. He can’t be a bachelor. He can’t be a polygamist. He can’t be a man living in adultery. He can’t be a man whose home is in shambles. His wife must be a devout Christian. She must love his work. She must love the church and the Lord. She can only enhance his work if such is the case.
Deacons must rule their children and their own houses well.
Question, does “children” have to mean more than one? The terms “children” and “child” are often used interchangeably in Scripture (i.e. Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1). Another question, must the children be Christians or old enough to be Christians? The text does not say, as it does with elders (Tit. 1:6). So, a man could serve as a deacon while his children are not yet Christians. However, those children ought to be old enough to be obedient and respectful to their parents. How else are we to understand the phrase, “ruling their own houses well?”
In connection with this, The wife must be one who is submissive and obedient to her Lord and husband (Eph. 5:22ff.). A wife not dedicated to Christ's cause and her husbands work can disqualify a man from being a deacon.
Deacons are not to be double-tongued.
A deacon is not to be like the politician who says, “I have friends on both sides of that issue and I always stay loyal to my friends!” A deacon is not to be someone who says one thing, and then does another. He needs to be a straight shooter.
Deacons are not to be given to much wine.
“Here it is,” somebody says’ approval of drinking alcohol (social drinking, etc.). To the elders it says “no wine.” To the deacons it says “not much wine.” In view of this passage, J.D. Tant was once asked if it was alright to drink a little. He responded by saying that it is just as acceptable to drink a little as it is to “curse a little, lie a little, kill a little, commit a little adultery and steal a little!.”
In this passage, Paul is not advocating the drinking of alcoholic beverages with any degree of approval. The fact of the matter is that one who consumes alcoholic beverages, in any amounts, loses all of their good influencing powers. Even the world will not put holiness and alcohol together.
Deacons are not to be greedy of filthy lucre.
Deacons must be honest and honorable. They must be of sterling reputation. The seven special servants of Acts 6 were to be of “honest report.”
Deacons are to be grave.
The work of the deacon must not be approached flippantly or light heartedly. Deacons are to be men of dignity, honorability, and respectability. The deacons’ work is serious business, and must be treated as such.
Deacons are to hold the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.
The faith here is a reference to the gospel. So, a deacon must know, obey, and defend the gospel—the faith. I once read this, “When preachers preach and practice the Word, when elders hold fast the faithful Word as they have been taught and when deacons hold the mystery of the faith in a good conscience, congregation are in good hands with its preachers, elders and deacons.”
Deacons must be proved.
A man who is proved is one who has been tested, examined, or approved. So, men who are lukewarm should not be appointed as a deacon in hopes that they will be more diligent. “Men who are unfaithful toward the worship periods should not be made deacons with the hope they will become more regular in attendance. Men who are careless in their dress, speech and decorum are not potential deacons.”
Deacons must be blameless.
Blameless does not mean sinless. Deacons must be upright and of good behavior—willing to make wrongs right. One who daily falls to his knees in prayer for strength, wisdom, and at times, forgiveness.
Deacons must be the husband of one wife.
He must be the aner (man) of one gune (woman). He can’t be a she. He can’t be a bachelor. He can’t be a polygamist. He can’t be a man living in adultery. He can’t be a man whose home is in shambles. His wife must be a devout Christian. She must love his work. She must love the church and the Lord. She can only enhance his work if such is the case.
Deacons must rule their children and their own houses well.
Question, does “children” have to mean more than one? The terms “children” and “child” are often used interchangeably in Scripture (i.e. Prov. 22:6; Eph. 6:1). Another question, must the children be Christians or old enough to be Christians? The text does not say, as it does with elders (Tit. 1:6). So, a man could serve as a deacon while his children are not yet Christians. However, those children ought to be old enough to be obedient and respectful to their parents. How else are we to understand the phrase, “ruling their own houses well?”
In connection with this, The wife must be one who is submissive and obedient to her Lord and husband (Eph. 5:22ff.). A wife not dedicated to Christ's cause and her husbands work can disqualify a man from being a deacon.