HoHum:
The little church suddenly stopped buying from its regular office supply dealer. So, the dealer telephoned Deacon Brown to ask why. "I'll tell you why," shouted Deacon Brown. "Our church ordered some pencils from you to be used in the pews." "Well, interrupted the dealer, "didn't you receive them yet?" "Oh, we received them all right," replied Deacon Brown. "However, you sent us some golf pencils...each stamped with the words, `Play Golf Next Sunday.'"
WBTU:
All the apostles insist that those who serve the church in an official, servant capacity must meet certain moral and spiritual requirements, from Acts 6 and 1 Timothy 3. Whenever someone is placed in a position of trust and takes on leadership responsibility in the church, the issue of proven moral character should be of utmost imporance. For example, how could the 7 in Acts 6 handle the church’s funds and minister to its most vulnerable, needy people if they were not known to be godly, reliable men who possessed unimpeachaable character?
“Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands...” 1 Timothy 5:22, NIV. Some churches are so desperate for help that newcomers become Sunday school teachers or deacons within weeks, without church leaders having any real knowledge of the newcomers’ spiritual or moral condition. Placed too hastily in official positions of trust, unknown and unexamined people have created irreparable damage to many churches.
Read 1 Timothy 3:8, 9, NIV.
First 5 character qualifications that Paul lists. We can summarize these qualifications by saying that deacons must be men of integrity and self control who live consistent Christian lives in full view of their fellow Christians. Using the language of Acts 6 to describe the 7, we can say that deacons must be “full of the Spirit and wisdom (ACts 6:3).” This means they had to be controlled by the Holy Spirit- not by money, wine or an uncontrolled tongue. Their lives had to display the works of the Holy Spirit. Tragically, too many men who are doing the Lord’s work are “full of self”, not “full of the Spirit.” Thus their concerns are with their own comfort, reputations, ideas, and advancement.
These qualities do not apply to me because I am not a deacon. In reality these character sketches describing elders and deacons are things that all Christians should desire to have more of in their lives. These are all descriptions that should describe maturing Christians.
Thesis: Let us now examine each of these 5 qualifications
For instances:
Men worthy of respect
The words respectable and honorable also help to convey the meaning. Must be a man who is known and respected by the congregation.
Paul’s qualification, “worthy of respect”, corresponds with the apostles’ qualification in Acts 6:3, “of good reputation (NASB).” “Of good reputation” means that the 7 had to be men who were known and well spoken of because of their good character and skills. Furthermore, the qualification, “worthy of respect,” includes the Acts 6 qualification, “full of wisdom.” Men who are wise are men who are “worthty of respect.” A person cannot be a deacon if he isn’t wise. The wisdom referred to in Acts 6 means good judgment in both spiritual and practical matters. It takes a great deal of discernment to deal with people and spiritual matters.
Sincere
A servant must be sincere and trustworthy. Sincerity is most evident through speech. not double-tongued in NASB.
My father drummed an old saying into my head: A man is no better than his word. Nothing destroys Christian community like deceit. “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbour, for we are all members of one body.” Ephesians 4:25, NIV.
What exactly is meant by double tongued? Saying one thing to one man and a different thing to another man. Give them what their itching ears want to hear. “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ‘No’, ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37
not indulging in much wine
Those who get drunk have many woes. “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to run after their drinks, who stay up late at night till they are inflamed with wine.” Isaiah 5:11, NIV.
“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18, NIV.
A person in a position of trust over other people can’t have a drinking problem. Scripture specifically warns leaders about the dangers of alcohol. ““It is not for kings, O Lemuel--not for kings to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.” Proverbs 31:4, 5, NIV.
Drunkenness has ruined countless lives. The misery and heartbreak that alcoholism has caused multitudes of families is beyond imagination. It reduces life expectancy, breaks up families, and destroys people financially. No one who who has worked with the families of alcoholism can joke about its destructive power.
We must not be naive or silent about alcoholism among church leaders. Elders and deacons are models to the church and how would it be if they came in drunk to the communion table. If a deacon has a drinking problem, he will lead people astray and bring reproach upon the church. It will interfere with spiritual growth and service, and it could lead to more degrading sins. A man who seeks to demonstrate the love of Christ to others must control this area of his life. Best not to drink in this culture. What would we think if I drank alcohol.
Now a man has not committed the unpardonable sin if he drinks alcohol, but this prohibition against the abuse of wine or any other substance needs to be heeded. Think of the number of poiticians, business people, and church leaders who have been caught in double talk, drinking to excess, or stealing funds. These are not men under control. Not qualified to be deacons.
not pursuing dishonest gain
Paul certainly had false teachers in mind when he gave this qualification. It’s natural to wonder if he had Judas in mind, for Judas best illustrates what “fond of sordid gain” means. We find that after Mary poured her expensive perfume on the Lord in worship, we find Judas saying: ““Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.” John 12:5, 6
Throughout the Bible, there are examples of and warnings against people who use their office to achieve financial gain at the expense of others. Our Lord confronted this serious problem while on earth. He accused the scribes and Pharisees of “devouring widows houses” Luke 20:47 and charged that they were “full of greed” Luke 11:39. Twice Jesus had to clean out the temple of God.
Exposing the motives of the leaders, Luke declares that they “loved money”. In direct contrast, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”” Hebrews 13:5
Now to be fair most people do not steal church money. But deacons have a hand in the church money and where money is there are problems. Some people seek out positions that provide access to money, because money is power. Many use power tactics to direct church funds to various ministries both inside and outside the church. This is done not so much because they have a burning desire for these causes but because it gives them a feeling of power and prestige, a power and sway over people.
We must carefully examine a man’s financial integrity before he is chosen to be a deacon. A person who has a problem with greed, stealing, or making bad financial dealings isn’t a good candidate for being a deacon. Our goal is for all elders and deacons to be able to say like Samuel of old: “Here I stand. Testify against me in the presence of the LORD and his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Whose donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe to make me shut my eyes? If I have done any of these, I will make it right.”” 1 Samuel 12:3, NIV.
They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with clear conscience Vs. 9
A man’s life and doctrine must match.
A Christian can’t hold to the faith with a pure conscience and live in sexual immorality, pilfer money, hate a brother, divorce a Christian spouse, or mix falsehood with the gospel. The NT never allows people to separate their life from their doctrine. Whenever we knowlingly act in a way that is contrary to God’s Word and do not seek His forgiveness, help and healing, we defile our conscience. Every time we violate our conscience, we weaken its convicting power and make sin and hypocrisy easier to commit. A Christian who lives an inconsistent, hypocritical life cannot be a true deacon and an effective Christian for that matter.
Because the conscience both judges and guides a believer, we are not to go against it. For Christians, conscience, faith, and the HS are all interrrelated- Romans 14.
A Christian can bring disgrace on God’s wonderful revelation by sinful, hypocritical behavior. Or, a Christian can make the message of Christianity attractive to unbelievers by demonstrating behavior that fits the truths of the faith. “so that in every way they will make the teaching about God our Saviour attractive.” Titus 2:10, NIV. A deacons must hold steadfastly to the Christian faith and live consistently with its beliefs.
