The Deacons
In our study of bishops, we learned that their function is the spiritual
care and oversight of the house of God. We noted that bishops are also called
elders, and that there are several bishops in one church, rather than one
bishop over several churches.
We come next to the study of deacons, who they are and what their
functions are.
1. What Are Deacons?
The word “deacon” simply means a servant - a man who pursues some
ministry or service. Frequently in the New Testament it is used in this very
general sense. For instance, a duly appointed civil official who rules in
public affairs is called a deacon of God (Romans 13:4). Phebe is spoken of as a
deaconess of the church of Cenchrea (Romans 16:1). Christ Himself is described as
a deacon of the circumcision for the truth of God (Romans 15:8). The name has
come to be applied to the seven men who were chosen in Acts 6:1-7, to take care
of the disbursing of funds. The English word “deacon” is not found in that
passage, and the word cannot be restricted to duties attending the
administration of funds. It applies to any form of service, as is implied in
the word “serve’’ (diakonein) in verse 2.
2. Their Qualifications
Although the exact duties of deacons are nowhere specified, yet their
qualifications are given with great explicitness in 1 Timothy 3. Beginning with
verse 8, we read: “Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongued, 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”.
The first requirement is gravity. A man who is lightheaded and frivolous
will not be likely to gain the confidence of those whom he serves. Then the
deacon must not be double-tongued. That is, he must be consistent. He must not
give one account to certain individuals and a different version to others.
Honesty and straightforwardness are mandatory. Especially if his service
involves handling funds, he should use such methods as will avoid the slightest
possibility of suspicion or distrust. He must not be given to much wine. No one
can place confidence in an intemperate person. Experience teaches that
intemperance and excess are the enemies of accuracy and dependability. They
ruin a man’s testimony for God and unfit him for divine service. Also, he must
not be greedy of filthy lucre. (Many of these requirements are identical with those
of a bishop.) An avaricious spirit is a snare. If a man’s heart is set on
accumulating wealth, he can become so obsessed with this passion that every
other activity in his life is made subservient to it. The Kingdom of God and
His righteousness no longer hold first place in his life, and work for God is
shoddy and unacceptable. The deacon must hold the mystery of the faith in a
pure conscience. This is important. It is not enough for him to know the truth.
He must practice the truth with a conscience void of offense toward God.
Hymenaeus and Alexander both knew the Word of God, but they trifled with sin -
that is, with evil doctrine (2 Timothy 2:17). They drowned out the voice of
conscience and made shipwreck of the faith (1 Timothy 1:19, 20). There is no
substitute for a tender conscience, one which is prompt to discern that which
is displeasing to God, and to take sides with the Lord against it. Next we
read, “Let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a
deacon, being found blameless”. This is a divine principle of considerable
importance. “Let these also first be proved”. In another passage, we read, “Lay
hands suddenly on no man” (1 Timothy 5:22). It is a needed admonition for all
of us. We are all prone to be impressed with a person the first time we meet
him. We immediately want to advance him to a position of responsibility. Then
after a time, we realize that it was a rash act. “All that glitters is not gold”.
We judged him on too short a notice. The next qualification of deacons seems
rather to deal with their wives. It reads, in the King James Version, “Even so
must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things”.
However, we feel that J. N. Darby’s translation is more to the point. It reads,
“The women in like manner grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things”.
The point is that the women referred to are not the wives of deacons, but
rather those who are themselves deaconesses. Phebe was a deaconess (servant)
(Romans 16:1). It would be difficult to understand why there should be special
requirements for wives of deacons, when no such requirements are found for
wives of bishops. However, there is no difficulty if it be understood that the
verse applies to women who are serving the local church. As in the case of
elders, we learn that a deacon must be the husband of one wife, ruling his own
children and his own house well. We have already been reminded that if a man
does not command respect and authority in his own home, it is hardly possible
that he can do so in the church.
3. Their Rewards
Now the reward of the deacon is twofold. If a man serves well as a
deacon, he purchases to himself a good degree. He gains for himself a good
standing among his fellow saints and a good prospect of reward at the judgment
seat of Christ. Secondly, he purchases to himself great boldness in the faith
which is in Christ Jesus. True, the world looks upon such a goal as of little
value. It is too mystical, intangible, vague. But to the child of God, it is
more valuable than gold or precious stones.
With regard to the support of deacons, the same thing applies as in the
case of bishops. There are some who engage in secular work, and who, therefore,
provide for their own needs. Others devote themselves wholly to the work of the
Lord and for all such the principle is: “They which preach the Gospel should
live of the Gospel” (1 Corinthians 9:14), “Let him that is taught in the word
communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things” (Galatians 6:6).
4. Conclusion
Now in closing our study on deacons, we should like to refer once again
to Philippians 1:1. There we find three types of people mentioned as being in
the church of God - saints, bishops and deacons. It is noteworthy that those
are the only classes named. Saints first, then bishops, then deacons. The
absence of another class known as the clergy is noteworthy, as has been pointed
out by Barnes in his Commentary on the New Testament: “There are not ‘three
orders’ of clergy in the New Testament. The apostle Paul in this chapter (1
Timothy 3) expressly designates the characteristics of those who should have
charge of the church, but mentions only two, ‘bishops, and ‘deacons’ -there is
no ‘third’ order. There is no allusion to anyone who was to be ‘superior’ to
the ‘bishops’ and ‘deacons.’ As the apostle Paul was expressly given
instructions in regard to the organization of the church, such an omission is
unaccountable if he supposed there was to be an order of ‘prelates’ in the
church. Why is there no allusion to them? Why is there no mention of their
qualifications? If Timothy was himself a prelate, was he to have nothing to do
in transmitting the office to others? Were there no peculiar qualifications
required in such an order of men which it would be proper to mention? Would it
not be respectful, at least, in Paul to have made some allusion to such an
office, if Timothy himself held it?”
The answer is, of course, that if the organization of the New Testament
church contained any other order than bishops and deacons, then Paul would have
mentioned it. The vast ecclesiastical systems of our day have been added by
men, with no warrant whatever from the Word of God.
The Church’s Finances
Throughout the New Testament, it is both stated and implied that the
church receives its finances from those who are within. There is no hint of any
unsaved persons outside the church contributing to its support. Christian
giving is an act of worship and is thus limited to those who have been redeemed
by the precious blood of Christ. Neither is there any hint of a local church
being regularly financed, subsidized, or supported by any other church, group
of churches, or council. There were special adverse circumstances, such as the
Judean famine (Acts 11:29) occasioning practical financial fellowship being
shown by some churches to fellow-believers. Every local church should be
self-supporting. The major teachings of the New Testament with regard to this
important subject of the church’s finances may readily be outlined.
1. Who Owns What?
All that a Christian has belongs to God. The believer is to act as a
steward, using all he has in the best possible way for his Master’s glory. (See
Luke 16:1-12.) F. B. Meyer stated the truth as follows: “We are meant to be
stewards; not storing up our Lord’s money for ourselves, but administering for
Him all that we do not need for the maintenance of ourselves and our dear ones,
in the position of life in which God has placed us. And our only worldly aim
should be to lay out our Lord’s money to the very best advantage; so that we
may render Him an account with joy, when He comes to reckon with us”.
2. When and Where to Give
The Christian is instructed to give to the work of the Lord. When is he
to give? “Upon the first day of the week, let every one of you lay by him in
store” (1 Corinthians 16:2). How much is he to give? He is to give “as God has
prospered him” (1 Corinthians 16:2) and as Christ gave. He was rich, but became
poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). He is our example. We should give
out of our want, not out of our abundance (Mark 12:44). In short, the Christian
should give liberally. The tithe (one tenth) was the minimum given by an
Israelite. He brought tithes and offerings. No Christian should be content to
give, under grace, what was the minimum requirement under law.
3. How to Give
In what spirit is he to give? He should first give himself to the Lord
(2 Corinthians 8:5), thus acknowledging that all belongs to Him. Giving must be
done in love (1 Corinthians 13:3), else it is valueless. It should be done in
secret (Matthew 6:1-4) - so secret that the left hand does not know what the
right hand is doing, to use a figure of speech. It should be done cheerfully,
not grudgingly (2 Corinthians 9:7). We find that the early Christians sold
their possessions and shared their wealth with one another (Acts 2:44, 45;
4:31-37). This was an outward expression of their true spiritual fellowship.
Such action is nowhere commanded in the New Testament. In fact, the
instructions of Scripture concerning Christian giving presuppose private
ownership of property. The action by the early church was purely voluntary.
While it is not to be confused with monasticism or with the “communism” of
today, the implication is clear. When believers are controlled by the Holy
Spirit, they will be generous in giving to every genuine case of need as He may
direct.
4. The Reward
What are the rewards for giving? When we are faithful in the unrighteous
mammon (in the use of our money), God will commit true riches (spiritual
treasures) to our trust (Luke 16:11). Fruit abounds to the account of the giver
(Philippians 4:17). He will have treasures in Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21), because
his gifts are “an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well-pleasing
to God” (Philippians 4:18).
5. The Assembly Treasurer
Those who handle the funds of the church should use business methods
that are above reproach. “Provide for honest things, not only in the sight of
the Lord, but also in the sight of men” (2 Corinthians 8:21). At least two men
should be appointed to take charge of the offering. In Acts 6:1-6 we read that
seven men were appointed to handle the distribution of funds to widows in the
assembly. The Epistles contain no definite instructions as to exactly how many
men should handle the money, but it is clear from 1 Corinthians 16:3, 4 and 2
Corinthians 8:18, 19 that it was customary to entrust this responsibility to
more than one. In the former passage, Paul states that he would send those whom
the Corinthians approved with the offering to Jerusalem, and, if necessary, he
would go, too. Note the plurals - “them’’ (verse 3); “they” (verse 4). In the
latter reference, Paul explains that another brother was chosen to travel with
him in distributing the gift from the church.
6. The Giving of the Local Church
The New Testament reveals three principal purposes for which the funds
of the church are expended. These are for widows in the assembly, for poor
saints and for those who devote their time to preaching and teaching the Word.
For widows in the assembly (Acts 6:1-6). In order to qualify as a “widow
indeed” (1 Timothy 5:3-16), a woman had to meet the following requirements. (1)
She had to be desolate; that is, without any relatives who could support her,
and utterly cast upon the Lord for her needs (vv. 4,5,16). (2) She had to be at
least sixty years old. (3) She had to be known for her good works, her noble
motherhood, her hospitality, and her charity (see v. 10). For the poor saints.
God has exhorted us many times in His Word to remember the poor (e.g.,
Galatians 2:10; Romans 12:13); and the prosperity of His people in the Old
Testament is closely linked with their treatment of their needy brethren
(Deuteronomy 14:29). Around AD. 45, many of the Christians in Judea were stricken
with poverty. This was probably due to severe persecution and widespread
famine. The saints in Antioch sent relief to the Judean brethren by the hands
of Barnabas and Saul (Acts 11:27-30). The assembly at Corinth was urged to do
the same thing (1 Corinthians 16:1-3; 2 Corinthians 8 and 9). We are likewise
responsible to care for those in need. The Lord Jesus said, “Ye have the poor
with you always” (Mark 14:7). It is good for an assembly to have poor members
whom it can care for with a godly exercise. Barnes points out that a great way
to unite Christians and to prevent alienation and jealousy and strife is to
have a common object of charity, in which all are interested and to which all
may contribute. The assembly is not, however, responsible for those who are
poor because they do not want to work. In such cases the divine decree is that,
if any man will not work, neither shall he eat (2 Thessalonians 3:10). For
those who devote their time to the work of the Lord. It is a divine principle
that those who preach the Gospel or teach the Word are entitled to the support
of the saints. “Let him who is receiving instruction in the Word give
ungrudgingly a share of his worldly goods to him who instructs him” (Galatians
6:6, Way’s Translation). (See also 1 Corinthians 9:4-13; 1 Timothy 5:17,18.)
Oftentimes, however, the Apostle Paul labored with his hands, rather than
accept fellowship from assemblies (Acts 18:3). His reasons for this were
simple. He wanted to serve as an example to the Ephesians, that they, too,
might support the weak and know the blessedness of giving (Acts 20:33-35). He
also wished to prevent his critics in Corinth from charging him with mercenary
motives (2 Corinthians 11:7-12). In addition he desired to prevent the
Thessalonian believers from being burdened with his support (1 Thessalonians
2:9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9). The saints there were poor and were being
persecuted. The assembly at Philippi was commended for ministering to Paul
(Philippians 4:10-19). Note that Paul did not desire the fellowship because of
his need, but because he wanted fruit to abound to their account. Note, also,
that although the Apostle never publicized his personal needs, he did not
hesitate to make known the needs of other saints (2 Corinthians 8 and 9). There
is, thus, a difference between information and solicitation. As Dr. Chafer has
pointed out—“All will agree that information is required, else no intelligent
giving is possible; but the real problem centers around the question of
solicitation”.
7.
Conclusion
The reader of the New Testament will notice how delightfully simple is
the financing of the Church. There are no burdensome, legalistic rules, neither
is there an elaborate, complex financial organization. If the simple precepts
of the Scripture were followed, two important results would ensue. The needs of
the Church would be liberally supplied without solicitations. The Church would
not have to be reproached by the world as a moneymaking institution.
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