THE DEACONS Mat Smethurst

Smethurst, Mat. Diáconos (Serie 9 Marcas)

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The parameters: what deacons must be Imagine an ordinary church.
Let's call it the Middletown community. Several people in the
congregation are known and respected for different reasons. Leroy is the
most successful businessman. Shelby is the largest donor. Keith is capable of
fix anything. Alex has been part of the group for forty
years. Juan hopes to become an old man someday. Does any of them have...?
qualifications to be a deacon? One of the tragedies in the life of the church
Nowadays, it is the lack of attention to what the deacons are and are not according to the
Bible. Several churches seem to be content to continue acting based on their
customs and traditions on the subject, with the Bibles closed. To be
I understand the hesitation: "I don't have the energy to act. I didn't do it."
well the last time. "The wise leader must choose his battles. Without a doubt, this does not
They are urgent. If it’s not broken, why fix it?
Such a way of thinking may give the appearance of some wisdom. The landscape
ecclesiastical is littered with remnants of churches whose leaders acted
too fast on an important issue or they addressed an issue
little the proportion that did not deserve. Therefore, it does not cost the
motives or impulses of the gospel-loving pastors who doubt in
guide your flock towards a different understanding of the role of deacons.
Certainly it is easier said than done. However, we all must
to face the uncomfortable fact that Jesus did not beat around the bush when
se dirigió a los líderes apegados a latradición con respecto a asuntos de los
that God had already spoken (e.g., Mt 15:1-9). And the character of the deacon is something
of what God has already spoken. Furthermore, to ignore the biblical statements.
Regarding deacons, it is not only shortsighted or incorrect. It is also something strange. Why
What? Because the Bible does not say much about deacons. Once again,
Shouldn't that be one more reason to take the revelation seriously?
Do we have? It's not something private or optional. The letter we call 1 Timothy does not
It is a private note for a friend. Pablo writes to Timoteo in a tone.
personal, yes, but not in private. The apostle makes his letter a document
public to guide all churches, not just the flock entrusted to Timothy
in Ephesus. Having cultural roots does not mean being culturally dependent.
The first indication of universal applicability is seen in the way that
Pablo presents his instructions for corporate worship: "I desire it in
everywhere..." (1 Timothy 2:8). In other words: "What I write to you,
Timothy, it applies everywhere, not just in Ephesus. 1 But the statement
Pablo's most unequivocal statement comes in the next chapter: I hope to see you soon,
I write these things so that, if I arrive late, you know how you should
behave in the house of God, church of the living God, pillar and bulwark of the
truth (1 Tim 3:14,15). If 1 Timothy has a statement of purpose, it is
this. Note three things: Pablo's instructions in this letter are addressed to
Timoteo, but they are applicable to everyone. Note your concern about how
"someone", that is, any person ("people", NVI), not just Timothy, must
to lead the church of God. Paul does not present suggestions, concepts
strategic or 'best practices'. Timoteo had a letter in his hands with
orders inspired by God. Note that Paul does not intend to reveal how a
one could behave in church. Indicate how one should
to behave, a word full of moral strength. What are "these things"?
what are intended to govern the ecclesiastical practice? I believe that Paul is
It refers to the content of your entire letter, but what is the immediate context?
What are the morally binding 'things' that he ends up addressing?
These are the qualifications of the deacons.
After listing the eligibility characteristics for the office of
In verses 1 to 7, Paul turns his attention to the office of deacon.
in verses 8 to 13: Likewise, deacons must be worthy of respect,
not two-faced, not fond of much wine, not greedy for gain
dishonest. They must keep the mystery of faith with a clear conscience. And that
let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons, if
they show themselves free of blame. Your women [or 'the women'] also
they must be worthy, not slanderous, but moderate, faithful in everything. That
let each deacon be the husband of one wife, managing their children and
their home. Because those who serve well as deacons acquire good
reputation and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus. Then,
Should Leroy, Shelby, Keith, Alex, or Juan be installed as deacons of the
Middletown Community Church? Maybe. But the answer does not
find in the list of your previous attributes, if not in the fact that your
life includes this important paragraph. The measure of life is a
deacon Perhaps the most surprising point here is the relative indifference of
Pablo on what potential deacons are capable of doing. This paragraph
it's not about a set of skills. Its focus lies directly on
who should be the deacons. (Don't miss this easy to forget lesson:
God cares more about character than skills.
The requirements to be a deacon are divided into three 'negative' statements and
three 'positives', but above all, one requirement stands out above the rest
like a flag on a pole: deacons must be 'worthy of respect'.
This does not mean that they must be perfect, but that they must be humble.
pious and exemplary for the flock. So, in practice, what does it mean
worthy of respect? The passage highlights six things. Paul first lists the
Negative qualities: what a deacon should not be. The three
specifically relate to a fruit of the Spirit: self-control. 1. No
to have a double tongue The qualified deacons strive to control their
Languages. Since the ministry of deacons is to serve, they will have
countless interactions with people. And these interactions are not always
will occur with the most radiant saints. Deacons often
will confront people who suffer and struggle, some of whom
they will find dissatisfied and prone to complaining. In all these
in interactions, the deacon must be compassionate, while remaining vigilant and
On guard. The deacons who fulfill the biblical role will take care of: The tongue, to
do not reveal information that the people they serve should not know or
they simply do not need to know: "Yes, Pastor Mike sometimes behaves this way."
Let's keep it between us: it's a big fight even for some of
we the deacons.” The ears, so as not to be a part of some gossip or
slander against church leaders or other members: 'Really? Did she
What did he say? I already suspected it, but now I will keep my distance for good.
portodas!” The language (again), to avoid falling into gossip or slander to
report conversations or information to others. It's difficult, after listening
something more embarrassing or 'spicy', not transmitting the information, perhaps
burying it in the form of a 'prayer request': 'Really
We need to pray for Earl, God bless him! —he still doesn't seem to have...
finding oneself. Having a double tongue is not a small defect or
peculiarity of character; it is a symptom of pharisaical pride. It means to declare
conscientiously one thing to a group and then say or imply another thing to
a different group. Falsehood points to fear of man, and a deacon
driven by the fear of man can destroy an entire church. two things.
But, taking into account that the deacon lives to please people,
this will be impossible, for only the fear of God can drive away the fear of
men. Satan will do anything to make a place in the house
of the Enemy (Ephesians 4:27).
A mature deacon will not use his words to open a door. 2. No
wine aficionado The deacons must not only have self-control in what
They say; they must also exercise self-control in relation to their desires.
This rule prohibits drunkenness (cf. Eph 5:18) and challenges everything that may
to enslave the heart of the deacon or to harm his judgment. It is possible that Paul
include this qualification because the nature of diaconal work sometimes
It includes the act of bringing wine to the sick for medicinal reasons (1
Timothy 5:23). But whatever the purpose, the principle is clear: the
qualified individuals to be deacons should not satisfy desires or abuse
of substances that can hinder their work or testimony. 3. Not greedy
from dishonest profits The deacons who fulfill their biblical function
they will control your speech, your desires and also your bag (specifically, what
it enters his pocket). Although these virtues characterize every mature Christian,
the specificity of diaconal work will sometimes place deacons in
contact with the church's money. So Paul warns against the installation
of someone known for being deceitful, taking moral shortcuts or being
obsessed with money. The worldly and materialistic person will struggle against
greed, which in turn will fuel the desire to obtain profits
dishonest. So this should be an area in which the deacon demonstrates
an unyielding self-control.
After making a list of these 'negative' demands, Paul directs his
attention to 'positive' burdens. 4. They must retain the mystery of faith with a
clean conscience It may be easy to assume that deacons, given the focus
practical for your work, they don't need to know much about the doctrine. One
One might think that the work of deacons is servile, not intellectual. Don't you?
Can they take care of their area and leave the theology to the pastors? No, according to the
Writing. It is true that the main responsibility of teaching and governing
the elders of the church—and the role of the elders and deacons
should not be confused—but the deacons are not exempt from knowledge
biblical. In fact, they will often find themselves in situations where
they will have the opportunity to speak the biblical truth. So the question is not
It is not whether the deacons will be theologians, but whether they will be good theologians. When

Pablo uses the word 'mystery,' as he usually does, not referring to a genre.
of Roman novels. It refers to the divine truth that was previously hidden and is now
revealed. Paul refers to the content of the gospel and Christian doctrine.
Please note that this brief qualification actually requires three things from the
potential deacons. They must: Know the faith. This is implicit and obvious, since
One cannot retain what one does not know. The qualified deacon is willing to
to grow in a clear understanding of God, humanity, Christ, salvation,
etc. This does not mean that the deacon must be the greatest reader of the church,
but it does mean that he will have a hunger to learn the things of God. To maintain
the faith. Every truth that the deacon absorbs with the mind must be retained in
the heart. Anyone who is ashamed of the biblical truths that clash
with current cultural trends is still not qualified to serve as
deacon. The Word of God is precious; it seeks those who receive it with
humble joy. Live the faith. It is not enough to know and cling to what is
true; Pablo also insists that the deacon's conscience must be
clean.6 This refers to the previous requirements, of course, because the
hypocrisy, whether expressed through disloyalty, secret vices, or gain
dishonest, will gradually eliminate a clear conscience. However, the
a deacon with a clear conscience will be a person of moral integrity and
courage. I remember the words of Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee: 'Personal conscience is the only thing that does not obey the '
decision of the majority”. The clarity of conscience is not the standard
absolute, because awareness also fell, but it is very important. The
a deacon with a conscience will have little to answer to God in virtue.
from genuine and continuous confession and repentance (cf. 1 John 1:9). 5.
Tried and Approved How many times has the church been harmed by someone who
Shouldn't it be deacon? And how many of those times could it have been avoided?
disaster in fulfilling the qualification of the candidates who were
"proven" and it was found that they were "innocent"? I imagine that a
One of the reasons this standard is set aside is that Paul is not
explicit about the duration or the nature of the test. What should it entail
process and how long should it take? The churches themselves must use their
wisdom and discernment in prayer. However, it is non-negotiable the
the need for a trial period to occur. In my own church, like
I mentioned earlier, at least three steps must occur before that
one becomes a deacon. To begin with, the elders will discuss whether the
the person would be suitable for the position. If there is agreement, assuming that
wants to serve, so we invite you to complete a questionnaire (see annex
This valuable document gives the elders a better sense of
convictions and practices, strengths and weaknesses of a candidate.
Finally, the person is appointed in the meeting with the members.
encouraging the church to set aside a month to consider the suitability of the
a person for the position and present their private impressions to the elders.
All this has to happen before the congregation formally votes to
install the person in the diaconate. Different churches will evaluate the
candidates for deacons in different ways. That is good. The process that
What I have described has worked well in the congregational polity governed by the
consent of the elders of our church; however, the most important thing
Does your church have any means to examine character and the
competence of potential deacons, before it is too late.
Pablo includes this qualification to protect the precious body of Christ.
Faithful family life The final requirement of Paul is the extension of piety of the
deacon to his most intimate relationships. No, that's wrong: piety must
start with the closest relationships. If a man is married, he must
to love his wife and be completely faithful to her: husband of one
wife. The church can always have another deacon, but the wife of a
A deacon cannot have another husband. Serving his spouse is the best field.
of training to serve the saints. If the deacon has children, he must
to create them in an environment of gentle firmness and joyful love, establishing not
only beliefs but also the morality of the home. That is, it must manage
to his family with consideration and diligence, thus training his own heart
to serve the church in the same way. The apostle could not be clearer:
there is no good deacon who is a terrible husband or father. Being a 'good
"Family man" is not an advantage when considering someone for the
diaconate; this is a prerequisite. The Promise Before leaving the subject of
the deacons, Paul emphasizes one more critical point. He knows that the
"Diaconization" is not for the faint of heart. A large part of the service
lending is ungrateful: hard work, without drawing attention. So,
What will support the deacon through exhaustion and discouragement? A
promise: For those who serve well as deacons will obtain for themselves
they have a good reputation and also a great trust in the faith of Christ
Jesus (1 Timothy 3:13). The faithful deacon will receive two gifts in measure.
growing: respect and audacity. The former emerges horizontally from the church; the
another descends vertically from God. In view of the 'descending' form of the
diaconal work, the promise of respect has a particular beauty, doesn't it?
Is that so? While the call to diaconal service is not glamorous, the reward is
glorious. Meanwhile, Paul's commission in Galatians 6:9 applies to each
deacon: "Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time
we will reap, if we do not faint." Do the deacons feel respected in their
Church? Do you know how much I appreciate your service? Before moving on to the next one
chapter, take a moment to encourage the deacons of your church.
Call them. Buy them a gift card. Offer to take care of their children. Send them.
an email. Just do something to encourage them: 'a word in
The right moment, how good it is!" (Proverbs 15:23; cf. 25:11; 16:24).
Such stimuli serve the good of the flock and the glory of God. Have we not heard
What about before? I find it interesting that Paul's standards for the
deacons do not represent the first time that the church of Ephesus (where
Timoteo served) heard about these topics. The parallel themes between his
A more general letter to the members of the church of Ephesus, written around the
year 60 A.D., and the list of requirements for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13,
written around 62-64 A.D., are surprising. The deacon must... Ephesians
Notener doblez 4:29 No ser aficionado al mucho vino 5:18 No ser codicioso
from dishonest gains 4:28; 5.5 Keep the mystery of faith 3.1-10 Be
Field in marriage 5.22-33 Take good care of your children 6.1-4 The deacon...
Will gain confidence in faith 6.19 How important is this? It's enough to
consider what the deed reveals. This shows that, above all, the deacon
he must simply be a faithful Christian. The theologian D. A. Carson observed that the
most extraordinary aspect of the qualifications of elders (1 Timothy
3:1-7; Titus 1:6-9) is their ordinary character. The same can be done.
observation about the qualifications of the deacons, except one, since the
A deacon does not need to be 'able to teach' like an elder (1 Timothy 3:2).
The standards found in 1 Timothy 3:8-13 resonate with a tone
not negotiable: deacons must be clothed with the character expected of
all Christians. However, they must be exemplary in the ordinary. The
deacons are the people from your church that you should be able to say:
Brother, do you want to promote unity? Sister, do you want to grow like
maid? Look at them. There is no better system than the Community Church of the Saints.
Middletown is very grateful for Leroy's business insight.
Shelby's generosity, Keith's talent for fixing things, longevity
from Alex in the position and Juan's desire to serve as an elder. All of these
descriptors are good things in the life of a church. However, as already
we have seen, none of them, taken in isolation, qualifies someone
to serve as a deacon. To determine the suitability for the office of
deacon, the congregation must contrast the life of each candidate with the
unique pattern of the system inspired by God: 1 Timothy 3:8-13.