Who is qualified to be a deacon?

Today’s text that Frank just read deal with the qualifications for deacons. We’re holding our annual deacon elections today, just after the service. This sermon, then, is four three different groups of people. My prayer today is that this sermon will be immediately helpful to you. Three different groups of people addressed by this sermon today:

[Slide: 2022 deacon elections]

2022 Deacon Elections

Are you currently a deacon?

This is your standard!

Do you want to become a deacon?

This is what you should aspire to!

Are you unsure whom to nominate?

This is your guide!

First, are you currently a deacon? This is your standard of conduct. This is who God expects you to be and it’s who our church must also expect you to be. Pastors have qualifications too, and that is our standard of conduct. It is what God expects us to be and what our church ought to expect us to be. This is your standard. You won’t be perfect. But you will strive after this, confessing and seeking forgiveness from God when you fail.

Second, do you want to become a deacon? This is what you should aspire to. Men, young men particularly, one day the burden of leadership as deacons will fall to you. The men who now serve as deacons will be with the Lord and you will be left. My encouragement to you: start thinking of yourselves as spiritual leaders now, so that you’re prepared when it’s time.

Third, are you unsure whom to nominate? This is your guide. Deacon elections are not a popularity contest. Don’t think only of the men you like; it’s not personal feelings. Don’t think of secular qualifications. Those are important, but they pale in comparison to the biblical qualifications. This text and hopefully this sermon is your guide.

[Slide: today’s takeaway]

Today’s take-away:

God has given us the privilege of choosing our leaders! It’s our task to choose them well.

#1: A deacon’s public life

A deacon’s public life.

There are just two offices that the NT assigns to the church. Those offices are the office or pastor (also called elder or overseer) and deacon. The word “pastor” literally means shepherd. The word “deacon” literally means “servant.” So the first thing we learn about deacons is that they must be men willing to serve the needs of the church and its members.

What else can we learn about what a deacon is called to be?

Well, in verse 8, Paul gives us four attributes: one is positive and the other three are negative. Meaning, if you look at your own translations, it says “deacons must be dignified” - that’s the positive, and the others are negative, as you can see as verse eight goes on: “not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.”

[SLIDE: the deacon’s public life]

The deacon’s public life:

“Dignified”: serious-minded with serious things

“Double-tongued”: talking out of both sides of your mouth (Gehazi, 2 Kings 5:19-27)

“Not given to much wine”: judicious use of alcohol, if used at all; no drunkenness

“Not greedy for shameful gain”: seeking financial gain by underhanded means (think prosperity gospel preachers)

“holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience”: correct theological belief w/ serious attempt to live the Christian life

What does “dignified” mean? But the basic meaning is that a deacon must be a man who is worthy of the church’s respect.

You see, respect is not something you’re entitled to once you have a position of leadership. Margaret Thatcher famously said that if you have to tell someone you’re a leader, you probably aren’t a leader. There was a famous advertising firm back in the 1990s that underwent a shake-up. The investors forced the board to fire their CEO, Maurice Saatchi. They fired him, and most of the rest of the senior executives quit. The company’s stock fell from more than $8 per share to $4 per share. Saatchi lost his position of power, but he doesn’t lose his influence over the company. Why is that? Because he had their respect. Why did he have their respect? Because of his moral character.

How do you gain that respect? It’s not by having certain skills. It’s not have by having charisma or being a dynamic personality or having an advanced degree. You gain respect not because of the position you hold or the qualifications you possess, but by the kind of person you are.

And the kind of person Paul describes here who is worthy of respect is a man who is not defined by certain negative characteristics. Look with me at the rest of verse 8: “Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain.”

You might call these “the three nots”. He’s not double-tongued (he doesn’t talk out of both sides of his mouth at once; he doesn’t say one thing to someone and another to someone else).

He’s also “not addicted to much wine.” He uses alcohol responsibly, if he uses alcohol at all. Drunkenness is always wrong, whether you’re a deacon or not. Drinking to excess if always wrong, whether you’re a deacon or not. The responsible use of alcohol is not wrong, although I think wisdom and experience teaches us that it is best to avoid alcohol altogether if you are in church leadership.

Then again, he’s not greedy for dishonest gain. Deacons need to be aware of the prosperity gospel, the so-called prosperity gospel, that says God will give you material wealth and cars and houses and investment accounts in exchange for your faith. Deacons should be aware that arrogant church leaders build their wealth on the backs of ignorant and immature Christians who lack the biblical discernment to see they’re being taken for a ride.

The deacon is dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for shameful gain.

Today’s take-away: God has given us the privilege of choosing our leaders! Choose well!

Who do you know who’s public life is exemplary? That man is qualified to be a deacon.

#2: A deacon’s home life

That’s a deacon’s public life. What about his home life?

Look at verse 11-12: “Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, managing their children and their own households well.”

The first political scandal I was really old enough to remember was the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky scandal in the 1990s. Even though I was still in high school, I remember the arguments both sides of that debate made. Republicans said “we can’t have a man with this lack of moral character in the White House.” Democrats said “this is his personal life, and what this man does in his personal life is his own business, it doesn’t affect his ability to lead our country as President.”

And of course, since then, there’ve been so many scandals in Washington involving government leaders that we don’t blink anymore when we hear about them. I think we’ve reached a point of despair when it comes to leadership. There are no good leaders anymore. So having elections just becomes an exercise in choosing the lesser of two evils.

I think that is a tragedy. I think it is an ominous sign of things to come in the United States. And I think it is a tremendous, tremendous, God-given opportunity for Christians — for the church — to show the world that it is possible for leaders to walk the talk.

It does matter how a pastor or a deacon lives at home. And it is possible for Christian leaders to lead well and be different. God wants men to lead His church who are the same at home as they are at church, because as my dad says who you are at home eventually becomes who you are at church or work or anywhere else. Your home life becomes your public life.

Which is why Paul writes that even the behavior of deacons’ wives is important. Now, women, I want to be very careful here: I am not saying there’s a set of responsibilities for you. When it says “their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things” — it really is saying more about your husband’s responsibilities than yours. In other words, deacons, these are the kinds of women our wives will become if we are leading them and loving them as we should lead them as Christian men.

As Christian men we have a special obligation toward our wives. “Husbands, love your wives,” the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 5,. “as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her...For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes is, just as Christ does the church...” (Eph 5:25-29 ESV).

My wife and I have recently become convicted about some ways that we’ve let stress and busy-ness affect our home life. Deacons, you too will not be perfect at this. But let this be an encouragement to you. When you read that your wives “must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things”, see that as inspiration to love your wives with a Christlike love, a love that allows them to thrive and grow into this. Ultimately our care is for her.

And ultimately, here at church, a deacon’s care is directed toward people. The role of deacon is not a power role. Deacons are called to assist the pastors in the work that they can do so that we can do the work that only we are called to do. In Acts 6, which is the biblical birthplace of the office of deacon, deacons were chosen by the church to serve the needs of the church so that the apostles could give their time to preaching and teaching and prayer.

That may mean you’ll look at budgets and make policy. But just as often if not more so, you are called to serve the people in this room. Don’t seek the office of deacon if all you want to do is make decisions. Don’t seek the office of deacon if you have no desire to serve and help and love people. By the way the same is true of pastors.

Men, deacons —let’s be men who are known for our love for people. Potential deacons, aspire to be men who love people. And church members, nominate men who love people. To be a deacon is to serve, and you cannot serve if you don’t first love.

[SLIDE: today’s takeaway]

Today’s take-away: God has given us the privilege of choosing our leaders! Choose well!

Who do you know whose home life is exemplary? Who do you know who loves people? That man is qualified to be a deacon.

That’s a deacon’s public life and his home life. What about his profession of faith?

#3: A deacon’s profession of faith

Look with me at verse 9: One of the qualifications for deacons is that they “must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.” We know what a clear conscience means. What does the “mystery of the faith” mean?

Paul uses that word mystery to refer to the amazing truth that is the central truth of Christianity: that though we are sinners, salvation is offered to us in Christ alone, by grace alone, through faith alone. That is the mystery of the faith. It’s the gospel message, the message of salvation.

So what does it mean to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience? It means two things: 1) know the gospel, and 2) with God’s help, do everything in your power to live the gospel.

Pastors are called to be able to teach and preach the gospel. Some deacons can preach and teach, but all deacons are called to do two things: understand the gospel and live the gospel. That’s what it means to hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.

Apparently one time Peter really messed up in this area. Peter used to eat with the Gentiles. That was a big deal for Peter. He used to refuse to do that. But when God showed him that the gospel was for Gentiles too, for non-Jews as well as Jews, Peter’s heart was changed. He became a man who loved non-Jews and ministered to them and spent time with them. He used to eat with them, which back then was the loudest way you could tell someone you accept and approve of them.

But that all changed when one day some men from Jerusalem came down to where Peter was and saw him eating with the Gentiles. These men did not share Peter’s love for non-Jews. They thought Peter was sinning by eating with non-Jews, so Peter acted like a teenager and avoided the Gentiles because he wanted the approval of the men from Jerusalem; he didn’t want to be seen eating with sinners.

When Paul found out Peter was doing this, Paul tells us in Galatians “I opposed him to his face.” Here’s how Paul tells it:

Galatians 2:11–13 ESV

But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.

Now notice with me what Paul says next: “But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel” — that’s it. Conduct, behavior, that is out of step with the gospel, that is not compatible with the gospel, behavior and ways of living that contradict the gospel, behavior that causes people who observe you to wonder if you really believe the gospel, that is the opposite of what Paul means when he says deacons must “hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.”

[SLIDE: holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience?]

Holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience?

Having correct gospel beliefs

Striving after correct gospel living

Does this mean you must be sinless as a deacon? Should you only nominate men who have a halo over their heads? No, there would be no one to nominate. Having a clear conscience does not mean being sinless. It simply means you hold the right gospel doctrine and you strive after right gospel living. In other words, it means to have Christian integrity.

There are two ways to have integrity. The first is preferable: and that is, be a man who lives what you say you believe. The other way is, be honest when you don’t, and enlist the help of your fellow deacons and your pastors when you don’t.

Because, here’s the thing: You will always be growing and improving. The Lord will take you on a long process of growth in which there are ups and downs. Sometimes there will be more ups than downs; sometimes there will be more downs than ups; but wherever you are in the process, you and I must be working the process, endeavoring to grow, being honest when we don’t.

[SLIDE: today’s takeaway]

Today’s take-away: God has given us the privilege of choosing our leaders! Choose well!

Who do you know whose life doesn’t contradict the gospel? Who do you know who is honest about his sins and weaknesses? That man is qualified to be a deacon.

That’s a deacon’s public life and his home life. That’s a deacon’s profession of faith? What about his reward?

#4: A deacon’s reward

The Bible talks a lot about rewards. It often uses the language of a crown. The crown of life. The crown of righteousness. An imperishable crown. The unfading crown of glory. These are all mentioned in the Bible as rewards for faithful believers, and they’re always attached to some command.

So, here’s the question. Given that the rewards are attached to commands: Is it wrong to do something for the reward?

Here’s what I think. If God’s word commands us to do something, we must do it. There’s no question. And we must be willing to do it whether we’re promised a reward or not. The Lord does not dangle the reward in front of us like parent with their children to try to compel obedience. Whether the reward is promised or not, we must obey and we should obey.

Besides, Jesus is ultimately our reward; any crown we have received as a reward will pale in comparison to the beauty and glory we will see in Him. And the book of Revelation tells us that we’ll just throw our crowns at his feet anyway, because He is the reward. He is what makes heaven heaven.

But the fact is, the rewards are there. God does not just issue commands, although if He did that would be His prerogative. God does not just issue commands; He issues commands and attaches promises of reward. I have to conclude that He would not do that if He didn’t intend for the promised reward to be present in our minds when we serve Him. The promised rewards show us that God does not take our sacrifice lightly, He does not take our suffering lightly. He is a good Father who will honor our obedience and our service.

[SLIDE: A deacon’s reward]

A deacon’s reward:

Good standing with others

Great confidence before God

So for deacons, what is the reward: Look at verse 13: The first word “for” ties this reward back to the qualifications. Deacons are called to be faithful men, because, or for, as verse 13 says, “those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves” - a good name, a good reputation for having served the church well — “and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus” - confidence that you’ve discharged your duties faithfully and that in approaching God through Christ you have no reason for shame.

That’s a deacon’s reward.

Conclusion and call for response

August 1994 - a team of environmental scientists are on board research vessel off the Florida Keys. They were there to collect data - information. Off the coast of the Florida Straits, ocean currents run in various ways that affect marine life in that area. Those scientists wanted chemical, physical and biological information on the direction of those ocean currents. They wanted that information so they could do a better managing oil spoils.

Unfortunately, not only did they fail to gather the data so that they could help better manage future oil spills; they also wound up causing a massive oil spill of their own in the very area where they were working to prevent them.

The ship, called the Columbus Iselin, ran aground on a coral reef, which punctured both of its fuel tanks. As a result, two hundred gallons of diesel fuel mingled with the ocean water and made the whole area a disaster site.

Not only that, though; the cleanup efforts just made things worse. As they tried to pull the ship free from the coral reef, they inadvertently dislodged a tremendous plume of sand. Sand is just as deadly to coral reef marine life as diesel fuel.

What do coral reefs and environmental scientists have to do with what’s happening in this room today? What commonality is there between 200 gallons of diesel fuel and a huge underwater plume of sand on the one hand, and deacon elections here at Buffalo on the other?

The answer is that leaders, if they fail to be the right kind of leader, can often wind up harming the very people they are appointed to serve and protect.

But men who are qualified biblically, who know the gospel and live it, who confess and repent when they don’t, men who love people and want to serve them, men who are dignified — who are serious when it matters — men who are worthy of respect — my prayer and yours too, I hope, is that we who are men would be like that; that the deacons elected today would be like that; and that we all would

Because we are all called to live lives that are above reproach. Pastors and deacons in reality are not held to a higher standard. There is not much of anything that pastors and deacons are called to do and to be that ordinary Christians are not called to do and to be. We are not saved by our good moral character. It is not our good moral character that makes us fit to be in God’s presence. Only the blood of Jesus secures our access to God.

Leaders, deacons, potential deacons, because we are covered with the blood of Jesus, our sins are forgiven, past present and future, even those sins we’ve committed as leaders that go against these qualifications. Regardless of how well we have or haven’t done, if we belong to Christ and are trusting in Him, we can enter God’s presence with confidence and confess our sins knowing that His love for us doesn’t depend on how well we’ve done. And in that place of unconditional acceptance before God, God extends His hand to us and says, “Are you ready to try again?”