By Adam Faughn
Deacons in the
Lord's Church may often wonder if people truly understand what they do. For
some, deacons seem just like elders (or, maybe, "junior elders").
After all, we will sometimes hear someone pray, "Bless our elders and
deacons as they lead and make decisions."
For others, they
simply do not know what deacons do. It's a title, but a recognition of what it
means is often missed.
God, however, laid
down a perfect plan for the Church in the pages of Scripture, and He included
deacons in that plan. Knowing that, we need to be sure we seek to have deacons,
but we also need to grasp what they do and encourage it.
The word in the
New Testament that translates as "deacon" simply means
"servant." In a sense, we know that every Christian is to be a
servant. However, it is clear from passages like Philippians 1:1 and 1 Timothy
3:8-13 that God had in mind a distinct and qualified group of men to have this
position and work within the local congregation. Thus, we sometimes refer to
deacons as "special servants."
These men are not
elders; nor are they "junior elders" or "elders in
training." That said, their role is vital to the elders because good and
hard-working deacons allow the elders to more effectively and efficiently do
their work of shepherding, overseeing, and spiritually feeding the flock of
God.
If we read Acts 6
carefully, the apostles (who were, if you will, "proto-elders" in
Jerusalem) appointed seven men to oversee a particular ministry. These, it
would seem, were "protodeacons," and they set the standard for that
role in each local congregation. These men were put over that specific work so
that (1) it would be done well, and (2) the apostles could do what only they
were uniquely qualified to do. That sets the design for deacons in the local
church. They are placed over certain areas of work, programs, events, and such
like to (1) do the work well and in a trustworthy manner and (2) allow the
elders to do what only the elders are to be doing.
I pray that we
show our gratitude for our deacons and that we do so, in part, by recognizing
and appreciating what they do. But I also would hope that we will show
appreciation by lending them a helping hand so that their areas of work do not
become a burden and so that those works are a delight as these men serve God in
this special way. Finally, I pray that other men and young men would see this
role as vital and would try to prepare themselves to serve in this very special
way in the future. The church needs good deacons, and we are blessed here to
have just that. May it continue to be so.
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