Deacons: Qualified, Pt. 2

May 17, 2015 

Deacons:  Unqualified, Pt. 2   NOTES NOT EDITED

1Timothy 3:18-12

SIS—Deacons must be qualified, but that doesn’t mean they must be perfect.

The most coveted shot in golf is the “hole-in-one.”  Hitting a hole-in-one is extremely rare.  For an amateur golfer, according to the National Hole In One Association (yes, they actually study this stuff), the odds for an amateur golfer are 12,500 to one.  There are an estimated 490 million rounds of golf played each year.  Assuming each of these rounds completes 18 holes, that is 8,820,000,000 opportunities for a hole in one.  In almost nine “billion” attempts, there are only 150,000 holes in one!  For a professional golfer the odds are five times better at 2500 to 1.  Tiger Woods has defied the odds in golf, as well as life, in many ways.  He has actually had 18 holes in one in his pro career, crushing the odds.  But, Tiger was destined to crush the odds having sunk his first hole in one at the age of six!

Most golfers, including many pros, will never hit a hole in one in their lifetime.  Yet, these same golfers can be considered “extremely qualified” participants in the sport.  The same goes for any sport.  In football not every run is a touchdown.  In soccer not every kick is a goal.  In baseball not every swing is a hit.  Each sport has a “goal” of some sort—a bull’s eye if you will.  However, one does not have to hit the bull’s eye every time to be qualified in one’s sport.

Let me move us to the realm of the spirit in regard to “hitting the bull’s eye,” specifically as it applies to the qualifications of a deacon.  1Timothy 3:8-12 gives us qualifications for deacons.  These qualifications are targets.  One should shoot for the bull’s eye, but one need not hit it exactly to be qualified as a deacon.  These are goals.  In fact, in each of the areas of qualifications for the office of a deacon, there will always be room for improvement.  In fact, if someone feels they qualify perfectly according to each of the specific goals we will study this morning, that is probably a good indication they are “NOT”

qualified to serve as a deacon.  In reality, that may be the only “disqualifying” characteristic.

Let’s read in regard to the qualifications—the goals—for serving as a deacon.  1Timothy 3:8-12.

1.  Personal Issues (8-9)

⁸ Deacons,  likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, ⁹ holding the mystery of the faith  with a clear conscience.

Let me say a word about the word, “likewise,” as an introduction to character goals.  This adverb serves to connect the qualifications with the qualifications for an “overseer or bishop” (episkopos) in verses 1-7.  You will notice that the qualifications for a pastor (elder, bishop) and a deacon are almost identical, but phrased in slightly different language.  As I have stated before, it would not be far off the mark to call deacons, “assistant pastors,” for their primary calling as we detailed from Acts 6 is to “assist the pastors.” The word, “likewise,” both distinguishes deacons from, and compares them to “overseers (pastors, elders).  Deacons should be held to same high standards as pastors.  The difference is not in personal value, esteem, power or any other extraneous measure, but the difference is in function.  Notice our banner in regard to deacons:  “Following to Lead—Leading to Serve.”  The deacons are to follow the lead of the pastors (bishops, elders) in order to lead the congregation “by service into service.”  The deacon is not a “lower office” in the church, but a “different office.”  The deacon is not to “Lead the Pastor,” but “Follow the Pastor to Lead the People.”  They must be persons of extremely high character to assume this high calling.  Notice when Paul addresses the leadership of the church in Philippi he begins his letter (Phil. 1:1):

Paul  and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus: To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi,  including the overseers  and deacons.

So, we must be balanced in our approach to the qualifications of the deacons.  They do not have to hit the bull’s eye, but they cannot completely miss the target.

(1)  First of all our text says that deacons should shoot for the goal of being “worthy of respect” (8a).  Talk about setting the “bar high!”  This word (semnos) first appears in classical Greek as a reference to an “attribute of the gods.”  It referred to something “august,” as in Augustus Caesar, who was considered a god.  It was used in reference to the “head of Zeus.”  The word describes “majesty, greatness, a royal throne, something splendid, or magnificent.”  Other Bibles translate “worthy of respect” as “dignified (NET, ESV)” or “grave (KJV).”  This word serves as the foundation for everything that will follow.  It is an all-encompassing description that shows the seriousness and gravity of the office of a deacon.  It should not be taken lightly.  This highly positive goal will be further qualified by three negative traits.  Each one shows highlights the need for “self-control, and self-discipline.”

(2)  not hypocritical (8b).  A deacon must control his tongue.  The word hypocritical literally means, “double-tongued, (dilogos)” as we see for example in the English Standard Version (ESV).  It refers to being “insincere.”  It includes gossiping or spreading  bad report among the brethren.  It refers to manipulating others with one’s speech, either by saying the wrong thing or even saying the right thing at the wrong time, when it will serve an evil purpose.  This has done more harm to the cause of Christ than nearly anything I can think of in my nearly 40 years of ministry.  James also gives a warning about the danger of not controlling one’s tongue:

There is a persistent myth that the tongue is the strongest muscle in the body.  This myth has some basis in fact.  Maureen Stone, of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry, speculates that the myth of the tongue’s strength arose from its amazing stamina. “When’s the last time your tongue was tired?” she asks. “If you don’t have any disorders, the answer is probably never.” Stone says the tongue’s tenacity springs from the way it is built—with lots of similar bits of muscle that can each perform the same task. “It doesn’t fatigue,” she says, “because there’s a lot of redundancy in the muscle architecture. You simply activate different muscle fibers and get the same result.”

The tongue is, indeed, a powerful muscle.  It can do much good like help us eat or help us sing.  James also tells us it can do much damage (Jam. 3:5):  ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body,  sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.  A deacon must control his tongue.

(3)  not drinking a lot of wine (8c).  The question comes up all the time, not just in regard to deacon qualifications, but in regard to Christians in general:  does the Bible say that a Christian cannot drink any alcohol?  The short answer is:  no.  The Bible does not contain any verse that says that a follower of God cannot drink any alcohol.  The Bible does have a verse that says this:

^{1Thess. 5:22} Stay away  from every kind of evil.

The KJV gives a fuller expression of the phrase “every kind of evil,” as “all appearance of evil.”  The word, translated “kind” (HCSB) and “appearance” (KJV), comes from the word meaning “what is visible (eidōs).” The inference is not what is the “unseen moral component” of the thing, but “how does it look to others?”  Obviously, drunkenness is condemned throughout the Bible.  But what about alcohol as a “beverage?”  Tens of thousands of lives are lost on our highways every year—year after year after year.  Lives are lost.  Families are torn apart.  Alcohol is easily abused, and commonly abused.  How many women believe that alcohol, a dark bar, and carousing ladies are a good combination for your husband? 

Here’s my take:  alcohol is associated with all kinds of societal problems and should not in any way be associated with a Christian—especially a deacon.  I’ve heard people say of my brother—in fact, my Mom said it—years of drinking killed him.  That is not true.  It was the first drink that killed him.  Without that first drink, there could have never been an addiction. 

I do not want to be associated in any way with something associated with such evil.  I don’t need alcohol as a beverage.  I can drink water or some other neutral liquid, and avoid causing anybody else any grief or causing a weaker brother to stumble (Rom. 14:21).  So, our policy as long as I am the pastor is:  Christians should abstain from drinking alcohol as a beverage—especially deacons and pastors.

(4)  not greedy for money (8d).  I guess one could ask the same question about money, one could ask about drinking:  how much is too much.  When does productivity become greed?  This word is found in writings of the first century to refer to someone who took from others even though they already had an abundance of what they took (New International Greet Testament Commentary).  In other word, according to the Bible, a person can “have too much money.”  In other words, you can earn so much money that you become “unqualified” to serve in the Kingdom of God.

So, what’s the solution:  “give it away!”  A deacon cannot be someone who is trust in the size of his bank account rather than the size of his God!

Unbridled capitalism is NOT taught in the Bible.  Republicans don’t have a corner on Biblical economic strategies, and Democrats tend too far toward socialism—which is also not taught in the Bible.  So, what is taught in the Bible?  GENEROSITY.  I really cannot say “how much money is too much,” but I can recognize generosity when I see it. 

Let me say right now:  some of you are going to die with more money in the bank than God intended you to have.  Oh, you will leave it all behind.  You WILL give every penny away after you die—but, if you get no eternal rewards for what you leave behind simply as a matter of dying.  GIVE WHILE YOU LIVE!  That’s a qualification for every Christian—and certainly for a deacon.  You must not be “controlled by acquisition.”

(5)  holding the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience (9)

Think of this as the matching book end to “worthy of respect” which we listed as the foundational qualification of a deacon.  This issue of “holding the mystery of the faith” closes the parentheses, in a manner of speaking.  On one end, “worthy of respect.”  On the other end of the shelf of qualifications, “holding the mystery of the faith.”  In between are the qualifications: “not double-tongued, not drinking, and not greedy.”  Five characteristics on the shelf of deacon service.

Recall we discussed the general characteristics of a man qualified as a deacon.  He must be a saved man, a sanctified man, a spiritual man, a sensible man, and we closed with saying a deacon must be a “a scriptural man.”  He must be a man “in full grasp of the mysteries of the faith” (v9).

That phrase, “mystery of the faith,” is, well, quite “mysterious.”  The problem is that the word is a TRANSLITERATION, not a TRANSLATION.  Remember we observed that a transliteration means we carry the Greek letters over into English letters without translating the word.  We just move the word from Greek to English.  The Greek word is, “musterion,” which becomes, “mystery” (“mu” in Greek transliterates as “my” in English).  The problem with this is that our word “mystery” refers to something, “hidden.”  The Greek word, “musterion” means exactly the opposite.  It means, “revealed” in this passage.  The translation is better rendered:  “has a firm grasp and is preserving the revealed truth of the faith.”  A deacon must be a serious student of the Bible. 

A deacon must be God-like in his character as a result of having a firm grasp of the truth of God’s Word.  If you have these two, “bookends” the other personal qualifications will fall right in line.

2.  The Practical Issue (10).  This passage only highlights one practical requirement: 

 And they must also be tested first;

if they prove blameless, then they can serve as deacons.

The word translated, “tested,” is in the passive voice.  This means it is something others do in regard to the deacon prospects.  This word also suggests a passage of time—though no exact amount of time is specified.  This will be a matter of the church when it comes time to formally ordain men who have been set aside for a time of observation.  The word suggests some type of formal, “examination.”  Traditionally, Baptists have convened “ordination counsels” consisting of formerly ordained men who ask questions in regard to a prospects doctrine, having observed his behavior over a length of time.

Another interesting point to make about this “testing” is the tense of the word, “serve,” in the phrase “then they can serve as deacons.”  The verb is a “present active imperative.”  The importance of this construction in relation to the word for “test” is that is implies a positive outcome of the test.  In other words, as I’ve said before, the purpose of God’s requirements for our lives is to qualify us for service, not disqualify us from service.  For the most part, the church has viewed this principle in reverse.  As a wise man said, “God is not looking for people who are qualified, but He is looking for people who are willing, and He will qualify them.

This test comes with a “guaranteed passing grade” if you are willing.

 3.  Family Issues (11, 12)

Aside from the “alcohol” issue, family issues have generated the most discussion among scholars.  I’m not going to drag out all the scholarly debate which often generates as many questions as answers.  I am going to tell you what I think is the clear intent of this text.  Remember:  you don’t have to hit a hole in one every time to be a good golfer.  You can make a good shot without hitting the bull’s eye.

(1)  husband of one wife (12a). 

Does this refer to polygamy?  Not likely.  Does it mean that a single person cannot serve as a deacon?  Not likely.  Does this verse specifically address a divorced man, who may or may not have remarried.  Not likely.  

Why not polygamy?  It was a lifestyle that was not practiced much in Roman culture of the First Century.  This would be a “moral” issue of disqualification more than a “marital” issue.  Why not single men?  The Bible holds celibacy for the purpose of service in high regard (eg. 1Cor. 7:8).  There is no moral fault in having never married.  It seems unlikely that this verse is speaking of any “practical” matters that might arise from a single deacon.  Why is it not about divorce?  I say it is not likely that “divorce, in and of itself with no other qualifications,” is what this phrase is addressing.  Wouldn’t it sound strange, based upon this passage if you take divorce as an automatic, unequivocal disqualification, that a murderer who had never been divorced would be qualified to serve?  The hard-line, common opinion that divorce is referred to here makes divorce an “unpardonable sin.”  I don’t think that is a proper way to view the idiom we see here.

The phrase is actually, “a one-woman man.”  It describes how a person “presently” (and this is key in my understanding) views the marriage vow:  “one woman and one man until death parts them.”  Divorce is an “event,” not a “condition.  Divorce happens for all manner of reasons under all manners of conditions—and all of them grieve the Spirit of God.  God hates divorce.  God does NOT hate people who have suffered a divorce—and every divorce brings suffering.

A prospective deacon must be someone who is committed to the sanctity of the marriage vow:  “what God joins together let no man put asunder.”  Remember:  divorce is an event, not a condition.

(2)  managing their households (12b).  Deacons must wear the pants in the family.  If a man is single, he must not wear women’s pants—but that’s another issue.

This passage mentions specifically the “¹¹ Wives,  too, must be worthy of respect, not slanderers, self-controlled,  faithful in everything.”  A man with and unruly, undisciplined, gossipy wife would not be qualified to serve as a deacon.  No man has time to care for and serve others if his partner in life is a continuing nightmare like someone out of a bad soap opera.  A deacon and his wife must come as a “package deal.”  A man who has a home constantly in turmoil cannot bring peace to those in need in the congregation.

Managing their children (12b).  Children are complicated machinery.  When they get into their teens, most children get possessed in one sense or another.  The Bible took a hardline against unruly youngsters, “taking them outside of the gates and stoning them to death!” (Deu. 21:18-12).  Unruly children will be the death of a nation.  There is no historical record Israel ever followed this edict, but it does stress how important it is to teach our children what it means to be obedient. 

I’m sure many of you have seen or heard by now of the Baltimore Mom who caught her teenage son at the demonstrations resulting from the police shooting of Freddie Gray.  That Momma took matters—and the head—of her son into her own hands.  [PIC].  I’ve since heard she has received numerous job offerings, people are calling for her to be nominated, “Mother of the Year.”

Well, the only thing wrong with that incident is that it should have been Dad doing the “adjustment” not Mom.  Deacons must rule there household well which includes:  a God-honoring marriage (if married) and God-honoring children.

Well, we covered a lot of ground, today.  I hope you have kept in mind that these are “targets,” or “goals,” and not marks of perfection.  For yet another message we have seen that deacons must be qualified, but that doesn’t mean they must be perfect.

<<end>>