I am excited. It appears that the time is right for us to have deacons. As I write, the business meeting at which we will put it to the membership to decide who will be deacons is still in the future. However, it is encouraging to see, not just the willingness, but the sense of calling in every one of the candidates. Some of them will have to, and are joyfully willing, to allocate and sacrifice precious personal time in order to perform this office of service.
Let me present a challenge. Deacons in many churches and in our past have held authority in the church they were not meant to hold. Time and energy that could have been spent ministering and seeing to the membership was demanded of them to see to the administration needs of the church. This is not biblical.
In our new and current organizational model of Elders and Deacons, we must discipline ourselves to only ask of the deacons what is scripturally required of them. They do not have to be able to teach. They are not marital and family counselors. They are not financial advisors. Most importantly they are not administrators of church business. In the past (in many churches as well as ours) deacons have been incorrectly used by members to anonymously tell the church office what need to be done. “Go straighten out or remove that Sunday School teacher.” “Go get the pastor to do this or that.” “Go spend money this way…”
Deacons are an integral part of the ministry arm of the church. They will have more than enough to do seeing to their assigned deacon families. They are to be a liaison… focusing on and bringing the spiritual and physical needs of their families to the Elders. The care of church property and maintenance, e.g. the ramp, thermostat settings, or the state of the church budget, etc. is not their in their “wheelhouse.” Effort will be made to keep administrative matters of the church out of the deacon’s meetings.
We have a wonderful opportunity by God to make sure our deacons are protected and allowed to serve joyfully in the manner and areas God would have them serve. Yes, they are charged to help distribute the Lord’s Supper elements and, if needed, to help in the performing of baptism.
Acts chapter 6 is frequently offered as what would be the origin of the office of deacon. Listen: “the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task (distribution of food to widows). But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Pray for the new deacon body (notice I didn’t say “board”) that they will be protected by God and the congregation so that they will be able to serve the congregation unburdened by any extraneous expectations. God is providing us a great opportunity. May he witness our faithfulness.
Thank you for all your prayers and support as we navigated the hurricane (and the repairs it facilitated) and the COVID pandemic. You have been stalwart and full of hope in the face of things that would and have caused others to falter. I praise God for you. I sense that we are ready to move forward. Continue to pray that God would supply all our needs – spiritually, numerically, financially, and, in increasing measure, ministerially as we, through the leadership and enabling of the Holy Spirit, propagate the good news of Jesus Christ and His eternal kingdom. May He and the Father in all things BBBC be glorified!
Pastor Stephen
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