Deacons

Deacons are not elders. Deacons support the material and practical functioning of the church. Their responsibilities are generally supportive and/or administrative and not necessarily spiritual. These are appointed positions within the church, which may be filled by men ordained by God (ministers of Jesus Christ) or ordained by men. As such, they direct or fulfill segments of the work of the ministry under the direction of the elders (pastors). "Many churches choose pastors, deacons, and other ministry position by a simple vote of the congregation. This is not really scriptural. It is God who makes the appointments. Jesus said to His apostles, 'You did not choose Me, but I chose you' (John 15:16). [We] believe this is also true of every valid function, ministry, and appointment in the church. It is not man who makes the choice, but God, because Jesus Christ is Head over all things to the church, which is His body. Appointments that are not made on the authority of Jesus really have no validity. Furthermore, the appointment does not make a person anything if God has not already given him the ministry. We should simply recognize what God has chosen a person to be and then affirm this."²⁰⁴

Deacons are the equivalent of the Levites who served the priests—Aaron and his sons. Whereas, New Testament elders (bishops) are the equivalent of the Old Testament priests like Aaron and his sons and the elders chosen in Exodus 18. Thus, deacons serve both the elders and the congregation. Moreover, deacons have responsibility for the physical property of the church—the building and its contents, along with the grounds and other church property. Deacons have a position of authority as did the Levites in the Old Testament and have the task of representing and serving the people. This is why Acts 6 tells us they were full of the Holy Ghost which means they were able to teach the people of God (more on this point later). Let us see what the scriptures say about the Levites:

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him. And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle. And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel. (Numbers 3:5-9)

So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of the house of the LORD, namely, the house of the tabernacle, by wards. In four quarters were the porters, toward the east, west, north, and south. And their brethren, which were in their villages, were to come after seven days from time to time with them. For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening thereof every morning pertained to them. And certain of them had the charge of the ministering vessels, that they should bring them in and out by tale. Some of them also were appointed to oversee the vessels, and all the instruments of the sanctuary, and the fine flour, and the wine, and the oil, and the frankincense, and the spices. (1 Chronicles 9:23-29)

For by the last words of David the Levites were numbered from twenty years old and above: Because their office was to wait on the sons of Aaron for the service of the house of the LORD, in the courts, and in the chambers, and in the purifying of all holy things, and the work of the service of the house of God; Both for the showbread, and for the fine flour for meat offering, and for the unleavened cakes, and for that which is baken in the pan, and for that which is fried, and for all manner of measure and size; And to stand every morning to thank and praise the LORD, and likewise at even; And to offer all burnt sacrifices unto the LORD in the sabbaths, in the new moons, and on the set feasts, by number, according to the order commanded unto them, continually before the LORD: And that they should keep the charge of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the holy place, and the charge of the sons of Aaron their brethren, in the service of the house of the LORD. (1 Chronicles 23:27-32)

According to the scriptures above and to the forthcoming scriptures, a deacon is not a calling. The office was created out of a need, and we see this being repeated in the New Testament:

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them. (Acts 6:1-6)

Though these seven men were not initially called deacons, from the Greek word diakonos meaning servant, we know that these men functioned in this role. They were chosen for the express purpose of serving the people of God in a way that the Apostles could not; they were instructed to be leaders by aiding the people of God in their physical needs. The Apostles could do this in part but they could not stop studying and praying and traveling to help the people. Deacons are men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and full of wisdom, capable of teaching and ministering, who are able to be more "hands on" with the people in need of care. "Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless ... Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 3:8-10, 12-13). Scripture is clear; deacons must be experienced and mature enough in the things of God to minister to the physical needs of the people of God. Yet, the only way to do so is to be spiritual: to be led by the Spirit of God.

While the office of a deacon is not a calling, it does not preclude someone who is called as a minister of Jesus Christ from holding the office. Philip was appointed as a deacon in Acts 6 and subsequently, sent out to fulfill his calling as an evangelist (Acts 21:8). "Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed" (Acts 8:5-7).

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