1 Timothy 3:8-13
“Deacons likewise must be
dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for
dishonest gain. They must hold the
mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as
deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but
sober-minded, faithful in all things.
Let deacons each be the husband of one wife, managing their children and
their own households well. For
those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also
great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
My high-school friend Jerry was a pulling guard on our State
Championship team and pulling guards are somewhat like deacons, they do not get
a lot of press. But the
Corpus Christi Caller Times said this about Jerry, “he is an unsung hero” and
that he was. When coach Ragus called
for a trap play, it was the pulling guards that had the responsibility to open
the lane for the running back. But
it was uncommon, yes it was exceptional for a guard to get his name in the
paper, and especially when he is listed in the program as 165 lbs.
You may be asking how can pulling guards be similar to a
deacon and my analogy may have some holes, but let me see how far we can go
with this comparison. The deacon
and the pulling guard both must believe in the game plan, if they are going to
perform in a manner that is needed to win, they must trust the coach or pastor
to call the right play. The coach
or the pastor has confidence that on the field are off, they will stay on
message, not telling the coach or pastor one thing and doing something totally
different. And the deacon should
earn his spot on the team in much the same way as the pulling guard, he listens,
he applies, he obeys, and in the case of the guard who wins the starting
position, he out performs all others who are competing for the starting role.
I told you the analogy was weak in a few places, like dignified,
and not addicted to much wine, I’m not sure we understood those concepts in
high school. But a deacon must
pass the test and be upright in all his business dealings. A deacon must be able to teach others
the mystery of the faith, and be very transparent in those teachings. Some, who might meet and pass the test
of deacon, but have wives that do not meet the test should disqualify themselves,
and often, only the man knows this truth.
What a deacon is not: he is not the guy running the church,
his role is very important in the church, he is to serve the widows and
orphans, and he is to serve the local body. I grew-up in deacon led churches and they were void of the
Spirit and controlled by uninformed men with titles of deacon, who had taken on
the role of boss of the local church.
You show me a deacon ran church and I can assure you it is a dying
church, it has no authority, it has no power, it’s full of strife, and strife
brings with it pride, anger and hatred.
But to those who do it right: For
those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the
faith that is in Christ Jesus.”
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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