Deacon, me ?

"The servants must be worthy..." 1 Timothy 3: 8

In his letter to Timothy, Paul has just touched on the spiritual qualities with which the elders must respond (1 Tim 3: 1-7) ; it now passes to those required for the servants (the deacons, in Greek: diakonos). It is generally accepted that this function of deacon corresponds to the service of the seven men mentioned in Act. 6. 1-6, chosen to distribute food for widows of the Church in Jerusalem. Note that they had to be filled with the Holy Spirit, even to serve at the tables ! So there is no "little" or "great" service for the Master... Stephen and Philip will acquire "a good maturity" and "a great boldness" (according to 1 Tim.3: 13) : we will find them again as evangelists a little later.

Here they are chosen by the disciples (and not the 12 apostles), then they receive the laying on of hands; the church, aware of its need, thus validates their service and expresses its full support in identifying with them.

By extension, deacons therefore perform a function in the local church, leaving the leadership to the "overseers" (or elders) (Phil 1: 1). But the Word does not define any official or particular responsibility attributed to the deacon.

Phoebe, "servant" or "deaconess" of the Church of Cenchrea (Rom 16. 1) was "helping many". Lydia, Evody and Syntyche in Philippi, Prisca in Corinth, Ephesus and Rome, Tryphena, Tryphose and Persis in Rome, all participated in the work of God. This highlights one of the important roles of sisters in the local church.

The spiritual and moral qualities of the deacon or deaconess must correspond to what is asked of them in 1 Timothy 3: 8-13. It is a kind of "test", a "grid" (and not an exam !) To know if they have the spiritual and moral qualities to be recognized or chosen as deacons.

So, am I a deacon without knowing it ? Perhaps I have to ask myself the question honestly, in front of my Master ? Perhaps it is also good to ask the question from time to time in our local church : what are our service needs ? who are our deacons ?... or who could become one ?

Source (Pleasing the Lord)