His Vessels & Agents
“Whoever lays hands on deacons lays hands on worship!”
Brothers,
This past Lord’s Day, we examined the instruction provided by Paul to Timothy on the office of deacon. Historically, some may have a disdain for deacons, but none compare to the disdain the Nazis held for them. In 1940, when the Netherlands fell to Germany, the deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church rose up to care for the politically oppressed. They supplied food and provided secret refuge. When the Germans learned of this, they issued a decree that the office of deacon must be eliminated. However, on July 17, 1941, the Dutch General Assembly responded with these bold words:
"Whoever touches the deacons interferes with what Christ has ordained as the task of the church... Whoever lays hands on deacons lays hands on worship!"
— Frederick Herzog
It is said the Germans retreated, not the Dutch Reformed Church. The apostle Paul did not back down either. According to Paul,
The office of deacon is essential for the church if she hopes to flourish as the buttress and pillar of truth. It is the Lord alone who sets apart men as vessels of service and agents of worship.
To understand this essential role in the life of the church, we looked at how Paul outlines the responsibilities and qualifications for deacons in 1 Timothy 3:8-13, as an illustration of the office in Acts 6.
A RIGOROUS & ROBUST PROCESS
History tells us men are prone to apathy and reticent to devote themselves to hard things, however, those who desire to serve in the office of deacon must be ready, eager, and willing for good of the church, but most importantly the glory of Christ. The men who serve in the office must be hold fast the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience [1 Timothy 3:9]. It requires a willingness to sacrifice and submission to a careful and thorough examination of every aspect of life.
“And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless.”
The purpose of this post is to supply a clear outline of the deacon process and provide a pathway for those who seek to grow and be available in servanthood.
If the church hopes to flourish as the buttress and pillar of truth, she needs men set apart by the Spirit—men full of wisdom, ready, eager, and willing to serve as table waiters and shock absorbers. Thus, Doxa's process of discerning the Spirit's calling includes five phases. The duration of the candidacy will last as long as necessary for the man to be tested as outlined in Scripture.
The Five Phases
Phase 1: Establish an Observable Track Record
Phase 2: Self-Nomination & Invitation
Phase 3: Qualification & Preparation
Phase 4: Candidacy & Examination Phase
Phase 5: Installation
The Promise of Reward
“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. ”
There are two promises mentioned by Paul — good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
A Good Standing —Paul does not mean the faithful servant will receive a higher rank of the church. It could reference heavenly rewards, but more specifically it is this — the men who serve as deacons, who are ready, eager, and willing to be table waiters and shocker absorbers for the church are gifted with respect for their faithfulness. When we look at the life of a deacon, when we see him consider others more significant than himself, when see a tangible expression of the mind of the Lord Jesus Christ — this is a man to be respected.
As know we know, that when a Christian has dogged devotion to follow and submit their lives to the Lordship — there is a great confidence in the faith that is Christ Jesus. The phrase great confidence can also be translated great assurance. What is the great assurance? That when a man faithfully serves in the life of the church — they live by faith in Christ while in obedient service to the mission of God, the bonds of that man’s fellowship with God strengthens by degrees.
An active service to the Master requires an abiding trust which strengthens bonds of fellowship with the Master and increases the joy of the obedient servant.
As you can see there is not a minimum time frame for a potential Deacon to move through this process because each particular man varies in degrees of grace and readiness. Patience, humility, and diligence will serve you well in this journey.
For the Glory of Christ & His Church,
