Grateful for Deacons
I thought a word or two about deacons would be in order as we get ready to ordain and install four men to the office this coming Sunday. According to our book of Church Order, "the office of deacon is set forth in the Scriptures as ordinary and perpetual in the Church. The office is one of sympathy and service, after the example of the Lord Jesus; it expresses also the communion of saints, especially in their helping one another in time of need."
Specifically, the BCO goes on to say, "It is the duty of the deacons to minister to those who are in need, to the sick, to the friendless, and to any who may be in distress. It is their duty also to develop the grace of liberality in the members of the church, to devise effective methods of collecting the gifts of the people, and to distribute these gifts among the objects to which they are contributed. They shall have the care of the property of the congregation, both real and personal, and shall keep in proper repair the church edifice and other buildings belonging to the congregation." (BCO 9.1,2)
If we were to sum up these biblically based statements we might say first, that deacons engage with generosity on behalf of the Lord and his church those who find themselves in need. And secondly, the deacons enable the church to be even more expressive in their own gratitude by taking care of the facilities (where much ministry happens) and by seeking to mature generosity among the saints. Or to put it another way, deacons both do the ministry and seek to draw out ministry from all of God's people. So even as these four are set apart Sunday morning, we recognize that their job is to develop in all of us the "grace of liberality".
On last word about deacons. Jesus said, "I am among you as one who serves". Lk 22:27. That word serves translates the Greek word diakonos from which, of course, we get our word deacon. This diaconal work, to which we are all called, is the work of Jesus. In Mark 10:45, Jesus puts it this way, "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” I am grateful for our deacons who remind us that service is the way of our Savior, for it is ultimately Jesus' service to us that both motivates and enables ours!
Photo by Sierra Koder on Unsplash