In 1940 Nazis tried to eliminate the diaconate. In 1941 the Dutch Reformed Church held a General Synon on July 19th and resolved, "Whoever touches the diaconate interferes with what Christ has ordained as the task of the church." The Germans backed down.
DEACONS THROUGH THE AGES
A church without a biblically functioning diaconate is impoverished while a church with one is enriched.
- Early Church - A preview of the diaconate is found in Acts 6:1-7. They cared for outward and physical needs of the church. The Apostalic Constitutions said they did good, exercised a general supervision over poor and rich, helped the distressed, and encouraged the wealthy to give financially. Charles Deweese says they visited martyrs in prison, buried the dead, looked after the excommunicated, tended to widows and orphans, fearlessly visited the sick and died with them. Deacon love is risky and self-giving. The enemies of Tertullian (AD 155-22) said, "Look how they love one another!" Untold Christians were killed from 250-158 when they refused to honor Emperor Decius requirement to pledge allegiance to him as sovereign ruler. In AD 258, Emperor August required all bishops, priests and deacons to be rounded up and killed. A deacon named Laurence was arrested and told to give up the treasure of the church and he could live. He agreed to do so but requested three days to retrieve the treasure. He then entrusts the money to someone trustworthy, then gathers up the sick, elderly, poor, widowed and orphaned. He returns to the court with these people and is required to explain what is going on. He replied, "Sir, I have brought you what you asked for. These are the treasures of the church." He was sentenced to death by fire. He said, "You may turn me over. I am done on this side." Seventy years later Emporor Licinius put an out edit that said that citizens must repair the altars and sacrifice to the god of Jupiter. Deacon Habib rose up to the occasion. He went to churches in surround villages and ministered by the Word and encouraged them to not be afraid and to hold to the truth. Someone ratted Habib out and he was burned at the stake. As the church grew geographically, bishops and deacons offices grew to included a third office: bishops, elders/priests and deacons. This system weakened the diaconate because they began to function as secretaries to bishops. Deacons also developed their own hierarchical system with archdeacons. Archdeacons oversaw large areas and were supposed to help facilitate ministry but many grew rich under this system.
- Middle Ages - The office had shifted from charitable work to being a steppingstone to priesthood. Charitable giving became a means to save one's soul and to lessen time in purgatory.
- John Calvin's Influence - In 1541 Calvin presented to the city council the Ecclesiastical Ordinances. It called for deacons, pastors, teachers and elder. The deacons would care for the poor, give advice and comfort people. Deacons, once again, served as ministers of mercy.
- Reformation to Modern Era - (1). Presbyterians and Reformed Traditions: Deacons retained this mercy mindset. (2). Anglican Churches - Deacons are transitional, moving towards priesthood, theologically trained, ordained, appointed for life. Archbishops ask to be buried in their deacon robes signifying that all ministry is diaconal. (3). Congregational and Baptist Churches - elders serve spiritual needs, deacons serve physical needs. In the early 1900's many churches adopted a solo pastor model with deacons becoming a board or a committee.
BIBLICAL MODELS?
The Bible doesn't say a lot about deacons. Therefore: (1). we must pay close attention to the little it does say and (2). we must be generous with others whose diaconate is slightly different. Still we can discern between different approaches base on Scripture. Here are 6 popular conceptions of the diaconate that fall short of Scripture:
- Pastor-in-Training Peter - Certain deacons should eventually become elders base on the qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9) but that's not what the position is for. Nevertheless, deaconing is not training for eldering. They are different offices with different aims and different giftings. A deacon serves to care for others, not to become an elder.
- Toolbox Terrance - Being good at fixing things doesn't qualify someone as a deacon. The ability to fix things doesn't make someone a mature believer.
- Spreadsheet Sam - Knowing economics and being able to give financial advice doesn't mean someone should be a deacon. Is that person a mature believer?
- Corporate Cliff - Executive leadership in the business world doesn't mean someone should be a deacon. Is that person a mature believer?
- Veto Vinnie - Being a contrarian or resistant to change isn't an ideal trait for a deacon.
- Pseudo-Elder Steve - Being a deacon that sees the two offices of the church as equal is a recipe for disaster. They're not two separate but equal lanes. Deacons are not shepherds of the church. They are not a board of directors. They are not counterweights. This is not a two-branch polity of church government. It's not a checks and balances system.
TWO CAVEATS
While there is a cleared shared responsibility in the church between elders and deacons, the offices and functions are different. Churches where the diaconate is the true leadership sometimes struggle to keep their hired pastor.
CAVALRY OF SERVANTS
The diaconate needs to be restored. They are not the church's spiritual council of directors. Nor are they an executive board to whom the pastor answers. They help carry out the vision of Scripture as preached by the elders. They help coordinate various ministries so that those in need receive care. They do this with joy and strength. To find a good deacon look at a person's attitude, character and life. Are they eager to listen or do they only want to be heard? Are they humble and flexible or rigid and insistent on their own way? Do they status or to serve?
