The best deacons, Scripture insists, are far more than spreadsheet wizards or those who know their way around Home Depot. They’re mature believers with fine-tuned “conflict radar.” They’re where suspicion and gossip go to die. They love solutions more than drama. And they rise to respond, in creatively constructive ways, to promote the harmony of the whole church, to the praise of greatest Servant (Mark 10:45).
Imagine an ordinary church. We’ll call it Riverside Community. Certain folks in the congregation are respected, though for different reasons. Andre is the most successful businessman. Steve is the biggest giver. Ken can fix anything. Charlie has been around for 40 years. Miguel hopes to eventually become a pastor.
Is any of them qualified to be a deacon?
One of the tragedies in church life today is the lack of attention given to what biblical deacons are—and aren’t. Many churches seem content to continue operating from custom and tradition on this subject, with Bibles closed.
Yet we must all face the uncomfortable fact that Jesus doesn’t mince words when addressing leaders who cling to tradition on matters where God has spoken (e.g., Matt. 15:1–9). And a deacon’s character is something on which God has spoken.
Character Is Paramount
After listing marks of eligibility for the office of pastor/elder in 1 Timothy 3:1–7, the apostle Paul turns his attention to the office of deacon:
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. (vv. 8–13)
Fascinatingly, Paul doesn’t seem too interested in what potential deacons can do. His focus is squarely on who they must be. (Don’t miss this easy-to-forget lesson: God cares more about character than about gifting.)
Now back to Andre, Steve, Ken, Charlie, and Miguel. Should any of them be installed as a deacon at Riverside? Perhaps. The answer, though, rests not on their previously listed attributes but on whether their lives embody this all-important biblical paragraph.
What’s most extraordinary about this list of virtues? How ordinary it is. Deacons must embody the kind of character expected of all Christians. But they should be exemplary in the ordinary. Deacons are the people of whom you should be able to say, “Do you wish to grow as a servant? Do you desire to foster unity? Watch them.”
Character Isn’t Everything
According to the Bible, character is paramount.