How old should a deacon be?

[Jim1999]

Indeed, Jerome, thank you.

Even the Plymouth Brethren leader agreed that Paul admitted "deaconess" (because she was female). Besides, there were other female leaders in scripture, but conveniently ignored.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[DHK]

I have to respectfully disagree. Who counsels the pastor? Who makes recommendations to the congregation? Who serves communion? Who steps in as leaders when a pastor leaves? In an IBC, it's the deacons and trustees. These men ARE in positions of responsibility and authority.

The pastor most often seeks counsel from God, on his knees. That is to whom He is responsible. If he is fortunate enough to be in an area where there are other pastors of like faith and order he can seek fellowship and counsel there. The sheep don't guide the shepherd. That is unbiblical.

Who steps in when the pastor leaves? You mean temporarily, as in a vacation? It is whomever the pastor appoints. He will give account to Christ for whom he appoints. It could be another pastor from another church. It could be a member of his church that is neither deacon or pastor, but a mature believer. It is his decision. God appointed him the "bishop" (overseer) of the church.

Who makes recommendations to the church? The pastor does. He may do so with the advice of the men of the church (deacons, etc.). The church may make the final decision by a congregational vote. But the pastor is the overseer. He needs to be making recommendations to the church, even if they once and a while come from one of the men.

Read through 1Timothy 3:8ff., preferably in the Darby translation. You won't find the word deacon or office in his translation. If you have the education study the verses in the Greek. See if you can find the word "office" in the Greek. There is no such word in the Greek. In the Greek there is "servant", "ministry," "service," etc. But there is no office. The requirements laid down are for those who are serving in the church, not for those who hold any office. There isn't an office for the deacon. There is no such word in the Greek, at least not in 1Tim.3:10

And let these be first proved, then let them minister, being without charge against them. (1 Timothy 3:10) Darby

for those who shall have ministered well obtain for themselves a good degree, and much boldness in faith which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 3:13) Darby

--Note: no office and no deacon in these two verses. Compare with the KJV.

 

[preacher4truth]

Excellent post DHK.

I am pretty certain, that if Acts 6 represents deacons, that the apostles weren't looking to hire bosses for themselves, to counsel them.

I also don't believe Phoebe held an office as a deacon. The word means servant, and could have been translated as such, and no office being attatched to it. She was commended for being a good servant of the Lord, not being noted as holding the office. Scripture interprets Scripture, and in other passages the office and its filling is qualified. That's the Word.

 

[Jim1999]

In my organization, The Fellowship, the congregation owns the "church" not the pastor (overseer). That church hires and fires. The pastor is a member of each inner organization, "ex officio" and not chairman of each organization.

Our deacons also preach at times, not serve coffee! We also hire custodians...deacons don't do it.

Our association of BAPTIST churches has done very well over many years, thank you very much. I'm working on them to accept female pastors when the need arises......."smile".

Oh, and we don't ordain deacons, either, only pastors.

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Dr. Bob]

We use biblical guidelines for the "sh'mash" or "servant/helpers" that assist the Body. This was a common role in the synagogue and very needful in the local church (modeled after the synagogue)

I Tim 3:8-13 in language we can understand: "Deacons, like elders, are to be . . .

1. Men
2. Worthy of respect
3. Sincere
4. Not drunkards
5. Not greedy
6. Have a good grasp on deep doctrinal truth
7. Have a clear conscience
8. Tested in character and found above any reproach
9. Married (like the Elder), with a wife
. . worthy of respect
. . not malicious
. . temperate
. . trustworthy
10. One woman man (not immoral/polygamist)
11. Standing before children in authority/example
12. Serve congregation well

Age and experience are both implied by most of these requirements God gave.

 

[preacher4truth]

We use biblical guidelines for the "sh'mash" or "servant/helpers" that assist the Body. This was a common role in the synagogue and very needful in the local church (modeled after the synagogue)

I Tim 3:8-13 in language we can understand: "Deacons, like elders, are to be . . .

1. Men
2. Worthy of respect
3. Sincere
4. Not drunkards
5. Not greedy
6. Have a good grasp on deep doctrinal truth
7. Have a clear conscience
8. Tested in character and found above any reproach
9. Married (like the Elder), with a wife
. . worthy of respect
. . not malicious
. . temperate
. . trustworthy
10. One woman man (not immoral/polygamist)
11. Standing before children in authority/example
12. Serve congregation well

Age and experience are both implied by most of these requirements God gave.

Thats an excellent assessment Dr. Bob. Of course, it is all Scripture.

Thanks for your stand upon the Word. I really, sincerely appreciate that.

This type of stand is excellent, and supercedes all other liberal ideologies, and the spirit and somewhat flippant attitude that tends to come from those who espouse "other doctrines" contrary to solid doctrine.

It does this simply for the fact it is the Word of the living God.

Thanks very much.

 

[freeatlast]

NIV:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon of the church in Cenchreae.

Exactly, good proof, that is one of the liberal translations. :thumbs:

 

[Jim1999]

Maybe it is just not American. There are more poor old second class citizens in both Old and New Testaments that held leadership roles, some even appointed by God. I guess God missed the boat too!

Cheers,

Jim

 

[Tom Bryant]

I have to respectfully disagree. Who counsels the pastor? Who makes recommendations to the congregation? Who serves communion? Who steps in as leaders when a pastor leaves? In an IBC, it's the deacons and trustees. These men ARE in positions of responsibility and authority.

Feel free to disagree, but Biblically, the position is not about authority but about service.

I am respectfully disagreeing that your church is organized according to the Bible.

 

[webdog]

What about deaconess Phoebe addressed by Paul in Romans 16:1f?

Cheers,

Jim

A leader must serve, a servant is not necessarily a leader. Phoebe was the latter.

It should also be mentioned that the office of Deacon in the church was one of leadership and service (not over spiritual matters, but physical matters pertaining to the church), which would disqualify a woman per Paul. All believers are called to be servants, but there were specific requirements for the office of Deacon that not every believer could fill.

In regards to age, I think Dr. Bob's post was accurate.

 

[Old Union Brother]

We use biblical guidelines for the "sh'mash" or "servant/helpers" that assist the Body. This was a common role in the synagogue and very needful in the local church (modeled after the synagogue)

I Tim 3:8-13 in language we can understand: "Deacons, like elders, are to be . . .

1. Men
2. Worthy of respect
3. Sincere
4. Not drunkards
5. Not greedy
6. Have a good grasp on deep doctrinal truth
7. Have a clear conscience
8. Tested in character and found above any reproach
9. Married (like the Elder), with a wife
. . worthy of respect
. . not malicious
. . temperate
. . trustworthy
10. One woman man (not immoral/polygamist)
11. Standing before children in authority/example
12. Serve congregation well

Age and experience are both implied by most of these requirements God gave.

Good job!! This is my understanding as well.

 

[RevGKG]

I have to respectfully disagree. Who counsels the pastor? Who makes recommendations to the congregation? Who serves communion? Who steps in as leaders when a pastor leaves? In an IBC, it's the deacons and trustees. These men ARE in positions of responsibility and authority.

If they are in authority, they are not serving as deacons.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Although I have known some very mature teenagers, I believe that is way too young for such a position as deacon. I was in a Christian Web site once where the Administrator was 16. I was a moderator when I deleted some VERY offensive posts by a spammer that were praising the devil and blaspheming God. The boy criticized me for deleting them. I quit as the moderator and left that Web site shortly after that. Teenagers should not be given positions of authority, and neither should adults until after they have proved themselves.

Funny you should mention that. I post on another message board where the very young age of some of the moderators is an issue currently being discussed.

In one case, 16 year old moderator rebuked me for making "racist" statements because he was too young to understand a cultural reference I made that had nothing to do with race. It actually was a statement I made about the late commedienne, Gracie Allen.

But, anyhoo, back to the question of the OP...

The Bible doesn't really give us an age. It just gives us certain requirements to be met. I've seen deacons as young as college aged.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

If they are in authority, they are not serving as deacons.

Assigning deacons the responsibilities and authorities of elders is very common in Baptist churches. I've never really understood why this isn't discussed more.

 

[Jerome]

From the pages of The Sword and Trowel, May 1866:

. . .an examination of the titles given to Church officers in the New Testament; and especially from those titles being sometimes interchangeably used. . . .the term elder is applied both to bishops and deacons. . . .distinct officers were recognized by the Church, but they were lovingly blended together. There was no contention about a name as expressive of an authority, which it would have been sacrilege for others to invade.

 

[freeatlast]

Assigning deacons the responsibilities and authorities of elders is very common in Baptist churches. I've never really understood why this isn't discussed more.

It does get some attention but anytime that a particular practice that takes place in any denomination is questioned and it is clearly contrary to the word of God the denomination always stands firm on its error. It makes no difference if it is Baptist or any other denomination. In other words like the Jew of old it is tradition over truth.

 

[John Toppass]

Our association of BAPTIST churches has done very well over many years, thank you very much. I'm working on them to accept female pastors when the need arises......."smile".


Cheers,

Jim

In this regard, it would seem, you are working on your association of Baptist churches to ignore scriptural direction. Direction that was breathed by God. But, if you do not believe the scriptures in whole then I guess it doesn't matter.

 

[dh1948]

The problem is that a deacon is not in authority over anyone. A deacon is to be servant. So the issue is whether the person is spiritually mature enough to fulfill the Biblical guidelines and mature enough to serve others.[/QU

Amen! I was about to make that same observation. One of the ills of many Baptist churches is the belief, and practice, that deacons have authority.

 

[trainbrainmommy]

So when your church is without a pastor, everyone is "in charge" or no one is "in charge".

NO. When you have no pastor, someone has to step up and be a leader - responsible and in a position of authority.

Your "that's not biblical" response is nice. But not very practical.

 

[rbell]

We have the requirement at our church of at least 25 years of age.

Is that an arbitrary number? Of course. However, as Dr. Bob says...there are many qualities asked of this position. I think that there are extrordinary young folk out there that come close--but I do think it is quite rare for someone in their teens and very early 20's to be ready for the calling. Of course, there are some--but I think most need "seasoning." I've never felt strongly enough that our policy was unwise--definitely haven't thought we should question it. I see it more as a "guardrail" to keep us from putting someone in the position who isn't mature enough for it.

I would think that making someone wait an extra year or two (and risk some potential frustration on their part) is less problematic than putting someone in the position who truly isn't mature enough for it. Just MHO.

(Having said that, I've been in many churches who really did seem to "look down on the young." Always thought that was a sad thing to see.)