Requirements For Deacons

I Timothy 3:8-13

The office of deacon is a much misunderstood office. Some churches ordain deacons for life. Others don’t have any. The deacons control some churches, while they seem to serve no purpose in others. The church in acts had over eight thousand members before they selected their deacons, but they provide the only scriptural example.

“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: Ac 6:6 Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.” (Acts 6:1-6)

When the church became so large that the Apostles were not able to adequately handle the business, they selected deacons to take care of the physical aspects so that the Apostles could devote their efforts to teaching of the word, whether by counseling, witnessing, or preaching. In the listing of offices given in I Corinthians 12:28, deacons appear to fall into the categories of helps and governments. “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

The apostles specified that the deacons must be of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and of wisdom. The requirements for pastors include the fruit of the Spirit, as well as the reputation and demonstration of wisdom in performing the office. As a result, they give a good idea whether the man is filled with the spirit or not. The standards for deacons are slightly less stringent because the deacons should have less direct impact on the spiritual development of the church since their office is more connected with the physical than with the spiritual operation. Nonetheless, they need to be spiritual in order to administer the physical aspects in a manner that supports and compliments the ministry of the word.

“Likewise must the deacons be grave, not doubletongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre; Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved; then let them use the office of a deacon, being found blameless.” (I Timothy 3:8-10)

It is just as crucial that the deacons meet the spiritual standard as it is that pastors do. Like the pastor, they are to epitomize the ideal Christian. They must be grave or serious minded, and thoughtful, just as the pastor is. Their life should be orderly, not just bouncing from thing to thing as Romans 13:13 tells us. “Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.”

They must not be habitual liars, telling what ever suits at the moment. Revelation 21:8 makes it clear that habitual liars are not Christians. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”

They are not to be drunken. Like lying, drunkeness indicates a person who does not know Christ as savior, as Galatians 5:19-21 makes clear. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”

They are not to be seeking to make themselves rich. Money becomes a snare that destroys and turns away. I timothy 6;9-10 warns, “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Some churches have picked deacons because they have a good head for money. It isn’t a good choice.

They must be true believers, not just professors of faith. Sound faith is to be expected from every Christian, and deacons ought exemplify it. “But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine: That the aged men be sober, grave, temperate, sound in faith, in charity, in patience.” (Titus 2:1-2)

Until these things have been demonstrated, a man is not to be given the job, just as a pastor must have demonstrated his faith over a period of time. He ought not be a novice. Like the pastor, the deacon, if married needs a wife who will compliment his ministry. She also needs to be orderly, not focused on her own pleasure. She mustn’t be one who gossips or lies about people, and must not be frivolous in her talk or behavior, and she must be dependable in everything. Her faith must be sound, and she must be able to be trusted with confidences. As a pastor’s or deacon’s wife, the woman is in a position to do irreparable harm if she isn’t trustworthy, or begins to gossip, to be unfaithful, or irresponsible in her talk or other behavior.

“Even so must their wives be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things. Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own houses well. For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.” (I Timothy 3:11-13)

Like the pastor, the deacon’s home life and family indicate his ability to perform his office. If he can’t do the job in his own home, he surely won’t be able to do it on a larger scale with people he doesn’t have the same level of control over.

Many pastors have stories of deacons who have caused trouble in their ministries. In every case, either the pastor or the deacon has not been held to biblical standards.