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;
the let them uses the office of a
deacon, being found blameless.
evens so must their wives be grave,
not slandereres, sober, faithful
in all things. Let the deacons be
the husbands of one wife, and ruling
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.
1Timothy 3:8-13
Paul has outlined the order of the Church in regards to its governing body. Paul has covered the responsibility of husbands, wives, children, overseers, deacons, and we call this the economy of the Church the rubric for governing the Church for thrifty management, frugality in the dispensing of expenditures, or the consumption of money. Furthermore this economy is intended for the dispensing or regulating the parts of the Church keeping it an organized system according to Scripture. I wonder how this is excused when we have so-called ministers of a church that flaunt their wealth, to live as kings, in luxury while at the same time asking people to give as much as they can to the Church, and/or missions. It is not that they do not give, many do, but this is a guise, for they live as some Monarch in castles while the people that need this money go wanting. This is not governing the Church economically.
In the book of Acts we find deacons being appointed to aid the Church: "Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business" (Acts 6:3). Deacons were appointed to distribute the charity of the Church, and to manage its secular concerns. We find even pastors and evangelists among those who are to tend to the business of the Church. Paul outlined the requirements a person must meet before being and after having been chosen to be a deacon. In (vs. 9) Paul gives this important requirement: they must be proven to be such as required. Last blog I used the word "vetted," as this is a more common term in this era, but they must be tested for how else could they show that they meet the requirements? Deacons as well as any other leader of the Church must hod to the mystery of the faith. If we can fully understand the truth about God then there is no mystery, but in faith assured through His written word we can and they must also hold fast to the mystery of the faith. One such aspect of this is and it is the most important aspect of the mystery of the faith: God came to earth to die, not the Godhead, but God in flesh through His wisdom clothed in flesh, to live as a man sinless, and then die to pay the debt owed to Himself and then by this paid debt God could now apply to those He calls and enables to have eternal life. In pure conscience a person can hold fast to this mystery of God. Deacons, and all Authentic Christians are to be bold, especially those governing the Church. To be bold requires action and exercise of boldness. Not to come to Church, sit in the pew, hear a sermon and then go home and live as though you never heard or came to Church. Boldness requires a person to be bold and that boldness is to live a holy life, to take the message of this mystery of God to the world, your world, and beyond in ways that you are able. The trust given to deacons is that they would lead in ways and areas by which the Church can intentionally take this message of God to others, they are to be proven to be able to do so, and to participate in this exercise. Deacons and overseers, elders, must be leaders in more than repairing the Church, to the cleaning of the Church, to the management of finances of the Church, they are to be leaders who are bold taking this message, leading others to take this message of truth to others.
Wives, what a privilege you have, to be a helpmate for you husband as he leads the family, the Church. Wives have a deep responsibility to not be slanderers, gossipers, carrying stories that are not proven to be true to those who really are not participants. If a wive, or husband, or any other Christian has a grievance against another Jesus laid out the way to handle the problem (Matthew 18).
Husbands are to have one wife! Does this mean that a deacon must be married? No! But if a deacon wants to be married he must marry one woman. What if a man is divorced? If he remarries is is disqualified to be a deacon? Possibly, for he is to be proven to be a man who holds the truth and has not given reason to be disqualified due to divorce. If he remarries and is proven trustworthy, then the rule is: One wife! Husbands are to rule the house and have their children in control, and children are to obey their parent(s).
All this so that the office of deacon is faithfully discharged. A deacon who meets and exercises his office faithfully will not be cause for others to have facts or truth to slander him or the Church. Deacons are to have courage as they boldly, officiate the Church holding fast to the mystery of the faith.
For I said, Hear me, lest otherwise they
should rejoice over me: when my foot
slippeth, they magnify themselves against me.
Psalm 38:16
Hold fast to the Mystery of God
Richard L. Crumb
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