It is often difficult to tell the difference between those who claim to love Christ and those who oppose Him. A Muslim acquaintance of mine recently told me. "Christians have three lives: they live one way on Monday through Friday, another on Saturday, and another on Sunday." His belief is that the average Christian's commitment to Christ is only a commitment of convenience and ritual. He stated that Sundays are fashion shows and Christians are hypocrites! I know that Muslims hate Christians, but this man is cordial and willing to engage in conversations. While I may not believe the way he believes, I do believe he is partially correct... many people are Christians by convenience and live lives of hypocrisy. I'll save further comments about hypocrisy for a future post, but I do want to focus on the need for deacons to be committed.
God expects all true Christ-followers to love Him and His Church more than their own lives. If that is the expectation for Christians, then obviously there is an even greater commitment to be evidenced in the life of a deacon. Stephen, one of the first deacons, is an illustration of this in Acts 6-7. Stephen would neither compromise, nor stop preaching that salvation came only through Jesus Christ, the Messiah. Because of this, “They stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not charge them with this sin." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” (Acts 7:59-60)
Back in Acts 6:5 we read, “They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost.” The remainder of chapters 6 and 7 describe the life of this deacon. We only read of one brief day in Stephen’s life, before he passes off the scene; but God recorded his story as an example for us to learn from. Stephen was not a negotiator or compromiser. He stood fast and the Bible records him to be a man who loved God more than his own life.
Doesn’t it seem strange that many today desire the office of a deacon, yet put personal things before church attendance, evangelism, discipleship, and ministry opportunities? Some want to control the church finances, but they don’t tithe. Some pray eloquent prayers for missionaries, but they give very little to missions. Some want to make decisions that will effect the church, but refuse to take time to seek the mind of Christ. Some want to push their personal agenda, rather than submit to God’s leading and what is “best” for His church. Some want the title and power, but they don't want to make the commitment necessary to fulfill the true calling of a diakonos... a servant of the church.
A congregation should seriously consider Deacon Stephen before electing any man to serve as a deacon. Luke describes Stephen as being a “full” man. He was not full of tricks, humor, self, sarcasm, jokes or charisma. Stephen is described as being full of faith, wisdom, power, grace, the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and love for Jesus. Should we lower God’s standards and requirements? Is it right to allow men to serve as deacons who fail to show commitment, evidence spiritual disciplines, and meet the requirements laid out in Scripture? Deacons must love, lead, serve, defend, and live for God and His Church. They must put God’s desires before their own and live with authenticity... lest it might cause those without Christ to make an inaccurate assessment of His Church.
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