by Jon Burnett
The Greek word diakonoi has been transliterated into English as deacon. Sometimes the word is used to represent the ministry of the Apostles to the word, as in Acts 6:4. In 1 Corinthians 4:1 the term is translated merely as servant. Phoebe, �our sister in Christ� is described as a servant of the church at Cenchreae. By these passages, we understand that in a broad sense we are all servants of God and ministers of his new covenant (including women), just as we are royal heirs (Galatians 3:29). But there are those who are set out specifically to serve.
Though the duty of the deacon is not as specifically noted as that of the elders, we look to similar passages for insight into their work. Aside from the distributing of the goods to the needy in Acts 6, Philip and Stephen preached the gospel to unbelievers (as we all should). The void in NT content for the office of deacon gives us a clear image of the relative inconspicuousness that early deacons served in and we should mirror today. This office is usually glorified beyond its New Testament in today�s so-called �Christian� denominations. The deacons are no longer servants but overseers in the denominational world, a truly unbiblical practice.
In the New Testament, this is not the picture we see. The elders oversee the work of the church; deacons carry out and administer it (organization of worship, maintaining the building, assisting with finances, or organizing visitation programs, though not restricted to these duties). This is all done so that evangelists may devote themselves �to prayer and to the ministry of the word� (Acts 6:4).
It was clearly in God's mind that every congregation of the Lord�s church was to be headed by elders and administered by deacons (Philippians 1:1).
But just as the elders, the deacons must be qualified to serve. Returning to 1 Timothy chapter 3, we see this picture painted for us. Again, this office is one to be held by a man only. In God�s eyes, only a man can have a wife and faithful children, so how can a woman serve as a deacon if she must be married (1 Timothy 3:11,12). Though Christian women are to serve God as Phoebe did, they are not to do so as deacons, �As it is, there are many parts, yet one body� (1 Corinthians 12:20). Paul predicted the reaction to this exclusion from this office when he wrote, �And if the ear should say, �Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,� that would not make it any less a part of the body� (1 Cor 12:16). Christian women should not be an aching ear, but realize their true duties in Christ�s body.
It is important to remember all this because we �are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone� (Ephesians 3:19,20) and �Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up� (Matthew 15:13). May we accept God�s will and organize our churches accordingly.