Page 172 - Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible Christianity. Based on the King James Bible

DEACON

To usurp pastoral authority in a church is an evil a pastor is when he is attempting to lead in direct
thing. 1. It is the sin of Korah (Nu. 16). 2. It is the sin of contradiction to clear Scripture teaching. In such cases,
Aaron and Miriam (Nu. 12). 3. It is the sin of a the church MUST refuse to follow. God does not
rebellious wife (1 Pe. 3:1-5). 4. It is the sin of a demand blind submission to pastoral authority. His
rebellious child (Pr. 30:17). 5. It is the sin of a rebellious authority to lead is tied up in his fidelity to Scripture.
servant (1 Pe. 2:18). For any group of men, families, or Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember them which have the
people in the church to attempt to exercise control over rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of
the pastor (or pastors) is as wicked as the rebellions God…” It is by the Word of God that the pastor rules
listed above. Rebellion and usurpation of authority is a over the flock. The instruction of God to the church is to
very serious matter before God, and one toward which “prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (1 Th.
He exercises especially harsh judgment. 1 Timothy 5:21). When the Bible is preached by pastors, it is to be
5:24-25 reminds us that judgment does not always tested by the hearers (1 Co. 14:29).
come in this life. Some sins follow the Christian beyond 4. The wife is to keep herself right with God and
the grave before they are settled. A group of deacons, thereby have spiritual power. A wife is not left in a
for example, might rule over pastors for many years position of powerlessness; she can walk with God. Is it
without any obvious judgment being brought upon not true that the “king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
them, but they will no doubt face this rebellion at the as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he
judgment seat of Christ. will” (Pr. 21:1)? If a king’s heart is in the hand of the
A church must be like a wife in the matter of relating Lord, so is a husband’s! The wife can have an effective
to the pastor. It is not an easy matter to submit to prayer life and thereby bring God’s rich blessing upon
pastoral authority. The pastor or pastors are never the family and help her man be what he should be.
perfect men. They have sins and faults, like all other Likewise, church members can keep themselves right
men. They make mistakes. They are immature in some with God and in a position whereby God can and will
ways and must grow in Christ, as other Christians must. bless and help their pastor because of their lives and
Submitting to pastoral authority is never a simple prayers. A pastor’s life is usually reflected in his church,
matter. The following comparison between a church and a church’s life is usually reflected in its pastor. Yea,
submitting to pastoral authority and a wife submitting it has often been observed that a congregation is given
to a husband can help: the pastor it deserves!
1. The woman is responsible before God to marry STANDARDS FOR DEACONS. (1) Born Again (1 Ti.
only the man she knows to be God’s will for her life—a 3:9). To hold the mystery of the faith in a pure
saved, spiritual man who will lead their family in the conscience refers to true faith in Christ. The opposite of
will of God and for the glory of God. Likewise, a church this is the faith Judas had, which was a hypocritical
must be careful only to select pastors who are qualified faith. He pretended to be like the other disciples, but in
by God’s New Testament standards. The church must reality he was a pretender. There are multitudes like
wait to be thoroughly convinced, after earnest prayer Judas who profess to believe the gospel, but they do not
and seeking of God’s mind, that they have found the hold this profession with a pure conscience. Profession
exact man for that church at that particular time. is not necessarily possession. “They profess that they
Hastiness in the selection of a pastor is as disastrous for know God; but in works they deny him, being
a congregation as it is for a woman in the selection of a abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work
husband. reprobate” (Titus 1:16).
2. After the wedding, the woman is to be under the (2) Exemplary Life and Testimony (1 Ti. 3:8). The
authority of her husband. This is God’s explicit deacon’s own personal spiritual life must be above
command (Ep. 5:22-24; Col. 3:18; Titus 2:5; 1 Pe. reproach that he might be an example to and have the
2:1-6). What if the husband makes mistakes? No doubt, respect of the rest of the church. “Grave” refers to that
he will! But what if his leadership and love are not seriousness of life and purpose, that carefulness in
perfect? No doubt it will not be! Even so, she is to spiritual matters, which commands the respect of
submit to him as unto Christ. In the same way, a church others. “Not doubletongued” refers to integrity, honesty,
is to submit to its pastor, though he will no doubt make openness, trustworthiness. “Not given to much wine”
mistakes and no doubt be imperfect in many ways. refers to a man who is not controlled by wine. For many
3. The wife is to refuse to follow her husband only in Bible reasons, we believe this standard requires that the
matters in which he is clearly commanding her to deacon be a man who abstains from alcoholic
disobey the Bible. In such cases, the wife must obey the beverages. Many passages of Scripture warn of the
higher authority—God and His Word. Likewise, the only dangers of alcohol. Consider Proverbs 20:1; 23:29-35;
occasion in which a church can properly refuse to follow 31:3-5; Isaiah 5:22; 28:7; Hosea 4:11; Habakkuk 2:5. A

172 Way of Life Encyclopedia of the Bible & Christianity