Be Ye Doers. . . Of The Word!

If I asked you what you DO, you could give me a one or two-word answer like Teacher, or Salesman, or Lawyer, or Clerk, or Farmer. Each word tells me exactly what you do, what actions you perform, what tasks you complete in a day. It is this word that you write in the blank labeled "Occupation" on your income tax return. This word tells the whole world what your JOB is.

But sometimes we don't use words properly, or we misunderstand and misapply the words we use. My stepfather was saying good-bye to my little girl some time ago and said "Bye Bye, little lady!" Instantly my daughter replied, "I'm not a lady, I'm a MEGAN!"

Well, we adults do the same thing, especially where the Bible is concerned. People do not use, and most don't even KNOW, the correct meaning for Bible words — from 'baptism' to 'grace.' One of the best examples of this misuse and misunderstanding is the word 'deacon.'

The word 'deacon' is not a translation of the original Greek word, but a "transliteration," where English letters are substituted for the letters and sounds of the Greek language. Many English words came from this method such as 'Christ' from the Greek christos, 'vine' from the Latin vinum, and 'blank' from the French blanche. Most of the words "transliterated" into English kept their original meaning and usage, but some words didn't. An example is the word 'baptism,' from the Greek baptizw (baptizo), which means "to immerse, to dip, to plunge – to submerge completely in water." The 'religious' world defines 'baptism' as sprinkling, OR pouring, OR immersing. If that's true, how do they handle the instructions on an electric skillet that read "Do not immerse?"

The word 'deacon' comes from the Greek diakono (diakonos), which means "a servant," specifically the one serving food and drink. We would refer to him as a waiter. Interestingly, the word "minister" comes from the Latin ministrare, which means "to wait at a table and offer food and drink to guests." So, our English words 'deacon' and 'minister' ACTUALLY mean the same thing... but do we use them the same way? What would you think of someone who introduced himself as a "Minister?" Would you think the same thing of another who introduced himself as a "Deacon?" So then, what does 'deacon' mean? What is it that a 'deacon' does?

Throughout the Gospel accounts, the word 'deacon' is used of serving someone food and drink. Jesus said He came not to be SERVED, but to SERVE... He came as the ultimate 'deacon' to give His flesh as true food and His blood as true drink. He gives us living water from the well that will never run dry, water that will never leave us thirsty again! What a 'waiter!' So, does this mean that the 'deacon' in the Church is to FEED people? Absolutely! Why else would Luke use the word 'deacon' in describing the collection of money in Antioch to be sent to the Jerusalem Christians because of the coming famine (Acts 11:27-29)? What would they use the money for? To buy FOOD! The Antioch Church acted as a 'deacon' by FEEDING the Jerusalem Church. Over and over again, Paul writes about the Churches collecting money, and he uses the word 'deacon' in connection with the gathering of money.

But acting like a 'deacon' means MORE than just meeting a person's 'nutritional' needs. Just look at the actions of Stephen and Philip in Acts chapters 6 through 8. . . the 'deacons' were PREACHING to the lost! They were SOUL- WINNERS! Did you ever wonder WHY there were SEVEN 'deacons' in Acts chapter 6? How many days are there in a week? SEVEN! That meant that each 'deacon' worked at distributing food on only ONE DAY, and he had the other six days free. That's how Stephen had time to teach in the synagogues! The 'deacons' used their 'free time' to spread the Gospel! Which reminds me of something: we see Philip go to Samaria and baptize, the go to Gaza Road and baptize the Ethiopian, then we leave him at Caesarea. We don't hear about him again until Acts chapter 21, where in verse 8 he is called "Philip the Evangelist." He isn't called 'Philip the Junior-Elder,' or 'Philip the Church Board Member.' Philip was a Deacon, then he is an Evangelist. The one leads into the other! Philip first supplied food for the body, then followed it with food for the soul! This is our pattern to follow!!

The Bible is clear, a 'deacon' is NOT an Elder-in-training, or a Junior-Elder: a 'deacon' is an Evangelist-in-training! Training to be an Evangelist is what a 'deacon' does! And THAT is how the Church should be 'raising-up' Evangelists... putting them to work in the congregation, being taught and instructed by the Eldership in preparation for being sent out to plant Churches, set weak congregations straight, and then appoint qualified Elders to shepherd the flock! We are really turning things backward when we send our Evangelists-to-be to a Bible College for training... we are ignoring our duty and the Word of God and putting the responsibility in someone else's hands! Particularly when there are so few Colleges that teach the Bible Basics instead of the denominational debris of "doctored-rinds" that they call doctrine. You may have heard that if you put "garbage" into a box, then all you can get out of that box is "garbage." The same is true of our young men. The Church at Antioch didn't hear the Holy Spirit say "Send Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem Bible College for training in the ministry." Timothy was never written a letter of congratulations at his graduation from J.B.C. and best wishes on his attempts to find a congregation to begin his ministry. No indeed, the Church in the New Testament would train their young men in the truth and then send them out to the un-reached. They would first 'serve' in their home congregation, then go out and plant new ones and help the weak ones grow stronger. They didn't receive a title of apprentice-ship so they could work their way up the leadership ladder until they were awarded the distinguished title of "Elder." Remember, "minister" and "deacon" have the same root meaning in English... "elder" doesn't!

Since we are still in Acts, let's turn to chapter 18. In the first four verses we read that when Paul came to Corinth he had to work for his living. He had very little time to preach the Gospel, but there he was, every Saturday, in the synagogue reasoning with the lost. Then, in verse 5 we read, "But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ."

Since Paul is no longer working, we can be sure that Silas and Timothy have both BEGUN TO WORK to support Paul. Did you know that later, in Acts 19:22, Luke writes that Timothy MINISTERED to Paul? That word is the word for 'deacon!' Timothy (and Silas too!) came to Corinth and acted like 'deacons' for Paul... they financed his preaching! The Bible is clear, a 'deacon' will work a job to give support for full-time missionary work! A 'deacon' is an important member of a missionary team. Helping to pay for a missionary's expenses is what a 'deacon' does!

Now that we have read all this, let's put that word 'deacon' in the box marked 'Occupation' and then see what comes to mind, just like we did with the words Cowboy, or Surgeon, or Teacher, or Farmer. When a man is a 'deacon,' he distributes food and supplies to help the Christians in need. When a man is a 'deacon,' he spends his free time calling on the lost and trying to win souls because he is an Evangelist-in-training. When a man is a 'deacon,' he will use his income to support full-time missionary workers. Does this job description fit the one YOU had of a 'deacon?' If not, did you misunderstand just like my daughter did? Let's use Bible definitions for Bible words. Remember what the word 'deacon' MEANS – "a waiter." Think about what a 'waiter' does. He has a specific JOB to do. He brings us a menu, but de doesn't decide what is on that menu. He brings us our meal, but de doesn't decide what the meal will consist of. SOMEONE ELSE makes those decisions. The 'waiter' finds out what is needed, and he ACTS to meet that need. A 'deacon' is a man of action. So, to you Deacons out there, I say with Paul, "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, ACT LIKE MEN, be strong." (1 Corinthians 16:13)

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