Deacon is an old English word literally meaning servant. Most congregations and denominations have people in the position of deacon and deaconess whether it is an official office or meanly one in action only. Those who serve in a congregation should conduct themselves as described here.
Yesterday’s passage consisted of the position of bishop (overseer). Elder is also a position within some congregations and denominations (1 Ti 5:19, Tit 1:6, 1 Pe 5:1, 2 Jn 1:1, 3 Jn 1:1) All 3 positions have similar personal, social, and family requirements. A congregation will do well to seek people to fill such positions.
A congregation’s pastor (shepherd) needs not only helpers but accountability and checks and balances. Any leader including pastors is prone to the temptation of overloading those who are supposed to be under their care. I’ve seen it all too many times.
A congregation’s pastor (shepherd) needs not only helpers but accountability and checks and balances. Any leader including pastors is prone to the temptation of overloading those who are supposed to be under their care. I’ve seen it all too many times.
Right now more so than any time in recent decades many congregations and denominations are dwindling to such low numbers that they are dissolving. At the same time, new congregations and denominations are quickly growing.
The reason for the switch is that pastors, elders, bishops, and deacons of the former congregations confused culture with Christianity. They were only willing to bend to their will and needs, and not the needs of others. They got drunk on the wine of power and influence. They put down and ridiculed the very people that Jesus told us to help. To this day they sit in empty church services believing that they are right and/or unable to accept that they were wrong.
