SAMPLE Q&A FROM MAY:

Question: Is it wrong to decline the service of a deacon if one aspires the office of an overseer instead?

Answered by: Bill Stewart, who has been a volunteer with us since June 2003.

Answer: Thank you for your question.

1 Timothy 3:1-7, Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God`s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil`s trap (NIV).

Titus 1:6-9, An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer is entrusted with God`s work, he must be blameless — not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

I believe the first leaders of the church were given as gifts from the Lord as Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:11-12, It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God`s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

The apostles and prophets are the foundation of the church (Ephesians 4:20) and only functioned in the early days of the church. The evangelists have from the beginning taken the gospel around the world as missionaries (Mark 16:15); and the pastor-teachers are making disciples and teaching in the local churches throughout the centuries since.

The first elders and deacons were chosen by the Apostles who chose assistants like Timothy and Titus, who were given the qualifications of elders listed above. They then choose the men who qualified according to these lists for elders or overseers, which oversaw the early churches.

Since that day churches have developed different ways of choosing their shepherds of God’s flock (1 Peter 5:2). Some denominations have rules and requirements and have total control of the appointment of pastors. Other churches allow the responsibly of choosing their own pastors and deacons, by the members of their churches; which seems to be the way your church does as they are choosing you to serve as a deacon.

First of all, it is not wrong to aspire or set your heart to be an elder, but it is not something that you can obtain by and for yourself. It is an awesome responsibility given by others to oversee the flock of God. Hebrews 13:17 states; Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

I am reminded of the parable Jesus gave in Luke 14:7-11, When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8 `When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9 If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, `Give this man your seat.` Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10 But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, `Friend, move up to a better place.` Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.`

God’s advice to us all is, …All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, `God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.` 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God`s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:5-6).

My personal advice is to seek to have the scriptural qualifications of an elder as listed above; being above reproach (blameless); apt (able) to teach; manage well your family; be holy in life; not a novice (one newly saved); have a good reputation with those in the community; and all the rest.

Then learn what other qualifications the church may have to be their pastor; education in Bible training; experience; whatever. Then seek in your life to fulfill each one so that your church will see them in your life and seek to have you as an elder or pastor. Until they do, accept the duties of a deacon humbly, and fulfill it faithfully, showing the fruit of the Spirit in your service (Galatians 5:22-23).

I hope this helps, verses were taken from the New International Version (NIV).

William