The Highway Forums General Discussion Open Forum Female deacons?

James,

Let me first assure you that my intention in engaging you in this discussion is not to attack YOU as an individual. I do sympathize with your situation and share in your optimism that what you have been doing with your pastor in the hopes of reforming your particular congregation will bear fruit. My objection is to the doctrine of the Deaconate and the biblical evidence that supports the traditional position as opposed to the neo-evangelical position.

In reply to:

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1. What is the nature of the authority of a deacon? Is it the kind of authority Paul is talking about in Timothy. I think a case can be made that it is not.

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I think this is at least the third time I will have dealt with this argument and I hope it will be the last. The "authority" of those who serve in the Deaconate is an ancillary issue and must be considered only AFTER one has established the qualifications for that office. What a Deacon DOES cannot determine WHO is qualified to function as a Deacon. Thus, the responsibilities of the office apply only to those who are qualified to serve.

Now, the two major biblical texts, taken in their respective contexts and by a plain reading of the texts clearly show that Paul has men in mind. The grammar simply cannot be twisted to allow women to be included. As I and others have pointed out, "husband of one wife" and the prolific use of the pronoun "he" throughout the passages cannot be dismissed or be twisted around with today's political correctness and/or feministic philosophy. The further fact that Paul says, "and the women likewise must be. . ." shows that there is a clear distinction between male and female. And, it is to the men that Paul address all but this one statement to women, and sets forth the specific qualifications for the offices of Elder and Deacon. Yes, I am more than familiar with the various attempts to explain away the "maleness" of Paul's words. But, in all honesty, I would hope you would see that if this type of sophistry was used on any other well-established doctrine, e.g., the depravity of man, justification by faith, etc., you would summarily reject those arguments as spurious. For some reason, and I do have my own thoughts as to why this is being done, women in office is being given the emphasis today.

Lastly, I must confess that I cannot accept your reasoning that by serving as a Deacon along side of this woman who is illegitimately occupying the same office, you would somehow be unable to minister to your pastor, who by this time has surely become a personal friend. It seems to me that as a friend, your wise counsel would not be diminished but contrariwise more firmly established as you would be seen as someone who desires to walk by Scriptural teaching and not by the trends of the day. I believe that this is part of what Paul means by those who serve must be of "good report".

May God guide you and speak to your heart clearly in this matter in the days ahead so that you will be firmly established in His Word and walk by faith and not by sight.

Matthew 5:16 (KJV) "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."

In His Grace,