Pensamientos para hoy (afterthought for today)
How the church responds to crisis
During the Cold War I was a security policeman in the U.S. Air Force stationed in Germany. One of my jobs was to work in a forty-foot tall tower and monitor the alarm systems on the perimeter of a nuclear munitions storage facility. If the facility was ever threatened, I would also coordinate the response teams. Several response teams were always on duty. Some were inside the perimeter of the storage facility, and some were outside. In addition to the teams who were always on duty, I could also call for additional security forces who were housed at the barracks. The first call would be for thirty armed men to arrive within thirty minutes--a 30/30. Then, if needed, an additional call would go out for sixty men to arrive in sixty minutes--a 60/60. From high atop my tower I could direct these response teams. During various training exercises I took part in all these positions--in the tower, on the ground as an area response team, and as part of a 30/30. Fortunately we were never attacked, but the training exercises were very exciting. Other agencies also have ways to respond to crises. Doctors and nurses are trained to handle medical emergencies. They send paramedics to respond, and then when the injured are brought to the hospital they call specialists to deal with the emergency. Police and fireman are dispatched to fight fires and respond to other dangerous situations. But how does the Church of Jesus Christ respond to serious problems? Do we have a system in place to deal with crisis situations? The Church does have such a crisis team. The deacons and deaconesses are the rapid response team of the local church. The Bible tells us that when a crisis arose in the early church the apostles told the church to appoint deacons to deal with the problem. The event is found in the book of Acts chapter six:Now at this time while the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint arose on the part of the Hellenistic Jews against the native Hebrews, because their widows were being overlooked in the daily serving of food. So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."Later, women were chosen as deaconesses to help meet the needs of those in the church. We find these deaconesses mentioned in the Apostle Paul's first letter to his co-worker Timothy.
The statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch. And these they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them (Acts 6:1-6).1
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. These men must also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach. Women [deaconesses] must likewise be dignified, not malicious gossips, but temperate, faithful in all things. Deacons must be husbands of only one wife, and good managers of their children and their own households. For those who have served well as deacons obtain for themselves a high standing and great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 3:8-13).These godly men and women are on call twenty-four hours a day to respond to the needs of people in the church. They have answered the high calling of God, and their spiritual maturity and giftedness has been recognized by the congregation. They don't have all the answers nor can they necessarily work miracles, but they are able, ready, and willing to respond when a need arises. We need to give them our respect and allow them to exercise their important role in the church. We need to pray for them and listen to them when the give counsel. As Paul says of a deaconess who played an important part in his life and ministry:
I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant [deaconess] of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well (Romans 16:1-2).Thanking God for our deacons and deaconesses, Pastor Steve November 2, 2007
Footnotes1 Ephesians 6:19, NASB (New American Standard Bible). Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.
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