The Greek word that is translated deacon in the King James Bible is also used to translate minister and servant. Therefore, we often hear that a deacon is a servant. Of course, this is true, but I do not see the advantage in dwelling so much on the Greek and on deacons as being the servants. Jesus said that all who will minister for Him are servants and that those who are to be chief must be servants. Consider this passage:
Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
Jesus did not want His disciples jockeying for position in the same way that the Gentile rulers did. They were to focus on ministering and on being a servant. As I said before, this is for all of those who minister in the church. When a man has authority, it is for the purpose of ministering and not for the purpose of bossing other around. Read Peter's directions to the elders:
1 Peter 5:2-3 Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
They were to take the oversight because of their responsibility to the Lord. But they were never to become lords over God's heritage. It is true that deacons are to be servants. It is also true that they will need to submit to the authority of the pastor. But the pastor is also to be a servant. It is not a matter necessarily of who is in charge, but it is a matter of whether or not all those who minister in the church are under the authority of God and are being a servant to others.
And those who want to exclusively emphasize the servitude of the deacon must remember that it also is called an office (1 Timothy 3:10). That indicates a certain amount of authority and responsibility. The deacon is certainly more than a dish-washer and a shoe-shine boy. He is in a serious and weighty office. Both he and his wife are to be "grave" (1Timothy 3:8, 11). That is, they are to be serious in their actions, understanding both the weight and the consequences of their actions.
