Will Jim Make A Good Deacon?
I met with Jim today, to talk with him about being a deacon in our church.
I have been given the assignment to interview him about his interest and qualifications for serving as a deacon in our church. I met with him during breakfast, and I have to admit there were some reservations on my part about whether he would be a good fit. Jim has only been active in our church for about two years, coming from a longterm disinvolvment in any church. And, as you will see, he is not really absorbed in church culture.
One concern was that I knew he was divorced. The Bible tells us a deacon should be the husband of one wife, and many interpret this to mean he should not be divorced. I've struggled with the issue, so I wanted to hear Jim's story. He told me he got married as a young man because his girlfriend was pregnant, and he thought it was his child. That kind of took me by surprise. He did not excuse or justify his past- just told me the story. Then he told me there are times when he has a "brewsky" with the guys at work. Whatever your feelings about the consumption of alcoholic beverages, our denomination officially frowns upon such. In a little while, as we made chitchat and ate breakfast, Jim told me he was working with some homosexuals. He said he had been studying his Bible about the issue. He feels homosexual behavior is sinful, and he would not hesitate to share that viewpoint. But he said he read in the Scriptures where Jesus said, when He returns, two men would be in the same bed- one would be taken and the other would be left. Jim said he guessed one of those men must have been a Christian! So I asked Jim if a gay person were to come before our church and apply for membership as a born-again Christian, would he accept him? Jim said "Yeah, I guess I'd let a sinner join our church, since I'm a sinner also." Interesting. So I told Jim about a teenage girl, member of our church, who has recently become pregnant without being married. The girl told me she would not come back to church because she was embarassed. And, I know her family is embarassed also. Jim told me he guessed some people might look down upon her. Then he looked me in the eye and said, "You tell that girl she can sit by me anytime she wants to come to church."
Slowly, a feeling came over me. And, I recalled Wednesday night at church fellowship supper. As we were in line to empty our leftovers into the trash, I noticed the plastic liner had come loose from the trashcan, and food was being dumped strait into the can. It was going to make a mess. Quickly, without saying anything, Jim walked over- cleaned up the mess, and straitened the liner. The feeling became more intense. And, I recalled about a month ago when a "beggar" attended our evening services. He did not smell or look very good. Some of our good folks were wary of him, and I remembered him coming a few years back with the same spiel. After the service he was asking people for money. As I was about to tell him to stop, Jim walked up, opened his wallet, and handed the man a $100 bill. I think I was the only church member who saw it.
That feeling. Sometimes I get it during a particularly meaningful experience of worship. Or when I am engaged in a deep time of prayer. I felt it as I sat there, considering this scarred and kind and humble man.
Does he qualify as a deacon?
I'd like to be more like this man. He will make a fine deacon.
08.18.05 (3:23 pm) [
edit]
posted by:
Fairmoon (
reply)
post date:
08.18.05 (1:13 pm)
i agree. he sounds like one of those people who "walks the walk" and doesn't just "talk the talk" ya know. sorry i couldn't think of anything that wasn't cliche.
he may make some of your members uncomfortable, but only because they will see that aren't like jim, and should be more like him.
sounds like an awesome man.
FM
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.18.05 (2:05 pm)
Reply to: Fairmoon
"Anyone among you who wants to be first shall be a servant to the others." - Jesus (Mark 10:44)
Certainly a different measure of greatness than what most people seem to believe.
posted by:
Fairmoon (
reply)
post date:
08.18.05 (2:39 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
yes i agree
posted by:
LeananSidhe (
reply)
post date:
08.18.05 (3:47 pm)
No matter his actions of the past, or his views on certain issues now, he sure sounds like his heart is in the right place! If only more people could be like Jim :)
posted by:
Longshot (
reply)
post date:
08.19.05 (2:35 pm)
Wow! I wish you were my pastor!
Great stuff!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.19.05 (3:04 pm)
Reply to: Longshot
Wow! That has to be the nicest compliment I have received in some time. Now you had best give me a word of challenge to get me back onto an even keel!
posted by:
preceptlady (
reply)
post date:
08.19.05 (5:01 pm)
He will be an excellent deacon!
Good choice.
*applause*
posted by:
Kupov (
reply)
post date:
08.19.05 (11:44 pm)
Sounds like a nice guy....go with him i gue, i basically think EVERYONE should be allowed into church though if they want to so.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.20.05 (4:07 am)
Reply to: Kupov
He is a nice guy. But not everyone is qualified for leadership. So often we allow our leaders to be those who tow the company line and play the game well. This guy did not give me the standard answers. He is not typical. But, I sense an earnesty and a servant heart. I think that is what a church leader needs.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.20.05 (4:07 am)
Reply to: Kupov
He is a nice guy. But not everyone is qualified for leadership. So often we allow our leaders to be those who tow the company line and play the game well. This guy did not give me the standard answers. He is not typical. But, I sense an earnesty and a servant heart. I think that is what a church leader needs.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.20.05 (4:09 am)
Reply to: preceptlady
Interesting response. This guy is not a fundamentalist; he would not fit in well with some of the more narrow churches of my denomination.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
08.20.05 (4:16 am)
Reply to: Fairmoon
I want you to know I have not quit on you with your book. I've actually read a couple of chapters. There's just alot going on in my work and life, and I want to give this book a careful analysis.
I have someone who wants me to proofread the text of a book she is submitting for publication. This is quite an honor, but it is taking up alot of my free time. It is a true story about a mother who lost her daughter to cancer. This book is a real pouring forth of her heart, and she deserves my best effort.
So I will be giving you some comments eventually, some complimentary and some challenging. Just don't give up on me!
posted by:
graceshaker (
reply)
post date:
08.20.05 (7:42 pm)
ill take a roster full of guys like this for deacons any day.
i actually hope he makes some people feel uncomfortable in your church bc i think they need to be shaken out of their sterile bubbles.
posted by:
Robin (
reply)
post date:
05.31.07 (10:43 pm)
So did this guy turn out to be a good deacon in retrospect?
Boy, I could tell you some stories along those lines (don't worry, I won't) ... church government ... whew ....
I am enjoying your site, especially the select posts from the sidebar. Several things have already been used to drive a point home or illuminate a dark place. I am a voracious reader of many years duration, and it isn't often that something that I read deeply touches me anymore.
I think that your "heart" coming through as you write about difficult situations makes the difference. Transparency is a rare thing in the church today. God isn't a God of strictly prescribed rules and minute detail monitoring, He leaves that up to the Pharisees. Love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, that is what is real. All the rest is BS. I think that anyone who struggles with the world and his own flesh and attitudes as hard as you do is growing spiritually. Thanks for allowing us this window into one Christian's life.
BTW, Read your bio, and there is NO reason you should EVER apologize for being from the Heart of Dixie, bro!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
06.01.07 (4:40 am)
Reply to: Robin
Apologize? For being from Alabama? I will have to re-examine this blog, and do some editing. What I find sometimes is this smug and preconceived notion on the part of some that being from the South automatically equates with prejudice, poverty, ignorance, etc. And I guess I've a bit of a chip-on-the-shoulder with such. I've lived in many places- KC, Detroit, Nashville. And where I currently live, people from all around the world have come together. I'm confident that where I am from, although flawed, is as good as any place. Having said that, my one experience as a pastor in Alabam was stormy and disappointing mess. I'd like to give it another shot one day, God willing.
Jim? Great man. He has continued to be faithful, a wonderful servant to his church and to others. His choice was a good move for our church. I'll soon be baptizing his little girl, who has grown up in our church and under my ministry. I've had opportunity to sit down in his home many times to talk about God and church. Jim and his family have consistently been a delight. Recently he bought a big motorcycle, which I argue is not a smart thing to do in this busy metro area. So I have to pray a bit more for Jim's safety.
Thanks for reading.
