I was reflecting this morning on the need for healthy, sound reasoning in the pulpit and the pew from something Paul told his protege Titus.
“The overseer (another word for an elder or pastor) must be above reproach as the steward of God, not self-willed, not angry, not a lover of wine, not pugnacious (one who loves a good fight), and not after anyone’s money.
“He should be given to hospitality, a lover of what is good, clear-headed, just, devout, and self-controlled….” (Titus 1:7-8)
The expression “common sense” isn’t found there, but it sure is implied, to my thinking.
A friend said, “Our church has women deacons. Do you have a problem with that?”
I said, “I just finished a deacon training thing for a church in South Carolina with women deacons. I’ve never pastored a church that had them, but I served a couple that could have benefited from some strong, godly women in those meetings!”
I told him, “To me, it’s a decision the congregation makes. In the same way the church chooses what role it wants its deacons to fulfill, whether to minister, take a more administrative function, or be the outright leaders.”
Common sense. What do we need our deacons to do? The line from Acts 6 says, “Choose seven from among you whom we may put in charge of this need.”
What is your church’s need? That’s usually where you’ll want your deacons.
A friend reminded me today of the devastating power of a common sensical word well spoken.