http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/ Recent content in Blog on Readings in the Reformed Diaconate Hugo -- gohugo.io en-us Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/they-must-not-be-double-tongued/ Wed, 23 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/they-must-not-be-double-tongued/ [The deacon] is in danger also, perhaps, of promising to the pastor, and not fulfilling. This is justly fatal to character and to usefulness. It prevents confidence and creates contempt. — John Lorimer, The Deaconship http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/promoting-diaconal-work-in-presbytery/ Thu, 16 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/promoting-diaconal-work-in-presbytery/ While denominational committees serve important functions, Christ hasn’t ordained these committees—he’s given us our offices and the governments of our own congregations. That’s our greatest calling. As committee members, there is an opportunity to serve and build up local churches and diaconates through Presbytery Diaconal Committees. The Current State Reformed churches are in an encouraging era. The OPC and sister denominations have a stronger emphasis on diaconates than has been true historically. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/letter-to-a-new-deacon/ Tue, 15 Nov 2022 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/letter-to-a-new-deacon/ Serving Christ in the office of deacon can be one of the greatest joys in life. It is a calling to die to oneself and live to Christ. Deacons get to love the LORD in heart, soul, and mind as they labor to free their elders for the work of preaching and praying, and they get to love their neighbor as they guard the sheep from the trials of poverty, loneliness and sickness. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/dishonor-to-protestant-christianity/ Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/dishonor-to-protestant-christianity/ We can conceive few things more dishonourable to Protestant Christianity, or more fitted to impair its progress, than to be able to say, with apparent truth, that it is careless of the interests of poor—more careless than the men who make less pretension. And, on the other hand, we can conceive few things more fitted to propitiate the good-will of the world, which, at all events, admires benevolence, than to be able, in a way which does not admit of cavil, to show that the same religious system which alone can provide for the welfare of eternity, is the most active and unwearied guardian of the poor man’s interest in time. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/qualifications-for-deacons/ Tue, 27 Nov 2018 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/qualifications-for-deacons/ Acts 6: Background of the Diaconate Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/tender-heart/ Sun, 28 Oct 2018 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/tender-heart/ It is only true piety which, during a long succession of years, will sustain the heart in tenderness to the poor amid trials and difficulties, and which will uphold the deacon in the unwearied, and sometimes unrequited care of the house of God. — John Lorimer, The Deaconship http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/character-of-a-deacon/ Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/character-of-a-deacon/ Animated by the spirit of his office, and acting out the character which the counsels of the Word imply, [a deacon] will not be haughty, or harsh, or suspicions, he will not be cold, and formal, and repulsive, discharging his work as if it were a burden; he will be frank and easy in his intercourse with the poor and take an interest in their avocations, their health, and welfare; kind, and tender, and sympathising, especially when in sickness; but withal firm, and not easily persuaded to what his judgment does not approve. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/the-deacon-must-be-sincere/ Sun, 19 Nov 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/the-deacon-must-be-sincere/ A deacon, to be relieved from the annoyances sometimes connected with the discharge of his duties, is tempted to put the poor off with insincere words—to say one thing to one man, and an opposite to another. He is in danger also, perhaps, of promising to the pastor, and not fulfilling. This is justly fatal to character and to usefulness. It prevents confidence and creates contempt. The deacon, then, must be sincere. http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/temporal-wants/ Mon, 17 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/temporal-wants/ Our blessed Lord does not, like some of his professed followers, make light of temporal wants. — John Lorimer, The Deaconship (1842) http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/benefits-of-a-well-functioning-diaconate/ Tue, 04 Jul 2017 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/benefits-of-a-well-functioning-diaconate/ He feels, that amid all his own difficulties and discouragements, he is not standing alone—that other are alive to his circumstances, and sympathise with him, and are forward to aid him—and that he can have their advice and cooperation in many matters, which are otherwise fitted to distract and to burden. — John Lorimer, The Deaconship (1842) http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/deacons-and-the-nazis/ Fri, 25 Dec 2015 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/deacons-and-the-nazis/ When during World War II the Netherlands were occupied by Germans the deacons of the Dutch Reformed Church assumed the care for the politically persecuted, supplying food and providing secret refuge. Realizing what was happening, the Germans decreed that the elective office of deacon should be eliminated. The Reformed Synod on 17 July 1941 resolved: ‘Whoever touches the diaconate interferes with what Christ has ordained as the task of the church… Whoever lays hands on diakonia lays hands on worship! http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/the-graces-of-a-good-deacon/ Wed, 21 Oct 2015 00:00:00 +0000 http://reformeddeacon.com/blog/the-graces-of-a-good-deacon/ To avoid friction between members, to promote happy pastorates, and to develope the grace of liberality, nothing is more important than a good deacon, one who can be patient, who can smile at unreasonable people, and speak a soft word to turn away wrath, one who is willing to give time and take trouble on himself, and make himself ‘all things to all men’. — R.C. Reed, The Deacon (1903)