SUBJECT:    Deacons

QUESTIONS: 

1) How should deacons of God’s church conduct themselves in matters of speech and fellowship? 

2) Should deacons ever repeat dirty jokes or use toilet humor? 

3) Should deacons use scatology (any speech referring to human waste, urine, toilets, urinals, passing gas, flatulence, enemas, and the like)?

4) Should deacons ever make sport of another (the butt of a joke); especially if that person is in the ministry?

5) Would Jesus the Christ ever use any of the language described in items 1-4 above?

ANSWER:

No to all five questions.

Let us look first at the qualifications of a deacon:

Qualifications of Deacons listed:

A. Must be men of dignity (1 Timothy 3:8)

B. Not double-tongued (1 Timothy 3:8)

C. Not addicted to much wine (1 Timothy 3:8)

D. Not fond of sordid gain (1 Timothy 3:8)

E. Holding to the mystery of faith (1 Timothy 3:9)

F. Has a clear conscience (1 Timothy 3:9)

G. First be tested (1 Timothy 3:10)

H. Beyond reproach (1 Timothy 3:10; Titus 2:8)

I. Husband of only one wife (1 Timothy 3:12)

J. Good manager of his children (1 Timothy 3:12)

K. Good manager of his household(1 Timothy 3:12)

L. Sensible (Titus 2:6)

M. Example of good deeds (Titus 2:7)

N. Pure in doctrine (Titus 2:7)

O. Dignified (Titus 2:7)

P. Sound in speech (Titus 2:8)

Note: 

Qualification A:  Would a man of dignity use such language and humor?

Qualification H:  Is it conceivable that such language would offend some in the flock?

Qualification L:  Is using such language sensible?

Qualification M: Is making fun of a brother or minister a good deed?

Qualification O:  Is using such language and making fun of people dignified?

Qualification P:  Does using this language qualify one as being sound in his speech?

Conclusion:  It is clear that such action and language from a deacon is not appropriate.

Now let us look at the Word of God:

Ephesians 5:1-5

5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Note:

Verse 1:  Is using toilet humor make one a follower of God?

Verse 2:  Does toilet related speech make one think of a sweetsmelling savour?

Verse 3:  Isn’t toilet humor closely related to the unclean?  Should dirty jokes be attributed to a deacon?

Verse 4:  Does not scatology come under filthiness?  Is it not foolish talking?

Verse 4:  Is jesting something that a Christian should be doing, especially when it incorporates toilet humor and makes others the butt of their jesting?

Let us take a look at this word “jesting” in the Greek:

The word “jesting” from Ephesians 5:4

NT:2160

eutrapelia (yoo-trap-el-ee'-ah); from a compound of NT:2095 and a derivative of the base of NT:5157 (meaning well-turned, i.e. ready at repartee, jocose); witticism, i.e. (in a vulgar sense) ribaldry:

KJV - jesting.  ~Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary.

Note:

“repartee” means witty reply.

“jocose” means given to jokes and jesting.

“ribaldry” means the talk of a ribald; low, vulgar language; indecency; obscenity; lewdness

Therefore: Ephesians 5:4 “nor jesting” means that a person given to jokes and witty replies that incorporate low, vulgar, indecent and lewd obscenities.  This type of behavior is not to be named among the saints (verse3).

Ecclesiastes 10:12-13

12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.

13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.

Note:  A deacon’s words should be gracious.

Proverbs 15:2

The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

Note:  Clearly a wise deacon will not pour out scatology and toilet humor.

Matthew 12:34-37

34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

Note:

Verse 34:  Deacons should speak good things.  Toilet humor should not be in the abundance of the heart.

Verse 36:  Do we want to be judged about this kind of joking and making others the butt (literally) of jesting?

Verse 37:  Clearly toilet humor and scatology do not contain the words that justify a Christian.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Note:

Toilet humor is not edifying and does not grace the hearers.

Colossians 3:8-9

8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.

9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;

 

Note:

Clearly a deacon is to put off all filthy communication out of his mouth.

James 1:26-27

26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

27 Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Note:

A deacon, as well as, all Christians must bridle the tongue and not speak these toilet terms.  A deacon must keep himself unspotted from the world where toilet humor belongs.  It clearly does not belong in the church among the brethren.

James 1:21

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

Note:

Our words and conversation should be that of Christ.  There should be more encouragement and edifying rather than dirty humor and making fun of people.

Proverbs 23:15-16

15 My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine.

16 Yea, my reins shall rejoice, when thy lips speak right things.

Notice the commentary on this verse:

Proverbs 23:15-16

The teacher rejoices when the disciple's heart (Prov 23:15) receives wisdom, and yet more when his lips can utter it. ~from Barnes' Notes

Note:

Christ is our teacher.  He rejoices when we receive wisdom and yet more when our lips utter it.  Human waste, urine, toilets, urinals, passing gas, flatulence and enemas just are not fit for speech among the brethren.  It is not fit speech before our teacher and elder brother Jesus Christ.