Qualities of Deacons and Members

No. 2

By

Shelby G. Floyd

February 24, 2009

2.

Deacons Must Be Not Double-tongued

The second attribute or quality of deacons and also members of the church is a negative one—as are several more to follow. “Deacons in like manner must be…not double-tongued” (1 Timothy 3:8 ASV). The verb with the negative prefix, “Not double-tongued” is translated from [mh dilogos—me dilogos]. It means to speak one thing to one person and something else to another person, with the purpose to deceive. The American Indian had it right when he accused many of our countrymen aforetime of speaking “with a forked tongue.” This is the only time in the New Testament that this word is used. However, the concept is repeated in many places of instruction on Christian living.

Members of the Church Must Be Not Double-tongued

One of the first qualities that Jesus taught his followers was to be true and sincere in their speech to one another and all men. When Christ taught in the sermon on the mount he declared, “But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37 NKJV). And Paul in his letter to the members of the church at Colosse taught, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone” (Colossians 4:6). And James, the brother of the Lord, mirrors almost verbatim by the Holy Spirit, the words of Christ:

James 5:12

Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your "Yes" be yes, and your "No," no, or you will be condemned.

NIV

Deacons	Attribute	Christians
“Deacons in like manner must be not double-tongued” –1 Tim. 3:8 ASV	Sincere, True Speech —1 Tim. 3:8	“But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one” (Matthew 5:37 NKJV).

Yes, all Christian people as well as the deacons must mean what they say and say what they mean. In this way everyone will know that we speak the truth and know where we stand! Copyright © 2009 Shelby Floyd, All Rights Reserved