Why would anyone want to be an elder or a deacon? You have to give up several evenings a month, you have to take on extra responsibilities on Sundays, you’re involved in stressful situations, you have to take hard decisions, and you’re setting yourself up for criticism. At least pastors are paid for all that. But elders and deacons are not? So why would anyone want to be an elder or a deacon?
Sadly, some are motivated by control (1 Peter 5:2-3). They want to have power in the church. They want to advance their own agenda and have their own way. They want to have power over people’s lives and use controlling techniques such as lies, moodiness, unpredictability, and intimidation to achieve their ends. Controllers devastate those they control as victims suffer from chronic stress, fear, passivity, distrust of authority, and low self-worth.
Controllers themselves are often victims of insecurity and anxiety which drives them to try and exert maximum control over people and situations. They are controlled by insecurity and therefore try to control for their own security. Although we may not be full-blown controllers, yet most of us still have controlling tendencies and temptations that we need to be aware of and fight against.
Therefore, as our elders, deacons take up their new roles, and as Jordan is installed as a commissioned pastor, we want to ask: What should be our motivation as we take up roles and responsibilities in the church? Why do we serve? Paul answers in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15.