Difference Between Elders and Deacons

Dr. Couch, I attend a church that only has deacons and no elders. What's the difference? ANSWER:  Many churches have seen the biblical light and realize that the Word of God says that a church should have both. This problem highlights two issues. People (1) are not reading their Bible, and (2) tradition has a stronger hold on church leadership than looking carefully at Scripture. I know of many churches that have gone to elder leadership when they simply opened their Bible. Rather than give you the long answer here, I suggest you order from me my book Biblical Theology of the Church.    Unfortunately, even when a church has elders, the elders can walk about carnal and do stupid things. I know of this at first hand! Power or authority can go to their head and they can destroy what is good in their church. But supposedly, by following God's directive on the issue, the church should be in a better position to be biblical.    Another problem is that elders are not very trained. They should (but don't) really know their Bible. I have seen many who were "led" by the nose by their wives! Or, they are just passive when it comes to making tough decisions. "Duh, what shall we do?" One of my old professors, Dr. J. Vernon McGee, told of the passivity of elders. He said he was playing golf with one when it started to rain. The elder just stuck his hand out and said, "Uhhh, what shall we do?" Dr. McGee answered, "Well, what about getting out of the rain?" The old saying, "Some don't have the brains to get out of the rain!"    Thanks for asking.    Dr. Mal Couch