Sobriety

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (1Timothy 3:8-9)

I'm sure you've heard that wine was a fairly common drink at meals and celebrations in N.T. times. So there were bound to me some who abused just as any euphoria producing substance is abuse today. Paul does not say "no wine," but prohibits the deacon must not hold on to much wine; "addicted" is a good interpretation.

Imagine one or several men showing up inebriated for a meeting or a service; irreverent and silly rather than seriously worshipping and serving God. Drunkenness is inconsistent with the need for dignity. The prohibition is neither new nor unique to Christianity. Barnes points out that both pagan and Jewish cultures prohibited religious officials at various levels from being sober. Lev 10:9 Do not drink wine or strong drink, neither you nor your sons with you, when you come into the tent of meeting, so that you will not die--it is a perpetual statute throughout your generations…

Pants on Fire?

Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (1Timothy 3:8-9)

The deacon candidate cannot be some who lies. I've seen the results of allowing such behavior in two Christian ministries—one a church. The fall out was not pretty in either case.

In one the fall from grace was quite devastating to all. No one in the congregation was unaffected in some way and the testimony to the non-Christian community was terrible. For a number of years the church has suffered.

If you know of any good that came out of a lie, please let me know.

Dignity

Next sentence:
Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not double-tongued, or addicted to much wine or fond of sordid gain, 9 but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. (1Timothy 3:8-9)

Paul's been writing about overseers (elders) now shifts to deacons and begins with the need for them to be "men of dignity." This is Paul's third use of "dignity." What's it mean?

Strong's says: venerable, that is, honorable: - grave, honest.

Merriam-Webster Online's first definition is "the quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed" but that's not the biblical meaning for a qualification. The four M-W definition is what more like Paul's intention, "formal reserve or seriousness of manner, appearance, or language."

This is not to say that he cannot be funny nor have a well developed sense of humor – these two qualities are often needed, actually. But this man should know when, where, and to what extent humor should be appropriate.

I don't think many Christian men I've met have a difficulty in this area. I have on the other hand met more curmudgeons than I care to.

Have a Good Rep

1 Timothy 3:7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Ensuring a "good reputation" means we must look at the candidate's past. The usual modern interpretation for this is to judge how the man's character will reflect on the church. But note that Paul warns that one whose past is soiled is subject to fall again. So the directive seems not so much to protect the church, although certainly a consideration, as it is to protect the person and though him the church.

New Believers

… 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become conceited and fall into the condemnation incurred by the devil. 7 And he must have a good reputation with those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Paul (and God) preferred seasoned believers to be deacons. My experiences and ministry in three churches have proven this a worthwhile qualification. To simply place a man in a position because he's there is absolutely wrong, though I understand it happens with some regularity. How do such people serve well when they barely know what it means to be a servant? Any ideas?