Deacons, along with all other church officers, are the gracious gifts of Jesus Christ to his church, Eph. 4:11, to move her toward unity, stability, and full maturity in Christ, Eph. 4: 12f. Without the diaconate, the entire church suffers, because, in a very real sense, the diaconate is the health, education and welfare department of the church. The socialistic "welfare state mentality" in America would never have arisen had the church been faithful to her diaconal responsibilities.