ይደልዎ (he is worthy)
When you enter the diaconate and receive the mystery of ordination [ምስጢረ ክህነት] believers chant "ይደልዎ" (amongst the Habesha), "AXIOS" (amongst the Greeks), and "he is worthy" (amongst English speakers). What are the qualifications for entering the diaconate? This is a question raised by haters and the curious alike. The common conflations and the answer are part of the classic, nay ancient, scriptural theme of contrast. Whose side are you on?
The side of adults or children, darkness or light, night or day, Belial or Christ, unbeliever or believer, idols or the temple of God, below or above, earth or the heavens, flesh or spirit, death or life, scribes and Pharisees or the woe sayer, temple authorities or prophets, Judaizers or Paul, the hands of men or the hand of God.
We may tend to think we are on God's side, but we may actually be on the side of each of the categories I listed first. What are the qualifications for entering the diaconate? Having a pretty voice? Memorizing the daily prayers of the EOTC? In Ge'ez? Memorizing the extra-biblical texts about the Virgin Mary and our Lord Jesus Christ? We worship the etiquette that we craft with our own hands rather than the etiquette established by the Holy Spirit. It's not wrong to have our own qualifications, but often we prioritize our qualifications above the qualifications of God, and that is nothing short of idolatry.
What does Scripture have to say about entering the diaconate? The Acts of the Apostles Chapter 6, and 1 Timothy 3 are two exemplary passages.
1) they serve tables
2) they are men of good repute
3) full of the Spirit and of wisdom
4) serious
5) not double-tongued
6) not drunkards
7) not greedy
8) dogmatic about dogma [He was manifested in the flesh, declared righteous in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the nations, trusted in the world, ascended in glory]
9) tested and found blameless
10) faithful to one household in the flesh
Furthermore, we must love each other.