Christians Are Called to be Teachers


by Alan D Campbell - Date: 2006-12-12 - Word Count: 1464 Share This!

Introduction

"To be or not to be, that is the question" wrote the famous English poet and playwright William Shakespeare in Hamlet. A similar question for Christians is "to teach or not to teach."

Should every Christian become a teacher of the truths of the Bible? Is teaching limited to formal teaching in a classroom or at church services or are there other methods of teaching? This article shows how Christians are called to be teachers of God's word in this life.

Teachers Will Be Judged More Strictly

James 3:1 shows how teachers must be very careful what they teach.

"1My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." (KJV)

The Greek word didaskalos translated as masters in the King James Version of James 3:1 can also mean teachers. James humbly includes himself as a teacher when he says "we shall receive the greater condemnation." This verse does not say that no one should become a teacher. James states that those who teach God's word will receive greater condemnation, which means that teachers will be judged more strictly. Christians should not hastily want to become teachers of God's way of life of their own accord. James describes in verses 2 through 12 of this same chapter the difficulty people have in taming their tongues. Words are the instrument of teachers, so teachers must be very careful what they teach.

A Christian teacher must teach the truth rather than opinions. Teachers must not say "do as I say, not as I do." While no human teacher is perfect, teachers must be careful to live a life that does not contradict their teaching. Teaching others can lead to vanity and pride, which are tools of Satan the devil.

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that a bishop or elder of the church must be able to teach (I Timothy 3:2). He must also not be a novice to reduce the chance that he will fall into Satan's trap of pride (I Timothy 3:6). Teachers who are not elders can also fall into Satan's trap of pride.

Christians need to be eager to heed the word of God and learn it. New Christians should not be eager to become teachers of the word of God very quickly. They should focus on progressing beyond the milk of the Bible and learn the truth of God more perfectly.

What James wrote in James 3:1 is better understood in light of what Jesus Christ said about the scribes and Pharisees in Matthew 23:6-12:

"6And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues,

7And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.

8But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren.

9And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

10Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

11But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

12And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be

exalted." (KJV)

While Christ was the teacher of the 12 disciples, there were teachers in the early New Testament church. In these verses, Christ is emphasizing humility. Teachers were not to take to themselves lofty titles. He is not saying that there would not be teachers in the Church of God.

A Christian teacher takes the place of a rabbi in Judaism. A rabbi was treated with great respect everywhere he went. As a result, he could easily become filled with spiritual and intellectual pride. He could become the type of person Jesus warned against because he was filled with vanity by the great respect others showed him in public (William Barclay, The New Daily Study Bible: The Letters of James and Peter, 2003, Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, p. 93).

We Should Become Teachers

A passage in Hebrews 5:12-14 says that Christians should be teachers:

"12For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.

13For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.

14But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (KJV)

After adequate time after conversion, Christians should develop their knowledge through the study of the Bible and their experiences in life so that they can teach others at least the basic principles of being a true believer. Christians are to grow in grace and knowledge of the Bible (II Peter 3:18).

The Hebrews had not developed their knowledge of the scriptures very far. They needed others to teach them the basic doctrines of the scriptures. Christians need to learn the word of God with a goal of using their knowledge to teach others in a humble manner for their benefit.

Teaching the Bible to others publicly is a spiritual gift (I Corinthians 12:28-31). However, after adequate time in the church, everyone should be able to teach at least the basic truths of the Bible to others in private.

A good example of a man and a woman engaging in private teaching of the Bible is Aquila and Priscilla's teaching the way of God more accurately to Apollos, who was a public teacher of the ways of God (Acts 18:24-26). If Christians want to be called great in the Kingdom of God, they must not only keep God's commandments, but they must also teach even the least of the commandments to others (Matthew 5:19).

Parents should be teaching the Bible to their children during the daily activities of living (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Older women have a duty to teach younger women to love their husbands and children, to be discreet and chaste, and to be good homemakers (Titus 2:3-5). The older women should teach the younger women in private. (I Timothy 2:11-12)

Christians who are experienced in the faith and are more spiritual should be able to help restore other Christians who have become overtaken by a sin by teaching them how to overcome it. Christians who help to restore others should do so with gentleness and consider how they also can be tempted (Galatians 6:1).

All Christians should be prepared to give an answer to those who ask them a reason of the hope that lies within them. The hope of a Christian is eternal life in the Kingdom of God. Just as public teachers of the Bible must teach with humility, Christians must answer and teach others who ask about their hope with meekness, gentleness, and reverence (I Peter 3:15).

The Purpose of Teachers

What is the purpose of public teachers of the Bible? The apostle Paul provides the answer in Ephesians 4:11-13:

"11And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:" (KJV)

Christians who have the gift of teaching others should use the gift of teaching to edify others and not themselves. The goal of teaching in the church is to prepare members for the work of ministry or service. Teachers should show how Christians are called to be servants and teach how they can become better servants of Jesus Christ.

While God gives Christians their own natural abilities, they can by study and practice develop their talents to edify the body of Christ. Christians should use their spiritual gifts in the spirit of love, which the apostle Paul calls a more excellent way (I Corinthians 12:31). Whether Christians teach in public or in private, they should work to become better teachers.

Conclusion

The question this article presented was "to teach or not to teach?" The answer is that all Christians are to teach. Teaching is not limited to public teaching. A great deal of teaching takes place in private. Before Christians can teach others the truth of the Bible, they must gain a good understanding of the Bible through diligent study and experience in applying what they have learned.

One of the key characteristic of a good teacher of the truths of the Bible is humility. Christians who teach others need to be humble whether they are teaching the Bible publicly, giving an answer to others of the hope that lies within them, or restoring another Christian who has been overcome by a sin.

Christians should the Bible more diligently, apply what they learn in their lives, and teach others the truths of the Bible.


Related Tags: gifts, knowledge, spiritual, hope, pride, humility, teacher, word, elder, priscilla, aquila, apollos

Alan D. Campbell lives in Brandon, Florida. For more good news, please request your free subscription to the Good News Magazine at http://www.gnmagazine.org Also, see his blog The Good News of the Kingdom of God at http://goodnewsofthekingdomofgod.blogspot.com

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