Be Careful What You Teach

 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. (James 3:1 NIV)

I listen to a lot of other preachers; mostly on the internet before I go to sleep at night. Some of them have been serious reminders that we need to make sure that what we are teaching and preaching can be supported by scripture and I don't mean by cherry-picking which verses we will use because and which ones we're going to ignore.

It is way too easy to wrap our own agendas up with our favorite scriptures that support our own agendas. For instance, love your neighbor as yourself does not mean that we should ignore sin and thereby promote it. Love for your neighbor will call you to share the truth, with gentleness and patience, so that they might repent; turn to God, and be saved. 

There are also those preachers and teachers who are not unlike many of our politicians. They say whatever it is that will profit themselves the most. Begone with the truth if it will make you a buck or buy you a mansion or a new airplane! 

The truth is that we will be held accountable for what we teach and preach. Be careful to diligently study the word so that you might know the truth and not be swayed by the falsehoods of those who pretend to know the word; of those who pretend to love you as their neighbor; but, look only after themselves. 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16-17) 

Scripture is God-breathed. Listen to it! Teach it!

God's Peace - Pr. J

Training Required

James 3:1

Thanks be to God for dedicated and faithful teachers!

"The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher." Luke 6:40 NIV

Having trained and supervised many, I am aware that there are a minority of people who prefer not to be trained; not to learn how to do any right or well. There are people out there who simply don't care. However; having supervised the training of both paid employees and volunteers for close to forty years, I have found that the majority of people learn quite well when they are trained or taught properly and treated with respect. When businesses have to continually hire people week after week for the same entry level positions, maybe it's time for a change in the training department or management so that the cost of rehiring might be minimized.

When Jesus called his disciples, they followed him around for three years; watching and doing and learning. After he was crucified they still hadn't quite gotten everything they needed to know; so after his ascension to the right hand of God, he sent the Holy Spirit to continue to guide and train his followers. To aid in our respective callings training needs to be on-going. It does not end after one week or one hour of formal training. God doesn't quit teaching. So why do we?

May God teach us how to teach others in a manner that will be more beneficial to all.

God's Peace - Pr. J