Some teachers ought not be teachers

“For the time when ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God…” Hebrews 5:12

Is it any wonder that churches are unsettled? Any wonder that Christians lack confidence in their Bibles? Any wonder, when teachers of the Bible do not have a clear understanding of and belief in the inspiration of the Bible?

Commenting on Acts 25:13, Richard Longenecker (Acts, p. 343) writes, “Undoubtedly, Luke had no direct knowledge of what was said in private between a Roman governor and the king of a neighboring principality.” Were this an introduction to revealing that Luke would not know this, but knew this because God knew and inspired Luke to write it down – it would serve to strengthen believers. However, it was instead an introduction to how “the gist of what was discussed would certainly have been evident from their resultant actions.” This suggests not divine inspiration, but rather that Luke figured it out due to a logical deduction. Too many of our modern commentaries are filled with such implications, suggesting that the Scriptures are the work of human skill instead of divine revelation.

Creation, Conscience, and Instruction in the Word

Human beings may know about God through the external witness of creation and through the internal witness of consciousness.

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Romans 2:15 which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Beyond this, people should be instructed by believers in the way of truth (Cf. Acts 8:31; Matthew 28:18-20). External instruction in the word is accompanied by the internal instruction of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:13).

Proverbs 22:20-21 Have not I written to thee excellent things in counsels and knowledge, that I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?  “The scholar is to be instructed not for his own profit alone, but in order that he may be able to teach others also. (Charles John Ellicott)

1 Peter 3:15  but sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

2 Timothy 2:2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

Jesus taught

Jesus taught

With authority (invested with divine authority, with obvious mastery of his subjects, and without fear)

• Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
• John 8:20 These words spake Jesus in the treasury, as he taught in the temple: and no man laid hands on him; for his hour was not yet come.

With application (go, do)

• Luke 10:37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
• Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

With integrity (by example, modeled what he taught)

• Luke 13:14-16 And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day?
• John 13: 14-15 If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.

With continuity (the same, over, again)

• Mark 10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
• John 7:14 Now about the midst of the feast Jesus went up into the temple, and taught. John 8:2 And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

Wherever he was

·         In private (when alone with his disciples), Matthew 24:3 And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them… Mark 9:28-29 And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them...

·         In public (without equivocation, openly, not secretively; his private teaching corresponded with his public teaching), John 18:20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing. John 7:26 But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?

·         On a mountain, Matthew 5:1-2 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: and he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying

·         By the sea side, Mark 2:13 And he went forth again by the sea side; and all the multitude resorted unto him, and he taught them.

·         From a ship, Luke 5:3 And he entered into one of the ships, which was Simon’s, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And he sat down, and taught the people out of the ship.

·         In the synagogues, Luke 6:6 And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught…

·         In the temple, Mark 12:35 And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the Son of David?

·         Across the Jordan, Mark 10:1 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judæa by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.

·         At Capernaum, Luke 4:31 and came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

·         In houses, Matthew 13:36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away, and went into the house: and his disciples came unto him, saying, Declare unto us the parable of the tares of the field.

All God's children

"All thy children shall be taught of the Lord." Isaiah 54:13 

"God's teaching does not leave a man where it found him, dead, stupefied, worldly, unfeeling, and carnal. If he is in distress, it does not leave him in distress; if he feels guilty, it does not leave him guilty; if he is in darkness, it does not leave him in darkness; but it lifts him out of these evils." -- J. C. Philpot

Selling counterfeits

Some engage in deliberate proliferation of counterfeits. The average Bible teacher is more often only guilty of failing to distinguish between the genuine and the fake. After mining for and finding treasure, it is important that we authenticate that treasure before trying to pawn it to others. Value is in the genuine article. Too often we are so set on finding "something new" that we do not spend the time to authenticate it -- that is, we don't study enough, pray enough, and set it out for inspection by trusted brethren. We just put it on the shelf for all the world to buy. God help us. This is a dangerous game. Teaching is a sacred trust and a formidable responsibility.

Since man by sin has lost his God,
He seeks creation through;
And vainly strives for solid bliss,
In trying something new.

The new possessed like fading flowers,
Soon loses its gay hue:
The bubble now no longer stays,
The soul wants something new.
("Something New" From The Southern Harmony, p. 254)

How do teachers make their students feel?

Seen posted in a school: In years to come, your students may forget what you taught them. But they will always remember how you made them feel.

What does this mean? Is it correct? If so, what does it suggest to teachers?

The Church -- God's "Seminary"

This blog post is really unfinished, but I posting it as is. Maybe we can flesh it out later.

CERTAIN PRESUPPOSITIONS I HAVE

1. The Inspiration of Scripture - all scripture is given by God and is therefore the place we find our instructions.
2. The Great Commission of Matthew 28:18-20 is a command to be fulfilled by local assemblies of believers (i.e., local Baptist churches).
3. The local church is by definition and purpose a gathering of baptized saints committed to carrying out the work of Christ.
4. New Testament examples - consistent examples are authoritative.

SOME ASSUMPTIONS OF SEMINARY

1. That the churches are not fully equipped to train their ministers.
2. That an education based on secular patterns and learning styles is preferable to “being educated at church.”
3. That one having an accredited degree is more qualified to teach God’s people than one having only a spiritual gift.
4. Training for “the ministry” is of greater importance than training for “ministry”.

We should have at least a right to question a system that was non-existent in the apostolic age.

The same body that evangelizes and baptizes should also teach.
Religious education is by the church and for the church (Matt 28:18-20).
The purpose of religious education is maturation of the saints that they might engage in ministry, be built up as a body with the goal of unity of the faith and knowledge of Christ (Eph. 4:7-16).

Studying the scriptures exhibits nobility (Acts 17:11) and approves us unto God (II Tim. 2:15).

The church as God’s “seminary” recognizes the giftedness of the entire church body rather than somehow implying an exclusivity of the eldership.
The church as God’s “seminary” recognizes their authorization to teach by Christ and uses the body He authorized.

Are college professors or pastors best qualified to train pastors?
Pastoral ministry should not be equated as a profession as the legal or medical professions.

THINGS THAT NEED TO BE RETHOUGHT IN REGARD TO THE SEMINARY MODEL
1. What studies are really necessary for pastors?
2. Where does the example of plurality of elders fit?
3. Why must a religious education cost so much?
4. Should potential pastors been taken out of the life and concerns of their local church?
5. Why do we need the classroom setting? examinations? degrees?

If seminaries are sincere, let them work themselves out of a job by equipping churches to become able to educate their own people, rather than keeping churches dependent upon them as a constant source for education and preachers.

In the local church, we never finish our education and never receive a degree.
In addition to theology, hermeneutics, in the church we learn necessary lessons of interdependence, inter-relatedness, self-denial, longsuffering, meekness, kindness, and love.

“Every church was then a seminary, in which provision and preparation was made, not only for the continuation of Gospel preaching, but for the calling and gathering, and teaching of our churches.” John Owen, Commentary on Hebrews, Vol. 3, p. 568.

Teaching

"Go ye therefore,and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." -- Matthew 28:19, 20

"The teaching Jesus commanded was not focused on attaining mental astuteness, but on gaining obedient Christlikeness." -- Larry E. Clements, Christian Education Bulletin, Sept-Nov 2006