JAMES 3

1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment.

            Anyone who is a teacher of the word of God, whether being a pastor, evangelist, Sunday school teacher or even a blogger; has a tremendous responsibility that should never be taken lightly. The word of God is sacred and true and needs no improvements or anything taken away.

            One Bible teacher I greatly respect is Beth Moore. In her study on the book of James she presents the following land mines to the call of teaching:

• The temptation to teach more than we know.
• The capacity to mislead.
• The temptation to use the platform for personal agendas or opinions.
• The demand for self-discipline (A decent teacher has to study. A teacher who doesn’t like to study is a talker. Don’t mix up the two.)
• The pride and humiliation
• God often likes to teach the bigger lessons to the teacher.
• The human judgment
• Others stumble with us. (When a teacher stumbles, she is apt to be charged a group rate.)[1]

            Teaching seems a glamorous vocation, but it comes with great demands. As one who has taught in a classroom and at a pulpit, I am keenly aware of many of these land mines.

            In 1996, IVY Tech’s Medical Assistant program was adding Massage Therapy to the agenda. Having been trained in massage therapy by the Health Enrichment Center in Indianapolis and practiced for a couple years, I applied for the teaching position. I was welcomed with open arms and given 6 classes to teach. I had never taught before and some of the subjects I was assigned to teach I had never heard of. One in particular, Hydrotherapy.

            Never the less, I gave it my all studying and preparing and loved every minute of it. The land mines Beth Moore listed are definitely true. It was easy to become prideful because as a teacher, I became almost like a celebrity. There are those who want to be my friend, because I was the teacher, not because I’m me. I wasn’t part of the crowd of students because I had a position of authority. There were those who judged my teaching and even complained about me. There were even those who judged my lifestyle and what I was spending my money on. (I learned I shared too much of my personal life.)

            Teachers of the word of God should also remember that we are expected to live what we preach. In this day and age of social media we can find ourselves in a fish bowl and everything we do is under scrutiny. Chuck Swindoll says, “Teachers are expected to live the truth, not just teach it.”[2] This is true for all of us who declare Christ our Savior.

            I understand that this blog I’m writing comes with great responsibility. I am presenting and teaching insights on God’s word. The Holy Scriptures. I do not take this lightly. I want you to know that I have spent a lot of time with the book of James. I have prayed, studied, and memorized to the point that it has become a part of me. I also know that God’s word is multifaceted and can say one thing to me and another to someone else. It is alive and living and speaks to our hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am presenting what I’ve learned on this journey in hopes that it may open your eyes to what can sometimes seem confusing…or boring.

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[1] Moore, James Mercy Triumphs, 110-112

[2] Swindoll, Living Insights New Testament Commentary Vol 13, 66