Week 17: Page 100
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
James 3:1
My third grade teacher always loved getting to page 100 in our textbooks. She would tell us that it meant we had accomplished something, and we were in the proverbial middle. I can’t see page 100 today without thinking of her. We are at page 100. First semester is over, and we have the second half to go. As we ponder where we’ve been, it’s good to review where we are going.
When I first began my teaching ministry I had the blessing of teaching at two Christian colleges before coming on staff at “The Center” (that’s what we used to lovingly call SBEC- and most days it fit). In my college professor days I was only an adjunct professor. I thought teaching college at 26 was so impressive, but learned over the years that adjunct simply is the institution's nice way of saying they won’t be making any commitments, and they won’t be paying you much. Still, I wore sweater vests and carried a briefcase. I had no idea the difference between High School teaching and College at that time, but I would soon learn.
Naturally, when I took the full time job at SBEC I thought I had teaching down to a science. I had crafted college syllabi for years. I had lectured to classrooms of over 100 students. I’d taught lieutenants and chief petty officers theology. Surely a bunch of high school seniors would be a breeze. I fondly remember my inservice week as I put together syllabi for Bible 12. Was I in for a surprise! No one tells you this, but there is an invisible barrier between High School and College. When a student crosses the barrier to college they suddenly become self-aware, concerned about their academics, serious, and self-motivated. Just so you all know, anyone teaching college and above has a daily routine that looks like this: “Classical music playing in the background, sipping on bubbly with cheese, and a constant calm.” 12th grade teaching and below looks like this: “Kids screaming, diapers on their heads, running around and messing up everything.” Take my word for it, I’ve done both. The point is that you have a hard job. That needs to be said because you all give a lot. Never doubt that. You also have a great measure of influence over your students.
In addition to the intensity level, you also have a weighty mission. Christian education in the lower levels (High School and Elementary) finds the mission constantly challenged. When you teach college students you know the objective is a rounded education that helps them attain their professional degree. Therefore, you may teach in a Christian college with the understanding that you are giving them their profession in a distinctly Chrisitan setting. As they go into the world to work they will go as professionally equipped believers. Seldom do nonbelievers spend the time and money to attain that environment, so the purpose seems evident, and the professor’s objective is clear.
When you teach in a Christian school (high school or lower) you face something entirely different. The motivations and goals of those present differ widely. People who pay for the student’s education have different reasons for attending. Things such as safety, security, sanitization from the world, and SAT scores drive their choice. For some Scripture is the guiding force. I would hope that more would be motivated by the biblical mission, but with so many other competing ideals that becomes difficult to ascertain. After all, it’s not wrong to want any of those other things. We all are somewhat motivated by them. Likewise, if we asked even our non-believing parents the reason they chose us I think they would probably cite Scripture as at least one reason. Presently, most think a little Bible will not hurt. I think that will change in the coming years, and the culture will say that the Bible is psychologically damaging, but we haven’t gotten there yet. So for now, having a little bit of Jesus, “Don’t hurt much” as one parent explained it to me. The problem is, a little bit of Jesus will wreck your world and make you accountable unto judgment (Matthew 10:34), but most of these kinds of people have only heard of “Felt-board Jesus.” Felt-board Jesus never said hard things. When it is all said and done, you may understand the mission but those you teach may not.
When James (elder of the church at Jerusalem and half-brother of Jesus) wrote his letter he warned those who would teach Scripture (see James 3:1). Any teacher who teaches biblical truth, to any degree, needs to be mindful of the weighty job and complicated mission. Any worker in Christian education falls into James’ admonition. We all have some level of biblical truth we are teaching because we are in a distinctly Chrisitan school. You represent God, and you are accountable for what you say.
Knowing that those who teach the name of Jesus are accountable should in one sense terrify us, but in another sense encourage us. First, we need to sober up continually to the weighty job we have, and that is a good thing. For example, I want my surgeon to feel the weight and level of responsibility she holds. The last thing I want her to be is apathetic or half-hearted as she cuts me. Second, there is nothing wrong with being nervous. People always get nervous before a speech. Psychologists tell us the butterflies in such situations are necessary for us to take the task seriously and do our best job. So, hearing that we will be judged more strictly is not a bad thing. It is good because it is going to motivate you to do your best, and keep you on your toes.
You have the hardest job in the field of education, and a weighty responsibility, but God will give you the grace to step out there and do the job. He has called you and allowed you to be in this place. Look! We are at page 100.
Discussion Questions:
Now that we are at “Page 100” what do you see looking back and what do you hope for going forward?
Knowing we have one of the hardest jobs in education, how does that motivate you?
What responsibilities do we have as we look at James 3:1 and note our situation?
