Week 33: To Teach or Not to Teach, That is the Question
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
What a high calling we have as teachers. What a great responsibility we have as well. As we come to the end of another year, it is always a good reminder to think about the responsibility we have as God’s ministers.
Recently I was interviewing some dear saints who worked for years in the Broadway Bus Ministry. For decades they spent their days visiting and giving rides to children in the Mid-South who needed the love of Jesus. One of them said, ‘Though we were laymen, we all considered ourselves bus pastors. Our pastor, Brother Bobby, couldn’t pastor all those children, so he had 17 of us who were extensions of him.” Do you look at what you do here at NCS as ministry? It certainly is! No matter what role you play, you are a minister for the Lord. You are also an extension of the church ministry that is here. That means a few things that should both encourage and stir up the Christian educator.
First, Christian educators are teaching more than curriculum. James begins by saying that not many should become teachers. You may say that too, especially this time of year, but when James wrote his letter he wasn’t thinking of school teachers. James was thinking of anyone who would teach God’s truth. Do you teach God’s truth? In a Christian school, you certainly do, even if you never open your Bible. When we pray, we teach others how to pray. When we read our Bibles, they are learning as they watch us. In all we do we are teaching something of God to our students. We could call that qualitative learning. We teach a robust curriculum, but we also say, “Follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1).” You are teaching and they are observing. How wonderful to know that you will teach a child how to read, but you may also direct their lives to Christ.
Second, Christian Educators are held to a higher standard. James goes on to say that those who will be in some form of Christian leadership will be judged with greater strictness. You have the wonderful calling to represent the Lord Jesus Christ to your students. They may not remember your lesson plans, but they will remember any trace of Christ. The Lord will hold us all accountable for how we represented him. Because that is true you need to have higher standards for your life. Watch what you say, what you post, and how you live. Why? Because your life is a testimony and you are a minister. That’s a tall order, I know. I live with it daily, but I know that my life is more than just my life - it's my testamony. My life is a sermon and so is yours. Whatever we do, whether we eat or drink, we do it all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). That is why the standard is high, and we will be judged more strictly when we give an account before the Lord. Think of your ministry here and think of how that ministry will one day be observed by the Lord.
As you teach in Christian Education, I pray that you see your life as an extension of the classroom. Live your life in such a way that you preach the gospel and glorify God.
Discussion Questions:
What are important biblical standards for teachers of Christian Education?
What lessons have you taught qualitatively to your students?
Share your calling to Christian Education.
