In Defense of the Teacher
Introduction
There is a danger in my own opinion having the highest priority. I will give a brief defense of our general need for teaching and of learning how to learn — how to biblical become disciples, pupils in the school of Christ.
Matthew 28:19 — Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach...: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations}
Matthew 13:52 — Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.
Acts 14:21 — And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, {had taught many: Gr. had made many disciples }
2 Timothy 2:2 &mdahs; 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 [commit: to place alongside; to deposit]
- Matthew 28:19 "Teach all nations" : make disciples of all nations
- Discples, Pupils, Students
- Every person has a need of being thoroughly instructed in all Christ has commanded. (authoritatively: Mark 1:22)
II. Two Popular Rebuttals of the Virtue of Practical Discipleship
A. Ecclesiastes 12:12
And much study is a weariness of the flesh.] O how true is this! Let the trembling knees, the palsied hands, the darkened eyes, the aching heart, and the puzzled mind of every real student declare! And should none more worthy of the name of student be within reach to consult, the writer of this work is a proof in point. -- Adam Clarke
- The preacher, is not rebuking students from BEING STUDENTS. But contrasting UNENDING STREAM of "books", "things that could be said", "TALKATIVENESS", "EASILY ROLLING ON AND ON AND ON" with THE WORDS OF THE WISE.
- Not All "TEACHING" is equal. It is easy to make claims.
Eccl. 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
- Masters of Assemblies: The head of a body of learned men.
- The shananagins of the Sanhedrin, Pharisees, Saducees may have put a bad taste in many mouths for authoritative teaching, but Jesus taught with authority. If a million fall in integrity the NEEDD of "THE PEOPLE" still remains.
Eccl. 1:1 — The words of the Preacher [qoheleth], the son of David, king in Jerusalem. (a talker to the people)
Ecclesiastes 12:9 — And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge;
- result (idealy)TRUTH fastened in their hearts, as a well-driven nail in a sound piece of wood. ("There, that won't go anywhere")
Hebrews 5:12 — For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
B. 1 John 2:27
1 John 2:27 — But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.
Whatever that ANOINTING taught, they needed; and whatever those taught whose teaching was according to this SAME Spirit, they needed. St. John does not say that those who had once received the teaching of the Divine Spirit had no farther need of the ministry of the Gospel; no, but he says they had no need of such teaching as their false teachers proposed to them; nor of any other teaching that was different from that anointing, i.e. the teaching of the Spirit of God. No man, howsoever holy, wise, or pure, can ever be in such a state as to have no need of the Gospel ministry: they who think so give the highest proof that they have never yet learned of Christ or his Spirit.
II. Demonstrating my Need for Teachers
- By What are we being taught? (Self-taught?)
- The Undermining of the Value of Teaching. Where do Philosophies like: Follow your heart. ("Everything is a journey to yourself." - short trip) COME FROM?
- We ARE being taught. (Even if we have not consciously enrolled.)
A. Technology: WWW, Consensus of Human Collective Knowledge
There is a great need for EXPERTISE and not mere "openness".
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Corn, John 12:24
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Ferry, 2 Samuel 19:18 (pun)
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Brass, Deuteronomy 8:9
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Ur of the Chaldees, Genesis 11:28-31; Acts 7:4
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Words Change and Disappear
B. Songs
- From a very early age (think of the Sunday School choir), church goers learn about God through song. How many bible verses do you know? How many songs do you know?
- Song lyrics are shaping our faith and theology. Music helps mold our patterns of thought toward God.
- In principle, this is Biblical:
Ephesians 5:18–19 — Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
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Every once in a while something comes across agregious enough to stoke the ire of the masses (like, Cory Asbury "Reckless Love") but most often the case, bad theology slides in unnoticed.
C. Stories and Other Art
- What did Jesus look like?
- Skin color of Adam and Eve?
- The Chronoloogy of the nativity (wisemen at the stable).