Teachers -- what makes teachers?

[eternally-gratefull]

Heb 5: 12 [FONT=&quot]For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need [/FONT]someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. [FONT=&quot]13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. [/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot]14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.[/FONT]

 

[Depleted]

Every Christian, by sheer definition of being a "Christian witness", and an "ambassador of Christ", is a teacher to some "degree."

So everyone who is "in christ" has both a duty and an obligation to teach whatever he knows, to whomever he has opportunity.

But this duty and responsibility to "share the faith" isn't necessarily the same as having the "gift of teaching."
So we all have a responsibility to share, and teach, whatever God teaches us... but this doesn't mean everyone has a special gift for teaching.

I don't see this as any kind of dilemma.
If someone is teaching, who is a terrible teacher... just don't listen to them.
It isn't incumbent upon you to stop them: everyone can recognize that a bad teacher is a bad teacher... it isn't a deep, dark secret that nobody has noticed but you.
If someone out there WANTS to have a really bad teacher, well, then let them have a bad teacher... you can't protect people from themselves.

Some of these things which seem like they might become big philosophical dilemmas, if we think about them practically, and biblically, are just not dilemmas at all.
Many problems just naturally sort themselves out.

I am hoping this means you're feeling better.

As for teachers? Sure, if we go see one, or even read one on here, we know if they're bad or good, and either dismiss them outright, or listen. BUT, say you have a daughter in first grade and you check out her teacher. The teacher is bad! Do you do the same thing? Just walk away and let her decide if that's a good or bad teacher?

I'm not really worried about most people on this forum. I'm worried about the ones new to Christ and don't yet know if the person teaching is good or bad. Soooo, then what?

Because, as it stands now, most of the people "teaching" lately, haven't even graduated first grade for knowledge need to teach, and yet think they're teachers because they have a message.

And, I very much do believe knowledge is needed to be a teacher. And, some kind of calling and guidance. The calling? It is NOT "God has called me to teach," without confirmation from trustworthy elders. (And elders, doesn't need to be male, nor does it need to mean "old." It means those who the people of a church already trust based on their walk and talk.)

And then the most important part of being called into the office of teacher is to first, be a student! Not one of those apostles or early-church leaders taught what they didn't already learn. They knew the OT. They knew who Christ was.

 

[Depleted]

There is nothing wrong with being passionate about what you believe in, even if it doesn't agree with everyone. We can take the good from what people say. No one is forcing anyone to believe what they believe by saying it calmly in a respectful manner.

It is good to share. And if we have different stories, or different views, or different perspectives; then by SHARING back, we can inspire each other. That is love, that is loving one another. Are God and Love so very far apart? Does he just go round looking for unbelievers? No, people do that, when they think for some unknown reason, that they are God's defence lawyer and know more about God that anyone else, and most often than not, they make quick assumptions on others and dehumanise them like they are some devil incarnate. A liar, a heretic. Bla bla bla. Christians doing that to Christians, who would have thought? We are supposed to be in fellowship, not love only those who love us, who share our point of view.

We can be against a view, but we can go about it in a kind and respectful way.

Being passionate and sharing isn't "teacher."

Obviously, I'm passionate. Obviously, I share. I'm not a teacher!

 

[Depleted]

View attachment 178242

My favorite teachers are those who facilitate discussions and makes the group think and pray and read the Bible themselves. I don't like being lectured to or preached at during Bible study classes.

A teacher will exhort when needed and encourage when needed.

I've been to and seen lectures where the teacher still made us think and read our Bibles on our own, to try and catch up to where he was. (Pray is assumed.)

I'm not that big on facilitated discussions. Granted, it's what I do, but I notice too often, folks are more inclined to think they are teaching just because they have the floor in a facilitated discussion. And, roughly 10%-20% of what they "teach" is sheer garbage that sometimes gets stuck in my head anyway. At least, those are the stats IRL. Never really noticed how often that happens online yet.

 

[Depleted]

here's a clue:

And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.
(2 Timothy 2:24-25)​

that's ESV, other translations have 'forbearing' or 'not resentful' or 'longsuffering' where this version says 'patiently enduring evil'

is this showing us qualities a teacher must/should have?

Ah! Maybe that's it. That's why I'm not teacher.

But, also knowledge and understanding of subject matter helps.

 

[Depleted]

God raises teachers where there are students. Christ has stated that His sheep hear His voice and run from strangers. “Teaching” only takes place if someone is willing to learn. Other than that they are just orators or professors spewing opinions falling on deaf ears. Before you even say it, we both know which catagory you think I fall into (wink).

Where does Christ say his sheep hear his voice and run from strangers? And then there is the obvious question, if we're hearing his voice, why do we need teachers?

 

[Depleted]

People can sense when you are saying something for their benefit and not seeking glory for themselves.love covers a multitude of sins Is talking about what JESUS did for us but we love because GOD loved us and JESUS Is the vine and we are the branches that receive sustenance from vine and display spiritual fruit.

I say lots of things for the benefit of the one I'm talking to, or even for the benefit of others, knowing the one I'm talking to isn't listening. BUT that doesn't make me a teacher.

I ain't a teacher!

What makes teachers?

 

[Depleted]

I believe that the Lord makes a teacher, there are people that are great teachers and they never were taught how to teach. I meet two of the best teachers I ever meet in a prison Bible study, these guys taught themselves how to read New Testament Greek by using Machen's "New Testament Greek for Beginners" they were sending there papers to C. Norman Sellers, Th.D at Miami Christian College to correct their work, it was awesome to be a witness too.

The Church that I am a member of now, the vision and teaching elder, can teach very well. He teaches better then one of the elders that is seminary trained. To me if a man can make the Scriptures easier to understand he is a teacher that has been called by the Lord to teach. If the Lord gives you this gift you should equip the saints with our gift, it will help the body to grow to the mature man in the faith. So that we are not tossed to and fro by every way of wind and doctrine.

Not one of the men Jesus chose were trained as a teacher. They were all, however, taught the OT as everyone was in Judea back in those days.

I was taught to teach. Can't do it! I mean, I really can teach. I know how to, but I'm missing something important -- understanding of the subject. I got my degree in Communications/Sec. Ed. (Secondary Education is 9th-12th grade, in the States, for anyone who doesn't get the American education system.) Still, missed out on one tiny little thing people think high school English teachers should have down cold -- grammar.

I hope that made people laugh. It should, since we all get why no one wants an English teacher who can't get grammar.

On the other hand, we all laugh at that, and yet don't get why people shouldn't teach about God if they don't get basic things about God -- like his sovereignty, his purpose, or even something as obvious as he is the center, not Man.

Those teachers you knew were trained. They were trained in what matters. God, the subject that matters.

 

[Depleted]

1. A teacher must carry a lot of mints along with them, to help wake up any sleepy head pupils who have fallen asleep.
2. A teacher can leave the mints at home if they are passionate about their subject, the Holy Spirit will show you what to do.
3. A Teacher needs to have lots of teaching per subject going on.
4. Here's the critical point; there can be a lot of teaching going on, and at the same time very little learning happening.
5. What should happen if the pupil is not learning, really I do not know about this phenomenon, carry more mints maybe?

OP's question: "Teachers -- what makes teachers?", you have to have a lot of learning
going on or else your teaching has become non-effective.....

Answer: "teaching isn't just a gift, it's an office in the Lord."

No help!

I do NOT like mint!

 

[Depleted]

Nope like apostles and prophets,they are SECOND in authority after God alone.

Actually, I just don't get the whole authority trip. Does it matter where we are in line with authority? I've done housecleaning for a job. I was still in authority, since I got to choose what I dubbed "properly cleaned," (the shelf is not "properly cleaned" until all the pictures are removed, the shelf is dusted, and then the photos go back in the exact order they were before), but is my authority above or below a teachers? Does it matter? I want a house cleaner to clean the house, and a teacher to teach me. If either one can't do their job, then no authority at all.

Might be the times I grew up in. I'm from the generation that "question authority" often.

 

[Depleted]

Thats a good characteristic to highlight:

God taught teachers make scriptures easier to understand and encourage people to live by the lessons and principles that God shows us in His Word.

A problem with that one. Most of the folks thinking they're teachers on this forum do think they're making scripture easier to understand, and they think they're encouraging people. It is easier to understand scripture if you can make it say whatever you want it to say, but that's not my idea of encouraging.

 

[Depleted]

Teachers, are great.

I love teachers, who are able to go verse by verse, and explain to you what is going on in context, and in the scenario of the who, what, why, when, and how format. Who can really teach you something about the bible in it is context, by the help of the holy spirit teaching the best we can as we can see from scriptures. Even looking up some history can help us understand more.

There are many teachers out there though, and many different studies. This link shows all the different studies that are made in Christianity to this day,

But there are many Denominations and Sections of Christianity. https://theologetics315.wordpress.com/ologies-isms/
There are many different studies performed, also there are

Calvinism believers who take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Armililiaism believers who take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Don't know really believers who take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Preterism believers who take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Pretribulationism believers who take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Mormonism believers who believe and take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.
Jehovah witness believers who believe and take their own things they believe and apply it how they teach.

Just making a generalization.

Teachers are great. You may not agree with their own views (and that is okay), but if they dont understand something or have questions about something and youre a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you can help them with those questions to help them have clarity. (Kinda like with the Mormons, and Jehovah) Correction out of Love if they needed help seeing.

We all know that salvation is faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thank God, He made it so simple as to believe on to believe on Him, who came, died, and rose again, that if we believe this on heart, and call out to the Lord Jesus Christ in having a relationship we shall be saved, and it goes for anyone who turns to the God in a change of mind or repentance.

Turning to God, and the Lord Jesus Christ changes us from the old person we once were into a new creation, and we was loved before even while we were still sinners Christ, died for the ungodly. That because of everything the Lord Jesus Christ has done we can have direct connection to to Him, and His Father in supplication, and praying, and thankgiving.

1 John 3: 23 and this is His command, that we may believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and may love one another, even as He did give command to us,


God bless friends!

Exactly what I'm talking about. You're a not-a-teacher stuck thinking you are a teacher. You ran down what you thought was a generalized list of "believers" completely unaware that not all of them are believers, and completely unaware of what any of them believe to begin with.

And then you fashioned your personal version of "we all know" salvation, completely unaware that that is not something we all known nor believe. And yet, you keep preaching as if you do understand the subject matter.

AND you will dismiss this entirely because it's not up to you if anyone gets what you're saying, (It really is, if you're a teacher), but it's what God would have me say. No, honestly, if it is what God would have you say, God would get you to get it right on the base of what you have learned from him already.

If I walk into a class on quantum theory, or even, by now, on algebra, I'm going to sit quietly in the back of the class feeling overwhelmed by how much I don't get this, but hoping if I hang around long enough, it might start clicking somewhere along the line. You've got the nature to walk in a class you know very little about and strut to the front to start teaching it.

Big problem with that. Some students will be so lost, they'll think you know what you're talking about.

How about learning before you start teaching?

 

[Depleted]

According to the scriptures you posted, someone speaking the truth in love, would be a true teacher. Everyone who does not speak the truth in love would constitute the false teachers, they who preach their own doctrines by human cunning and craftiness through deceitful schemes.

So you don't think the purpose for having teachers is important? (I could be misreading you, so that's an honest question, not a charge.)

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes

 

[Depleted]

1 Corinthians 12:28 ...God hath set........thirdly teachers....

What's with you and line of authority? Do you think you're an apostle or prophet, thus better than a teacher?

This is about what makes a teacher, not about line of authority.

 

[Depleted]

Heb 5: 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

So, are you saying everyone who is on solid food ought to be teachers? What happened to different parts of the body?

 

[TruthTalk]

No help!

I do NOT like mint!

Mints are for sleepy headed kids not teachers, I guess it does not work for everyone, thanks.

 

[maxwel]

I am hoping this means you're feeling better.

As for teachers? Sure, if we go see one, or even read one on here, we know if they're bad or good, and either dismiss them outright, or listen. BUT, say you have a daughter in first grade and you check out her teacher. The teacher is bad! Do you do the same thing? Just walk away and let her decide if that's a good or bad teacher?

I'm not really worried about most people on this forum. I'm worried about the ones new to Christ and don't yet know if the person teaching is good or bad. Soooo, then what?

Because, as it stands now, most of the people "teaching" lately, haven't even graduated first grade for knowledge need to teach, and yet think they're teachers because they have a message.

And, I very much do believe knowledge is needed to be a teacher. And, some kind of calling and guidance. The calling? It is NOT "God has called me to teach," without confirmation from trustworthy elders. (And elders, doesn't need to be male, nor does it need to mean "old." It means those who the people of a church already trust based on their walk and talk.)

And then the most important part of being called into the office of teacher is to first, be a student! Not one of those apostles or early-church leaders taught what they didn't already learn. They knew the OT. They knew who Christ was.

Lynn,

First of all, thank you for your prayers, and I'm feeling sort of halfway better.

Next, although I understand this issue has doctrinal importance, and it's a serious issue, I think you've raised too many questions all at the same time. If we're asked too many questions at once, from too many different angles, it's hard to answer any of them sufficiently, or even to stay focused at all.



First let's make some distinctions:


A. Teaching can be defined different ways, either broadly or specifically... this will lead to confusion on the topic.

- There will be inherent confusion because you didn't start by defining your terms on a confusing issue.

- Since you didn't specify a particular definition for "teacher", then different people are going to answer your question in different ways.

- Please keep in mind, that in a general sense, every christian IS a teacher, just as every christian is a witness for Christ.


B. There is a certain gift of teaching mentioned in scripture, and normally this is recognized by a church body when you are officially given a teaching position by those in authority.

- This gift doesn't have to be recognized by the body for it to exist... but it needs to be recognized by the body to give you the authority of the body.

- This gift can be officially recognized, and put to use, in different ways.

You don't need to be an ordained minister to have the gift of teaching, or to have the gift recognized by the body... some laymen teach 3rd grade sunday school their whole lives, and they are very gifted, and they are a great blessing to the body.


C. Regardless of the doctrine on the "gift of teaching", it is an ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MATTER to APPLY this doctrine to the context of a public forum, where EVERYONE is allowed to speak their mind freely and equally.

- It may be entirely irrelevant to discuss who is "really" a teacher, if we're talking about a place where everyone can speak freely, and no qualifications are required.

- Although this is a good doctrinal discussion, I don't think it has any relevance to a public forum where NO QUALIFICATIONS are required for anyone to speak.


D. In your church, the leaders can, and should, control who is allowed to teach, and who is signified as a "teacher"... but this forum is entirely beyond the bounds of any church authority.

- Essentially, no matter how much we dislike someone's teaching, they are allowed to speak freely until they violate the rules and get banned.

- Any psycho can claim to be a prophet, or an apostle, or a teacher, or anything else... and there is nothing we can do on this forum except debate them, and report them if they violate the rules.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

The Teacher must understand who Jesus is and what Jesus has done (Christ and Him Crucified - 1 Cor. 2:2). That the Cross of Christ is as necessary for sanctification as it is for salvation (1 Cor. 1:18). Biblical truths must not be misapplied. Many Saints hold poor interpretations of Scriptures.

Peter said concerning this, "They exploit you with false words making merchandise of you (this is to get hold of your money). 2 Peter 2:3

 

[eternally-gratefull]

So, are you saying everyone who is on solid food ought to be teachers? What happened to different parts of the body?

i

I just take the word for what it says..All mature believers should be able to teach others. Thats different from the office of teacher.

 

[MessageOfTheCross]

There are many things man may say that sound good because it appeals to the "flesh," builds up the flesh, and ministers to the flesh. Any thing other than Christ and the Cross, glorifies self and not God. Paul said, "have no confidence in the flesh." We must lay our "Isaac" down daily. Luke 9:23-24

Now here is the teaching. How does a Believer do this?