I see lots of people starting threads to teach stuff they deem important. In doing so, they deem themselves as teachers. If I ask them "By whose authority," they will say "By God's authority." But that's not the question I'm asking. Well, it is, but it isn't.
I've known many "teachers" in my life. Most of them cannot teach. That makes them bogus teachers spewing forth a little truth in a sea of junk. When I was gullible, I used to think, "If someone teaches, they must be a teacher." And, because of that, I ended up believing a sea of junk with a little bit of truth mixed in.
I've also known many teachers who were great teachers. Their words I could believe. And, so, I asked them, "By whose authority do you teach?" And, the answer often included, "by God's authority," but it was not the only answer. A story came through that matched every time. It always had to do with a willingness to learn and a deep desire to learn. They would learn from anyone who could give them one phrase of truth. And then they'd ask, "But is it true?" Instead of asking the person, they would put in hours of effort to learn in a multitude of ways. And they would pray -- a lot. Always seeking God's guidance in the learning.
And then they'd check with those they trusted to see if they might have found the truth in it. And the ones trusted would critique it. (Not "criticize." "Critique.") And in doing so, they'd work it out to an agreement. And they would also pray earnestly to gain God's truth.
And the ones trusted would pray for the person. Often for weeks or months, before they came back and said to the person, "You are gifted in teaching." And the one that was said to would pray and research for months, possibly years, to see if that was true, and then come back for more critique.
And they would end up praying and agreeing again. And in that agreeing began the authority. The teacher was always gifted to teach, but the authority was given by learned, honest people seeking God's answer. From there, the student began preparing to teach, by doing the obvious next thing -- studying the subject matter. Either through seminary or self-taught, but that studying took years, and then more studying to prepare one teaching. Always, always praying for God's guidance in that learning and teaching.
THAT is a teacher.
So, I'm asking to those who think CC is their platform to teach, by whose authority do you teach?