Bulletin Articles
The Teacher’s Charge
Here is a well-known and important passage that we often use to speak about how important our actions are in the kingdom of God. Paul wrote, “I write these things to you, hoping to come to you soon. But if I should be delayed, I have written so that you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth” (1 Tim 3:14-15, CSB).
We generally apply this passage to every believer, and surely there is an application. How each Christian behaves will be a reflection upon Christ and His people. This is why it is so important that we demonstrate our commitment and loyalty to Christ by being the salt and lights that He has called on us to be (Matt 5:13-16). Paul put it this way: “Do everything without grumbling and arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world, by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing” (Phil 2:14-16).
Yet, back to what Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 3, if we read this within the greater context of the epistle, Paul is making a specific application to Timothy and his work among the brethren at Ephesus. He was to be careful in his teaching, stand for sound doctrine, appoint elders, and so on. As Paul wrote, “Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all. Pay close attention to your life and your teaching; persevere in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim 4:15-16).
What strikes me as one who preaches and teaches is just how careful anyone who does the work needs to be. This would include not just preachers who get into pulpits, but all teachers — even those in the home. From those who teach adult classes to those who teach and help shape the minds of little ones, great care must be taken to make sure we are staying true to God and His expressed will.
How we go about the work, then, is of tremendous importance. Any preacher or teacher who makes the work about him, who presses pet peeves and personal agendas to the dividing of a congregation or who carelessly speaks because he wants to be clever should not be in that position. If we teach for ourselves, we will hurt both ourselves and others. If we teach in order to get personal credit and glory, we need to get out of it and humbly examine where we stand before God. The church needs teachers who are committed to glorifying God, not self.
“I’m going to say what I say and if I need to repent later I will.” That sentiment was expressed to me years ago by a preacher I communicated with about something he said, and it has stuck with me as one of the more important lessons I can learn. If this kind of thinking represents what we as teachers think, then we need to back out and rethink what we are doing. There is a reason James says, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment” (Jas 3:1). The tongue is, indeed, most difficult to tame. Teachers, especially, are being warned.
We all misspeak sometimes or say things in ways that are less than ideal, but our motives and attitudes need to be above board (I claim no perfection in these things, and many are the times I have said things I wish I could take back and try again). This challenges all teachers. Paul, again, told Timothy, “Teach and encourage these things. If anyone teaches false doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited and understands nothing, but has an unhealthy interest in disputes and arguments over words” (1 Tim 6:2-4).
Back to the main point: the work of one who teaches is the primary context of Paul’s statement to Timothy and how he ought to conduct himself in the household of God. If we want to be the pillar and support of the truth to which God has called us, then we must all be firmly dedicated to sound teaching at every level. We cannot glorify God if we are not firmly committed to the foundation that God’s word provides. This, I believe, is why Paul ended his first epistle to Timothy in this way:
“Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding irreverent and empty speech and contradictions from what is falsely called knowledge. By professing it, some people have departed from the faith.” (1 Tim 6:20-21)
These principles must still be taught and lived, so how will we conduct ourselves today?
