There were and are also false teachers. Isaiah 28:9-10 even makes fun of them by penning their words to their followers. The wording was repetitious, almost sonorous and displays the idea of the ludicrous nature ofthe Pharisee's teaching. This is reiterated in Matthew 23:13-29, in Jesus' sermon about various woes that will come upon the Pharisees and their followers. In fact in looking at Matthew 5:1-48, in which Jesus instructs His apostles about the meek and the poor in spirit and those that mourn, etc. etc., in the Sermon on the Mount, as well as teaching them about divorce and praying and fasting, Jesus shows His followers how to look out for false teachers and to be wary of what they are teaching. Mark 12:35 also displays the scribes as false teachers, because of their interpretation of who the Messiah is. And there was a warning about being a false teacher, witout even knowing that one is a false teacher, given in James 3:1 which says that one shouldn't seek to be a teacher because the responsibility is stricter than for those that are not teachers. That doesn't mean tht people who are students are immune to the responsibility of spreading the gospel. No, the responsibility is there as well, according to Galatians 6:6. Hence all of God's children have the responsibility not to spread things that are not the truth about God's Word.

Teach me that I might teach...part 9

When I think of ministers and preachers, I don’t really think of teachers, but so very often they are indeed involved in that. Teaching is something that keeps knowledge in the hands of the people and allows people to grow strong in God. As well teaching allows new knowledge or new ideas to be examined and to see if these are in synch with God’s word. Never ever be afraid to attend lectures at a secular college because of what it might teach you about various controversial issues. The point is to absorb and prescribe those issues and filter out what is not in teaching the bible, that is what does not agree with God’s word. The reason God had officials teach the Law in 2 Chronicles 17:7-9 is because they were the ones most versed in that Law, as were the priests. Much as in various colleges Physics is taught by people versed or becoming versed in that topic, and German literature teachers are taught by those who have some knowledge and experience with that topic. I know that my best teachers were experts in their field or else had a wide range of experiences that were attesting to the fact that they could claim to have knowledge and were getting a degree that agreed with that statement. The worst teachers I have ever had were those who had no knowledge of their subject, because they were drafted to teach English History from having taught Typing. God provided His people with a means to gain knowledge of His Word, and He made sure this Word was spread, as in Nehemiah 8:7-8. It could be said that all of the Old Testament was to teach all of God’s people Who God is and what He expects of us. For example, in Leviticus 11:44-47, the LORD speaks and tells them to follow His ways, to make themselves (consecrate) holy because He is. Does that mean perfect? No, and the Old Testament as well as the New Testament stress that God’s people can indeed come back to Him time and time again by just asking for forgiveness. (I John 1) All they have to do is follow Him, and obey His commandments. That means following the footsteps of our prime example, Jesus. After all, all teaching has its focal point in Jesus, whose teaching in Luke 4:6-21 demonstrated that He indeed was the fulfillment of prophecy in Isaiah, lending credibility to His claim to being the Son of God. And what I love most about teachers and preachers is that they give us standards from God’s Word that I can search and verify as truth. This has always been so between God and His people. For instance, Moses and the elders in Deuteronomy 27:1-26 gave God’s people commandments that had been given by God to them. They thereby instructed the people how to proceed according to the commandments and standards God set out. In this way Moses and the elders taught and led God’s people in how to conduct themselves in accordance with God’s Word. In Deuteronomy 31:19, the people were lead to sing, the song intended to tell the people where they came from and what God intended for them, much as I am led in song to know God deeper through songs in that I can see God’s Word and encouragement. God gives me a history and a way to conduct myself and preachers and teachers instruct me in these facets in accordance to His Word.

Teach me to teach,...part 8

Elders and church leaders are themselves to be looked up to as leaders in the church. According to Paul’s teaching in 1 Timothy 3:3-13, elders and leaders must be good examples of godly lives, demonstrating that God controls them and therefore they also show the Fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5). That way I and the rest of the flock can learn from their example, much as a child that hears and sees parents will learn from that example. Further, what is my relationship with an elder and leaders? I learn from 1 Peter 5:1-9 that I am not to be a burden to them, but a blessing. What is my relationship like? Do I question them? When I do, because it is my right to do so, but when I do, do I present things humbly, objectively? Do I show proper respect to the leaders and elders? Is there humility in my thought and manner? Otherwise God will resist me, as He resists the proud and exalts the humble. God knows my heart, He knows when I am taking things personally, and He knows that only when I look at things objectively after much prayer that I can talk to those in authority, if I, through speaking with God, must speak with them. Sometimes God will tell me not to do so, that I am not the appropriate one, even though the leaders may be in error. It is not just a matter of bringing this before the elders, it is also a matter of how I treat my brothers that also happen to be doing the work of God. If I am incapable of bringing the matter to them in a manner that is not conducive to peacefulness, then it is up to someone else who can. Above all else, God does the correction, whether I or someone else is His tool.

Teach me to teach, part 7

I am one of His people. His church is in fact looked upon as His people. He looks upon us and watches as we pray. Should we pray for His people (Ps 122:6,9), the good will be sought out. And He will bless me, because I have chosen to be one of His people and to be His child. (Ps 125:5,6) And God is a healer, the repairer of broken relationships, the provider of light along whatever path I travel (Is 58:12) And it is He who builds the spiritual building within me, and those who call themselves His.

Biblically, according to Acts 1:15-26, disciples and apostles were teachers of the early church. This later was also distributed to deacons. Disciples were different than apostles. Apostles were in direct contact with Jesus, and disciples knew Jesus and were taught by Him, but the contact was not as close. Paul calls himself the last apostle (1 Cor 4:9) and the least of them in I Corinthian 15. Actually, a disciple just meant a follower, a believer to the point of accepting His teaching and living them out, and Jesus had many of those, many who may have seen Him at a glance but not spoken with Him, many who never saw Him. Apostles on the other hand were special, enjoying a special relationship with Christ. In Acts 6:2-6, there shows the difference, as from the disciples is appointed apostles with the action of the apostles directed by God. Acts 11:22-30 demonstrates the Church’s growth in terms of teaching, giving, and being of good fruit and one accord. This is again shown in Acts 15:1-31. Paul and Barnabas try to show that the church is not about binding things on people, nor forcing others to be just like them. But the church was about allowing for differences in people. Did they lay down guidelines? Surely, they did, and there are four that the church was to follow: not to consume blood, meat from strangled animals, meat in front of idols, or becoming involved in fornication. I think it is interesting that in Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, he speaks that the only reason not to eat meat sacrificed to an idol is when it causes a brother to stumble. If that brother has a problem with the fact that that idol represents something that replaces God and therefore meat sacrificed to that idol is pledging allegiance to the other god, then don’t eat that meat. On the other hand, if it causes no one any problems, eat the meat, because idols were merely objects in truth.