“We'll Never Get Growing If We Never Get Going”
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA querist asks, “In James 3:1-2, the statement is made that not many members of the church should strive to become teachers. Is James really advocating that being a teacher is a bad idea?”
The text of James 3:1-2 states:
“My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.”
At first glance, this statement that the Lord’s brother makes seems contradictory to many other New Testament passages that encourage us all to instruct one another (cf. Romans 15:14; Colossians 3:16; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 2:1-8; Hebrews 5:12).
However, we can easily understand James’ point if we view his remark in context. In James 3:1-11, He’s writing about the dangers of the tongue and the ease with which we can say harmful things with it if we aren’t careful. His point is not that Christian’s shouldn’t teach (one of the main purposes of the church is to teach – Ephesians 3:10), but that if we’re going to be teachers, we ought not to view the task as something “anyone” can do.
Because if we would be teachers of God’s word, we need to:
- Prepare ourselves to handle the word of God correctly (cf. 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 Peter 3:15).
- Make certain we don’t teach any doctrine that is different from the gospel (Galatians 1:8-9), nor go beyond what is written on the inspired page, or omit any elements of it (cf. Acts 20:20; Acts 20:27; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 John 1:9; Revelation 22:18-19).
- Resist the temptation to alter the Scriptures to suit ourselves (2 Peter 3:16) or to tell people what they want to hear rather than what the Bible says (2 Timothy 4:3-4; Galatians 1:10).
- Teach with patience and humility (2 Timothy 2:24-26) — certainly not an easy task.
- Be willing to be instructed ourselves when our knowledge is incomplete or inaccurate (cf. Acts 18:24-26).
Not everyone can be a teacher in the public arena, simply because that different folks possess different talents (Romans 12:4-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Not every teacher can (or even should) preach from the pulpit or conduct a Bible class.
But any and every Christian should be ready to “speak as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11), even if it’s at a breakfast table or over a cup of coffee in the family room.
The bottom line is that all Christians should have the desire to (1) save a lost soul (Romans 10:1; James 5:19-20; (2) have the will to prepare (Ephesians 4:11-12 NIV); (3) speak God’s word with boldness (Ephesians 6:19); and (4) be cautious of speaking carelessly or without knowledge.
Is there great responsibility in our desire to become a teacher of God’s inspired word? Yes there is (cf. Luke 12:48; 1 Timothy 1:12). Some of us might look at ourselves and say, “I’d make a terrible teacher” — and because of the lack of Bible knowledge, perhaps we would make a terrible Bible teacher “today.” However, the investment of some concentrated time in Bible study will prepare us to teach someone effectively “tomorrow.”
Brethren, with regard to Bible study and teaching, let’s remember this slogan: “We’ll never get growing if we never get going.”
Let’s get going and growing “today” (Acts 17:11; cf. Psalm 1:1-2; Psalm 63:6; Psalm 119:48; Ephesians 4:15; 1 Peter 2:2; 2 Peter 3:18).
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