More and more it seems everyone is an expert on the Bible. They have mastered just about everything there is to know or learn in the 66 chapters of Genesis all the way to Revelation. Why are we so quick to hop in the driver’s seat and place ourselves in the position of teacher? Not that it’s a bad thing, but it’s as if we don’t put enough consideration into the decision.
It reminds me of my childhood friends every time we would get together to play school, and everyone would want to be the teacher. No one ever wanted to be the student because that was not fun. Being the teacher allowed you to be in control and you felt important because you were in a position of authority.
James 3:1-2 has a warning to teachers – teachers of God’s Word – those individuals who communicated the message to people based on God’s Word.
“Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”
He clearly warns them here not to be so quick to step into the role of “teacher” of God’s Word. God will hold you accountable, and there is “a stricter judgment.” Why is there a stricter judgment? Because there is a possibility of misguiding others in and through God’s Word. Being a teacher is being God’s spokesman and your wrong teaching will be judged.
If we know there is a “stricter judgment” for this position, then why do so many in the church today take this warning lightly, and without considering its cost in terms of accountability? Jesus warned in Luke 12:48, “to whom much is given, from him much will be required”. Those in positions of “teacher” in the church need to be careful what they say when attaching God’s name to it!
James is reminding us that we should not use our position as teacher within the church, and the impact we have because of it, to lead others astray. We have to be careful speaking on God’s behalf. We don’t want to damage others in the name of God.
Moses was a great teacher of God’s Word, and Numbers 20:7-12 tells us how Moses had an opportunity to obey God and instruct the people with the Word he was given by the Lord. The Israelites were still wandering in the wilderness and they were grumbling and began to panic because there was no water to drink.
“and the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Take the rod; and you and your brother Aaron assemble the congregation and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it may yield its water. You shall thus bring forth water for them out of the rock and let the congregation and their beasts drink.” (Numbers 20:7-8)
So, Moses was instructed. He had the Word of the Lord and all he had to do was be obedient to those instructions. But instead, we read of a different approach Moses took.
“So Moses took the rod from before the Lord, just as He had commanded him; and Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly before the rock. And he said to them, “Listen now, you rebels; shall we bring forth water for you out of this rock?” Then Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation and their beasts drank.” (Numbers 20:9-11)
Did you catch that? He followed a portion of the instruction – he took the rod and gathered the people. But instead of speaking to the rock, Moses instead chose to speak to the people. And when he did, his words were not of the Lord. He spoke out of his own frustration and out of his anger, as a representative of God. He called the people rebellious and spoke rashly toward them. Even in the striking of the rock, he added to the number – “(he) struck the rock twice with his rod.” Oh Moses.
Numbers 20:12 tells us the reaction God had of Moses’ words and actions,
“But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you have not believed Me, to treat Me as holy in the sight of the sons of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
Psalm 106:33 tells us why Moses was given this consequence, “because he spoke wrongly.”
Moses had misused his position as leader and teacher of the people. He spoke words that were not authorized by God, and as a result, he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land. Wow! Talk about a “stricter judgment”! Moses had to learn the hard way: There is only One God, and Moses is not Him!
God has given us a huge, huge responsibility as believers to share His Gospel with the world. We need to take that responsibility seriously and not put a blemish on our testimony or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
James 3 is accountability to all teachers of God’s Word. First of all, I think this gives us reason to make certain what we teach of the Bible and our Lord is sound doctrine and truth. We need to sit before the Word and make sure what you’re teaching and speaking is what God’s Word is saying. We need to be honest to the text of Scripture. We are not to add to the Bible, nor are we to take the world’s framework of thinking and mix it in with Scripture and dilute it. We need to be true to the pure, undiluted Word of God.
If you are a teacher of the Bible, look at your study habits. There are many tools you can use to help you. Don’t be tempted to promote self and your own gospel and add to what God says. People need to hear the truth of God more than they need to hear your opinion. Be focused on God more than receiving praise from man.
The Bible warns that in the last days, people will not endure sound doctrine.
2 Timothy 4:2-4 says, “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”
There are many “Bible teachers” who teach based on feelings and emotions and encourage others to make the focus of the Bible themselves. Well, newsflash: The Bible is not about you. It’s about JESUS! Those who teach the Bible according to feelings, wants, and desires, are not accurately fulfilling the role of teacher as defined in the Bible. These teachers are the very ones this verse is talking about who will be judged. We have a huge responsibility to steward the message God wants us to share, not what we feel it should tell a reader. Let us apply 2 Timothy 2:15 and teach the Word of Truth correctly.