Transforming to Teach

Teaching is a wonderful challenge.  It can be totally frightening, outright exposing, and thoroughly enlightening.  But most of all, teaching reveals both what we know and what we don't.  Teaching can be a natural trait.  It can be a characteristic or aptitude.  It is also a craft, a skill that takes practice and intentional training.  That being said, all believers are called to teach.  The impetus for this dialogue is held within three verses: Deut. 4:9-10, 1Tim. 4:11-13, and 1 Pet. 2:9-10.

In Deuteronomy 4:9-10, Moses commands the Israelites to dedicate themselves to teaching the next generations about the Lord.  Moses is basically saying that if you fail to teach the next generation about the Lord, they won't know the truth.  This is a travesty that should be avoided.  The reality is that if we don't teach the next generations we are failing them.  Because of this not only should we jump at every opportunity to teach the truth; we should want to.  We have the opportunity to communicate about the very God of the universe; what a lovely gift and responsibility!

1 Timothy 4:11-13 is a part of a personal letter from Paul to one of his students, Timothy.  In these verses, Paul is commanding Timothy to devote himself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, and to teaching.  Paul also reminds Timothy that effective teaching is directly proportionate to practicing what you preach, walking the walk.  This is a significant reminder: teaching is not just having the right information, it is much more.  Teaching involves the very way that we live.  Again, when we are truly teaching about the Lord, we are living life in faith and by the Spirit.  Not only is this how we are meant to live, it is the goal of biblical Christianity and the singular pursuit of the Christian life.

In the apostle Peter's first epistle, Peter reminds his audience that believers are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you [we] may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Pet. 2:9)".  The point Peter is making is clear.  We belong to Him and are like neon billboards that shine in the darkness by declaring His greatness.  This is the essence of true teaching.

We are all called to teach.  What needs to be assessed is the who we are called to teach.  God has made us who are believers to be His children, specifically called to be lights in the darkness and to proclaim His praise (Isa. 43:21).  Moreover, we have a responsibility to preach the Word of truth that is Christ to the unbelieving world. For, as Paul says, how will anyone believe if they never hear? and, how will anyone hear unless the Word is preached (Rom. 10:14-15).

The question of who we are to teach is an important question to answer at numerous times throughout our lives in each various season. However, there is always at least one person that we are obligated to teach constantly: ourselves.  When we read the Word and, by the power of the Holy Spirit, digest theology, we are teaching ourselves.  When we teach ourselves, we are training ourselves in righteousness (1 Tim. 4:7).  We are actively growing in the Lord.

This is a sweet thing and should not be neglected but should be engaged with discipline and an eye focused on godly growth.  It is when we are training ourselves in righteousness that we are being grown and equipped to most effectively train others.  And God, being faithful, is sure to bless our honest pursuit of Him.