The Problem
Could you imagine enrolling into a class only to attend the sessions and find out that instead of discussing “what the subject matter is”, the teacher discusses “what the subject matter is not”? Patiently and hopefully students attend the class faithfully hoping to learn what you came there to learn. After a week of this mis-education 1 of 3 things will happen: 1) a few enrollees will stop attending the class, 2) other enrollees will diligently participate in the class, 3) the remaining enrollees will sit in the class daydreaming. After days, weeks, or even years of this class a test is administered to the remaining students. Again, the same three things occur: some leave, some bide their time, others guess at the answers. Most of the students fail miserably. A few pass by an apparent divine miracle of God. Confused the teacher reprimands the students: How could you fail after all this time in my class? Were you not paying attention? Why do you not remember what you are taught? The students walk away from the class defeated. Those who daydreamed their days away, don’t care because they had not invested much energy in the class to begin with. Those who were diligent feel ashamed. I know to some this account seems silly. Why would a teacher instruct students on “what the subject matter was not”? Why would anyone sit through such a ridiculous presentation? Why didn’t the teacher take responsibility for his/her lack of instruction? The questions go on and on. Unfortunately, this occurs every day in many churches and Christian organizations. Leaders focus on the wrong issues, correct without teaching, and rebuke without training. I will discuss this “mis-education” and then offer the “cure for the common mis-education”.
The Mis-Education
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says that, “all Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work”. Most churches rebuke and correct like champs while failing to teach and train, leaving their children unequipped for most good works. They wonder why their “kids are the way they are”…“We didn’t raise them like this”, they proclaim. Forgetting that in the years that those children, now adults, sat in their congregations the focus was on “what not to do”. I was fortunate to attend a church that did focus on “what to do”. We focused on instruction and application then connected the two. I was shocked to learn that all Christians didn’t get the same exposure. Consider this, in a “Love” symposium the teacher focused mainly on “not having sex”. Upon leaving, everyone probably got the point that “they shouldn’t have sex before marriage”. Unfortunately, the instructor did not equip the participants with ways to love. How much more fruitful could that symposium have been had the leader simply explained the God-breathed scripture of 1 Corinthians 13, which plainly spells out what love is? In the initial example, when that test came the students would have at least been exposed to the information on the exam had the teacher simply introduced the material to the students.
1 Timothy 4:13 says to “devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” Many people will argue that they are preaching the word and it isn’t right to focus on “only the good parts”. But how can anyone in clear conscience tell someone to stop living the life that they know and then fail to give that person an alternative. Many church leaders vaguely say things like, “follow the Spirit”, “seek God and His righteousness”, or “repent from your sins”; statements that are scripturally based. They are preaching without teaching. Furthermore, Romans 2:4 teaches us that God’s kindness is intended to lead people to repentance. So to focus on “the good parts” is what the Lord intended. To focus on one thing does not mean that you leave out others. The other things are there, just a little out of focus so that you see what is important. From my class example, the things that you will be tested on later are the things that are important. How much more fruitful could preaching be if leaders would focus on a to-do list as opposed to a not-to-do list? In the initial class, the students would have known how to complete the test successfully.
The Cure for the Common Mis-Education
Fear not, there is a cure for the common mis-education. We must all realize that correction is not training and rebuke is not teaching. So I say: 1) Train more and correct less. 2) Teach more and rebuke less. In other words, leaders should take a proactive approach in helping their parishioners discover “what to do” as opposed to “what not to do”. Rather than reacting to behavior instill values AND a list of to-dos. Galatians 5 clearly spells out the right way to educate a Christian. I have summarized it here:
Do not burden your followers by the yoke of slavery. Following rules does not justify anyone; the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. The entire law is fulfilled in loving our neighbors as ourselves. If we attack and overwhelm each other we will soon destroy each other thereby destroying ourselves. If we lead by the Spirit, we do not put people under the law. What not to do is obvious; there is no way that anyone can list all the ways you can mess up in life. But I can tell you that there are no rules against loving God and loving others. (Galatians 5 JRV)
Additionally, In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus was asked, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” In response “Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with your entire mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” All the Law hangs on those two commandments so why waste time trying to cover a list of “do-nots”?
Disclaimer
Poor teaching is not an excuse not to grow. One of the most influential statements I ever heard came from my Jr. High School history teacher: “No one is holding the gait on knowledge. If you really want to learn about something, you can go get the information yourself without waiting for someone to give it to you.” In the initial class scenario, there were those who left the class. I didn’t say what they did when they left. Those people went to class to learn about a particular subject and when they realized that the teacher wasn’t teaching on the topic they left. Hopefully, they took with them that thirst they entered the class with. Don’t forget what you wanted in the first place when you went to church or that Christian organization. If you aren’t getting it from there don’t give up. Take responsibility for your personal growth and decide that you will find a way to get the guidelines so you can practice them in everyday life. This may mean that you leave the organization entirely or that you attempt to shine a light on the shortcomings of the organization by offering teaching suggestions.
The Great Commission
Matthew 28:19-20
I want to encourage you to take a hard-look at your “class” and determine whether or not it is discussing the subject matter? If it is not I urge you to take steps to find what you hunger for and/or help that organization fulfill the Great commission. Go and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teach them to observe all things whatsoever the Lord commands us to do. Notice that it does not say, “go ye therefore and condemn others, pointing out their mistakes, and telling them where they will go if they don’t change”. Sometimes teaching requires that you point out what is wrong and punish others for their mistakes, but don’t make that the focus of your ministry. Make God’s focus, love, your focus.
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