Evening Service, 6 September 2009
The great preacher of last century, Charles Spurgeon, is reputed to have regularly told those who came to tell him of their calling to be a preacher that if they can do anything else, then they should.
He understood that there is not always an exact equivalence between those wanting to come into a formal teaching position within the church and those so called and gifted by God.
He also understood that opening up the Word of God was such a serious task that only those really called should do so – and even then with a constant eye to both the awesome responsibility involved and to their personal weakness. He himself is said to have those nervous butterflies in the stomach every time he went into the pulpit for that very reason.
James is very much in sympathy with this as he begins this chapter. The key teaching emphasis in this chapter is on the use of tongue, and the realisation of the powerful influence of the tongue on our lives and that of others. And he begins in v.1-2a at the very best use of the tongue – in teaching – and addresses the dangers associated with it.
In his startling way James, in effect, says: ‘Whatever you do, don’t think of Christian service!’ The word for “teacher” was often used of rabbis and any who functioned in an official teaching or preaching role (cf. John 3:10), suggesting that James was speaking of the teaching office in the church (cf. 1 Cor. 12:28; Eph. 4:11). (MacArthur)
James here is NOT denying that teaching is a gift from Christ to His church, nor that we need this gift, nor that this is a gift that should be sought.
Rather he is telling us that we should be hesitant in adopting this exercise of the tongue, pointing out that too many take it up too lightly and with wrong motives; that too often it is exercised without any reference to accountability before God; and that too often it is exercised with too little remembrance of the personal frailty and failures of those so exercising it.
Let us notice then the three warnings James gives here to those who are seen as or see themselves as teachers:
1. Carnal Ambition
1. James looks for God-appointed teachers.
Notice he does not say ‘any’ but “many”. He clearly sees that there will be some; indeed that there needs to be some. This is an essential part of the Christ’s program for the church through the ministry of the Spirit – Eph 4:11-12. If the Spirit is active in the church He will raise up some to be “pastors and teachers” … “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”
2. But he is conscious that because of the position of importance that the teacher has in the congregation that there will be many attracted to it who should not be undertaking it.
He is not trying to discourage the genuinely called, nor is he seeking to give them an opportunity to opt out just because things are tough. Rather he is asking each to consider what their true motivation is.
Teachers ranked highly in the NT church, as they should amongst us in this congregation. And this is clearly the point James is underpinning here. We want serious-minded, gifted teachers, not just anyone. The danger that comes with such a high emphasis and recognition of the importance of teachers is that some may long for the status and feel that they need to be teachers.
Jesus had this in mind when he warned His disciples “But you, [ie, unlike the scribes] do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren.” (Matt 23:8) In fact Jesus indicates with clear rebuke that many rabbis relished their prestige and privilege (Matt 23:2, 5–7). Obviously there were some among those to whom James wrote who had such motives and who desired to become teachers for the wrong reason.
Both Paul and John spoke of this in reference to the early church. Paul speaks in a general way of those who – “desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.” (1 Timothy 1:7). In spite of their immaturity and spiritual ignorance they wanted to be teachers – that is carnal ambition. We see it also in 3 John 29 where it is said of Diotrephes in particular that he “loves to have pre-eminence”.
Parallel to this is the shortest chapter in Jeremiah (45) where his private secretary is addressed by God. Jeremiah was required to say some hard things to his people, but it appears that Baruch wasn’t too comfortable with this. In v.5 God says, “And do you seek great things for yourself, seek them not.” This too is a warning against carnal ambition.
If we are seeking great things for the Lord Jesus, for the sake of the lost; for God’s people – then seek them. That is the proper motivation. But don’t be in this work of teaching, or any other for that matter, for what you can get out of it for yourself.
John Blanchard writes: ‘What a terrible amount of striving, wriggling and scheming there is in the Christian church today – to be chairman of this, secretary of that, leader of the other. Ecclesiastical climbing is a loathsome thing! But not more loathsome than aspiring to teaching roles for some personal kudos or gain.’
Let us beware of carnal ambition in considering or functioning in teaching; of seeking some privilege that teaching appears to bestow.
2. Careless Attention
1. James draws attention to the increased severity teachers are exposed to.
This is not a reference to eternal separation from the living God, rather to what Paul speaks of in 2 Corinthians 5:9-10, “Therefore we make it our aim, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.” It is what Jesus declares also in the Parable of the Talents (Matt 25).
All that we say or do is under God’s microscope – and James adds to that by saying that those who’ve taken a position of authority and taught others will face a stricter judgement. This is not a trivial matter! We must take it seriously. God does!
2. A person who is aware of the accountability attached to privilege will be more careful about the exercise of the privilege.
James understands that for many the danger is not over-preparation but under-preparation, and that this is a problem for the lazy person as it is for the busy person.
Is it not true that we find inadequate time to prepare? That we are easily distracted by other things? Are you concerned about this? What do you do to overcome it? Or do you just put up with coming with minimum preparation and somehow justify it by saying that this is all that God has allowed for me?
We should see from what James is saying here that every teacher, for their own sake as well as that of their hearers, must take as much care in preparing as possible. We must give prayerful attention to the content as well as the presentation of our teaching.
Every teacher must put in as much care into the preparation of a lesson as a Chemist in filling in a prescription from a doctor (even the label must be carefully and correctly typed!). Truth rightly brought to bear upon young and old will promote health. But just-off’ truth is poisonous to the soul – and against this we must be ever vigilant.
James is saying that God wants the best for His people, and is here warning us of His high expectations. Do you want and expect it?
This does not mean that we should not stop teaching until we are a perfect teacher, rather he is saying that we must teach what we know, ever seeking to increase our understanding. True teachers must continue to be learners.
3. Critical Attitude
1. James reminds us of our own failures in v.2a – they are frequent!
Now why does he do this in this context? Because he knows that it is easy for those in position of teaching to wrongly adopt an attitude of superiority over others – after all they are the teachers.
This is the danger that James would also have us be mindful of. In fact it applies across the spectrum of teachers from Pastor to parent. It is the danger of a self-assumed superiority which soon leads itself to a critical attitude to others. Teachers who forget their own frailty and sin soon become critics of others.
And, indeed, we would also find that there would also be fewer arm-chair critics in the church if there was a greater understanding of sin and its presence within all of us. Fewer self-appointed instructors of the faithful! Oh that we would learn this lesson well!
2. And points out that teachers must not lose their humility
The teachers James wants and which we should want to be and have around us are humble ones who are conscious of their own utter dependence upon God’s grace and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Those who honestly deal with themselves before God seeking and finding fresh supplies of forgiveness are the ones who will prove helpful to our souls – the ones who first apply the word to themselves, and therefore will be gracious and practical in bringing God’s truth to others.
Does not Paul say the same thing in 2 Timothy 4:2? There is an authority that belongs with teaching, but it is to be exercised “with all longsuffering and teaching”. In other words, teachers are not to be spineless, but they are not to be superior either.
Let us be careful in the presentation of truth that we don’t find ourselves riding rough-shod over others or making them feel insignificant.
All that we have considered here shows a high view of the function of teaching, and a strong desire that it be utilised to its best for the well being of the people of God. God demands it – we should labour for it.
We should be thankful for those who are called and gifted by God to this and take this charge from God very seriously. At the same time we should be watchful that only such exercise this vital ministry amongst us. The best way to honour it amongst ourselves is to carefully monitor motives, practices and attitudes. May God grant this grace to all of us.
We should however, take seriously James’ warning and exhortation. The warning against poor motives for and poor practice of teaching ministry, and the exhortation to congregations to maintain high standards and to those within ministry to consistently aim for higher standards as well as pure motives in their teaching ministry. As John MacArthur rightly points out: ‘Not only false teachers, but also those who ignorantly and carelessly interpret the Word in order to impress others with their knowledge and understanding are a great danger to the church—and are in danger themselves from God. Many teachers in the church today are poorly grounded in Scripture and ill-equipped to teach it. Such teachers who misrepresent God’s Word can do more spiritual and moral damage to God’s people than a hundred atheists or secularists attacking from outside. That is why it is so foolish and spiritually dangerous to have newly converted celebrities, or any other new convert, as well as untrained and unaccountable preachers, speaking and teaching.’
Finally, let us be assured that God will honour any teacher whose motive is to lead people to and establish them in Christ, who labour in the Word and prayer that they might have something to teach and be able to teach it well, and who never forget that he is a frail servant of the King – that any authority comes from Christ and any praise belongs to Christ alone.
May we know such blessing always in this congregation!