The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Teaching and calling

Our pastor has decided to hold a sunday morning class during Sunday School for anyone who wants to learn how to teach line by line then allow them to use their new "skills" doing the Sunday evening service. How many see a problem with this?

I believe personally and from scripture that teaching is a calling. There are way too many "teachers" who harm more than help the body of Christ. Today, instead of being called to teach, anyone is allowed to do it. We are sowing a bitter crop by doing this. There is so much ignorance in the church and the capable "called" teacher/preachers are becoming more and more scarce. Is it good to fill the empty spots with bodies and hope they grow into the "called" status? Isn't this arrogance before God? I believe we should give a person an opportunity to teach after they have proved themselves by their Christian walk, not being a novice, and they believe God has called them to teach. Then after giving them time to prove themselves, the church must determine if the person is truly called or not and decide accordingly. We are too afraid of hurting feelings, but we don't care what God thinks when it comes to His church. I'm speaking of Pastors, Sunday School teachers and small group teachers.

Am I being over judgmental? I don't think so. I have sat under teaching and preaching that was man based, produced by the strength of man without the power of the Spirit (more often than not). Is it because of their lack of calling, or a compromised life in the teacher/preacher or for some other reason, I don't know, but I believe the mentality that every Christian can teach is destroying the body. There are so many warnings in scripture about false teachers, but nobody seems to believe the warnings. It grieves my soul to see the state of the church today. Edification has taken the primary place in the actions of the church at the cost of purity.

Lastly, when I say power of the Spirit, I realize also, that there will be times when a pastor/teacher may not experience the unction of the Spirit. However there are pastor/teachers who have "never" had the unction of the Spirit because they were never called to that office but they keep on doing what they weren't called to do.

Simply put... I agree.

I'm not really understanding why your Pastor would do this.

But... just a comment here which many do not agree with me.

No church is perfect, we are all fallible. I've learned to accept that.

I go to a church full of problems and there is often times I don't feel like attending service.

The sermon that was given this last Sunday was given by an Elder who is a Christian Counselor. It was on Marriage and it was absolutely horrible. It was all taking what little of the Bible he used out of context and the rest was secular and pop psychology.

But, my wife and I used good Biblical discernment and saw it for what it was and life goes on. There's still a ministry for us in that church and we still have good God fearing friends who attend that church and that's all I care about.

God wants us to know His peace and Joy. We should really love being apart of His family. It's hard, but my wife and I find the avenues at our church for that to be a reality for us and for all the other sinful stuff that goes on there,..... well, we pray about it.

Dave

hisalone,

I do think what your pastor is doing is odd. You are right that not all men are called to teach. Is he intending this as a method by which he might be able to find some other men who are called to teach?

Kyle,

We are now being told that the class is in order to teach others how to study their bibles. He is allowing them to use their "skill" just once in a bible study time, but the class is not for the purpose of making teachers. If there are any discoveries of gifted teachers, then they will most likely be given additional opportunities to teach. I still think it odd, but I am now able to accept it easier. I believe that it was a lack of judgment in the beginning but now is being turned into something more positive. I want to support my pastor, and prior to this change of direction, I couldn't stand with him on this issue. It is never safe to go against conscience and I wanted to be certain it wasn't just me. My wife as well as others shared the same concerns, which led me to believe my concerns were legitimate. I believe things will work out and maybe before something like this is sprung on the church again, there will be some talk and prayer with others to see if it really is the Spirit's leading. Some times leaders get wild ideas thinking that it is just what the church needs without really seeking God's guidance or really considering if it is a biblical direction. I fear too many churches today are led with this type of mentality and I just got concerned about ours.

Hisalone