Why Teachers are Held to a Higher Standard!

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Taming the Tongue

3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.
Yesterday we talked about the danger of hypocrisy, which has the effect of pushing people away from Christianity.  This was the context in which James said, "Faith without works is dead."  Today James applies that concept to those who taught in the church, which included him.  He warns that people should be careful before they aspire to be a teacher in the church.  Apparently many were wanting to teach in the early church, so James "taps the brakes" and gives them these warnings.
James acknowledges that none of us are perfect, but teachers are held to a higher standard. Why?
  1. Teaching sound doctrine keeps people focused on Christ and not some other false teaching.  To lead others away from the orthodox Christian faith amounts to heresy, which has grave consequences for both the student and the teacher.  And this did happen quite a bit throughout the first century. 
  2. Teachers should aspire to live up to what they teach in their daily lives. If they don't it leads to the saying we hear a lot today, "Do what I say, not what I do!" This presents obvious problems.  The word "integrity" comes from the word "integrated". In this context "integrity" is when your life, doctrine and teaching are in alignment. Paul alludes to this in his letter to his protege Timothy when he says, 
"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers." 1 Timothy 4:16

3. Finally, remember our ultimate teacher is Jesus.  Jesus' teaching in the gospels is where we should spend most of our time. For instance we could immerse in the Sermon on the Mount for several hours.  And as we study Jesus' life we will see it is always in alignment with the Father. Following Jesus' life and teaching will never lead you astray and lead to abundant life in this life and the next. 

Pray for your teachers as they faithfully feed you with God's Word.  Spend time in God's Word on a daily basis so your mind is not conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Romans 12:2

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