Who Should Teach the Bible?

It is an acceptable concept that preachers and special educated people should teach the Bible in our world today. If a person desires to teach the Bible he will first consider going to a school that grants Biblical degrees or he will seek an online theological school that offers degrees in Bible so that he will be accepted as a credited and qualified teacher, preacher, theologian. Now, I do not reject the concept of advanced education in any of the previously mentioned type of advanced schools; my problem is that I do not find anywhere in the Bible that God established an ecclesiastical standard for teachers of the Bible. That there are no such standards is exemplified by the fact that throughout the whole of the 66 Books of the Bible {i.e. Genesis to Revelation} God’s teachers, prophets, and chosen leaders were of all types of people from all walks of life; they were farmers, herdsmen, kings, fishermen, tax collectors, and educated persons [i.e.  Saul – Paul]. There is no indication that God requires that teachers of the Bible have some advanced, accredited degree from a theological school or a graduate study in Bible. So far as is known the writers of the New Testament were fisherman, physicians, a tax collector, and Paul a converted Pharisee; God did not select leaders based on their educational qualifications.

Let me say here; there is no reason to qualify or disqualify a teacher predicated upon the amount of or lack of advanced biblical degrees from an institute of higher learning. Whether a brother in Christ possesses an advanced degree in Bible or not is not the important consideration for the Bible teacher. The very first quality that a Bible teacher should possess is; that he/she is a Christian. Other important considerations for a Bible teacher is, does he know the Bible, is he familiar with the concept of interpretation, and the nature and extent of revelation from God? These and similar qualities are the qualities that enable a person to teach the Bible. Also along this line of reason we must recognize that the teacher ought to know their place in the scheme of God’s plans. The teacher is not necessarily a boss {i.e. the Pope, the Pastor, or His Most Excellent Father, His most worshipful Master, etc.} but he is simply a teacher of the Bible with a task greater than any other and more beneficial to mankind than any occupation he/she may undertake (2 Timothy 4:1-5). It is noteworthy to observe the qualifications of an elder in the church of Christ; he is to be able to teach in such a manner that he can convince the person who is difficult of understanding (Titus 1:9).

Indeed, a good Bible teacher must plan, study, and pray about their work of teaching the Bible. Paul the apostle encourages all to be consistent in teaching; “For this cause have I sent unto you Timothy, who is my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, who shall put you in remembrance of my ways which are in Christ, even as I teach everywhere in every church. {ASV} (1 Corinthians 4:17). The Apostle Paul instructed Timothy in the two letters he wrote to him about how to excel as a Bible teacher. Please observe some of the instruction that Paul gave to Timothy:

1 Tim 1:3, “As I exhorted thee to tarry at Ephesus, when I was going into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge certain men not to teach a different doctrine,” ASV

1 Tim 2:12, “But I permit not a woman to teach, nor to have dominion over a man, but to be in quietness.” ASV

1 Tim 4:11-16, “11 These things command and teach. 12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an ensample to them that believe, in word, in manner of life, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Till I come, give heed to reading, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Be diligent in these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy progress may be manifest unto all. 16 Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shall save both thyself and them that hear thee.” ASV

1 Tim 6:1-2, “1 Let as many as are servants under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, that the name of God and the doctrine be not blasphemed. 2 And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are brethren; but let them serve them the rather, because they that partake of the benefit are believing and beloved. These things teach and exhort.” ASV

2 Tim 2:2-4, “2 and the things which thou hast heard from me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also. 3 Suffer hardships with (me), as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier on service entangles himself in the affairs of (this) life; that he may please him who enrolled him as soldier.” ASV

2 Tim 2:24-26, “24 And the Lord’s servant must not strive, but be gentle towards all, apt to teach, forbearing, 25 in meekness correcting them that oppose themselves; if       peradventure God may give them repentance unto the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him unto his will.” ASV

Also, to the Hebrew Christians Paul wrote concerning the need for teachers to mature and not to become unfruitful (i.e. See also 2 Peter 3:18).             Hebrews 5:12-6:1, “12 For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. 13 For every one that partakes of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. 14 but solid food is for full-grown men, (even) those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 6, “1 wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,” ASV

CONCLUSION: Therefore, let us proceed to always speak where the Bible speaks and remain silent where it is silent. Let us also seek purity of mind and doctrine as we undertake to teach the Bible to others wherever we may be privileged to do so. We must take care to present not only sound teaching but present ourselves as pure, humble, and dedicated servants of the Most High God (i.e. “The One True God.”) 

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Solve this Problem

How Will God Solve this Problem?

There are those times in our lives when our problems seem far more than we can bear. We know His promise that we will not be tempted above our limit, but the future seems so uncertain and our faith seems so weak. We wonder how on earth we will be able to deal with our problems. If He would only let us know how it will all work out.

Moses was at such a point in his life. At age forty, he had confronted the disappointment of not fulfilling his expectation of leading Israel out of Egypt (Acts 7:23-25). By his own calculation, he had figured out that the time had arrived for the exodus, and he saw himself as the one God would use. Then, it happened. His dream became a nightmare. For the next forty years he was a shepherd, going from the palace to a tent!

Forty years later, God called him at the burning bush.  When he reluctantly accepted the call, he was told that the future would not be easy. Pharaoh would not be easily persuaded to listen to the words of God. Yet, Moses went to Egypt and was God’s instrument in the devastation of that nation. Things seemed to now be falling into place.

He led the Jews through the Red Sea and arrived at Mt. Sinai where God revealed Himself in ways never seen before.  The mountain was on fire and the earth shook as the voice of God revealed His Ten Commandments. Moses ascended the mount and talked to God face to face.

Then, it all happened. Imagine how Moses felt when he saw God get angry! Moses had seen His power, but now he saw the wrath of God. His wrath was so great against Israel and their calf! He was ready to destroy all of them. Had Moses not interceded the nation would have been destroyed (Ex. 32:10-14). Moses’ dream of being the one to lead His people was crashing to the earth.

God promised Moses that His angel would be with Moses in the rest of the journey (Ex. 32:34), but he wanted so much more. It was as though he said, “God, just tell me how you are going to do this.” His exact words were, “You have not let me know whom You will send with me” (Ex. 33:12).

Isn’t that the way we often feel when our world tumbles in! We know His promise, yet we so want to know the details! How is God going to solve the problem?

God’s answer? One phrase. “My presence will go with you.” It is as though God was saying to Moses, “I will keep my promises, but you do not need to know how.” His presence is enough. The details do not really matter. As you deal with your problems, think about God, Moses and his problem!

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Understand

They Don’t Understand

The following bulletin article was written in the immediate aftermath of the Cleveland congregation’s most recent “Bring A Friend” Sunday effort, and placed in the next week’s bulletin for follow-up… May its contents bless other congregations when it comes to realizing why we must never stop evangelizing…

It is a bright and beautiful, warm and sunny Monday as I set to compose the article that you are about to read… but my thoughts are anything but sunny, and my heart is sad and heavy… this, in the aftermath of yesterday’s big “Bring A Friend” Sunday event…

Oh it’s not because of anything you did. In fact, as I said in last Sunday evening’s sermon after reading Philippians 1:1-11, I am so grateful to so many of you hard-working and faithful saints for your fellowship and partnership in the gospel, who distributed so many (approximately 80) invitations to your friends and family the week before, inviting them to come and join us for worship and bible study – may God bless you profusely one and all who so diligently did that! And I am also grateful for “the few” who took your invitation to heart and showed up to seek the Lord and see what He is all about.

But my heart is broken for “the many” who chose not to respond and attend – many of them assuring many of you that they would, and then calling or texting to cancel at the very last minute. I am so very sorry for them because they just simply don’t understand – and apparently won’t until it is too late, when they have all eternity to lament their decision…

They don’t understand how much God loves them and wants them to turn, repent, and accept and return His love in return (II Ptr. 3:9; Jn. 14:15, 21-23; Acts 2:38-42).

They don’t understand that although God loves everyone, it is only “a few” that will lovingly accept His word, loyally submit to His Lordship, and thereby return His love and thus be saved, while “the many” who do not, surely will not (Matt. 7:13-27; Lk. 6:46-49)!

They don’t understand that one must seek the Lord with all their heart, mind, and soul while He may be found in order to find Him, and that those who don’t thus seek Him, won’t thus ever find Him (II Chron.15:1-2; Isa. 55:6-7; Matt. 7:7).

They don’t understand that, although they may have a zeal for God, if it is not based and built, on and in, accordance with His knowledge as revealed only in His word, it is pointless and profits nothing insofar as salvation is concerned (Rom. 10:1-3; Matt. 7:21-23).

They don’t understand that one absolutely must worship in spirit and truth in order for their worship to be acceptable to God; and that if they give their love, devotion, loyalty and allegiance to worshipping in accordance with uninspired men’s teachings in some man-made denomination never found, seen or heard from in the Holy Scriptures, instead of worshipping in accordance with God’s timeless commandments in Christ’s one blood-bought body or church, their “worship” is vain, pointless, and unacceptable to and by almighty God (Jn. 4:23-24; Mk. 7:6-13; Acts 20:28; Ro. 16:16; I Cor. 14:33-37; etc).

They don’t understand that the one true path to lasting peace, comfort, and blessed assurance in this storm-tossed and troubled earthly existence is found exclusively and only in the Lord Jesus Christ Himself (Jn. 10:10, 14:6, 27, 16:33; Phil. 4:4-13).

They don’t understand, as they offer up every excuse in the book to continually avoid accepting our invitations to come and seek the Lord and His love in the one true light of His holy and eternal word, such truths as revealed in that word in places like II Cor. 4:3-4: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God should shine on them.”

But as we see their broken lives and families, so damaged, ravaged, and devastated by sin and Satan, we not only understand the earthly implications, but the eternal ones as well. And that is why we – like Noah as he was building the ark sought to warn people to get into it for the sake of their own safety (II Ptr. 2:5); or like the farmer who saw the dying birds outside of his farmhouse that were perishing due to lack of food and shelter during a harsh and devastating winter snowstorm and sought to usher them into the warmth and safety of his barn – seek to usher, implore, beg and plead with those we love to get into Christ (Ro. 8) and “be saved from this perverse generation” (Acts 2:40-41).

We are like a physician that has this one miraculous cure for a very fatal disease (sin) that will slowly but surely devastate, decimate, and eventually kill every person in the world. We therefore seek to give this cure away completely free because we can see the death and devastation the disease is constantly causing – how it breaks hearts, robs hopes, and separates souls from God (Isa. 59:1-2). But our greatest agony lies in the fact that those who need it most whom we love so much, continually refuse to come and get it, even though we are willing to give it away completely free as did He… and so they die… a very slow, very painful, very sin-wracked and utterly needless death (Jn. 8:24), without the free gift of eternal life as offered by the Lord when He offered up Himself (Rom. 6:23). What a horrible, terrible, awful, and needless waste! Let us in our crying, never stop trying, to prevent their frying (Mk 9:43-49).

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Optimism

Optimism is the Christian’s Attitude

I don’t suppose that anyone would characterize me as a “change agent,” but I would be mistaken if I did not acknowledge that our world is changing. The morality of the world is changing; the politics of the world is changing, and many in the church are compromising with the world so as to change the church. It seems that these days the more a faithful Christian tries to put his feet down, the more the rug is pulled out from under him. All of the efforts being made to oppose righteousness and truth would seem to discourage the faithful Christian. However, the world does not understand that the Christian is the eternal optimist, and that regardless how much he is opposed, he will always press forward.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “optimism” as follows: “an inclination to put the most favorable construction upon actions and events or to anticipate the best possible outcome.” I think I would refine that definition somewhat and add at the end of it, “without being naïve.” The optimist knows that there are real challenges facing him. He understands that problems and difficulties await him in this life. He realizes that some will oppose his efforts for unscrupulous or irrational reasons, but he presses forward regardless with the aim of obtaining the best possible outcome. I believe that Christians are optimists, and not without scriptural evidence for that belief.

Christians are optimists because they know that God can take bad situations and make good things happen. The apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Joseph’s brothers tossed him into a pit intending to kill him, but God used it to prevent his family from starving. He said to his brothers, “You thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good” (Gen. 50:20). Pharoah decreed that baby Moses be drowned, but God saved him to lead his people out of bondage. Jews and Gentiles crucified Jesus on the cross, but Jesus was able to bring many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10). Paul said of his thorn in the flesh, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” Christians are optimists because, while they recognize bad situations for what they are, they know God uses them for the best.

Christians are optimists because they know they have a relationship with God that nothing in this world can destroy. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” When we hear and follow the voice of Jesus, no one can separate the Christian from God. Paul reaffirmed this same sentiment in Romans 8:38-39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Christians are optimists because they have the great encouragement to know that God will never abandon his faithful child.

Christians are optimists because they know that the world, with all its charms and vainglory, is passing away. The apostle John wrote, “And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). Peter, quoting Isaiah, wrote, “For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you” (1 Pet. 1:24-25). God’s word and those who do God’s word have God’s guarantee that they will last, regardless the faddish vacillations of the world. Christians are optimists because they have God’s enduring word and promise on which to rely.

Christians are optimists because they know who will win in the end. After all is said and done, and this world is no more, God and His people will remain forever in eternal fellowship, victorious over the transient affairs of this life. The apostle John wrote, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3). In Revelation 3:21, Jesus said, “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.” The Christian is an optimist because he knows that victory awaits the faithful.

As we enter the year 2013, we, as Christians, have many challenges ahead of us. How will we face those challenges? In this issue of the Christian Worker, we look at the true strength of God as it works in the Christian, and how that strength may be used to overcome opposition. May we as God’s people be ever mindful of the reasons we have for eternal optimism, and may we ever draw strength from God and His word to live faithfully for Him.

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The Fire of Taberah

The Fire of Taberah

Three months after crossing the Red Sea and receiving freedom from Egyptian bondage by the merciful right hand of God, the children of Israel approached Mount Sinai (Ex. 19:1-2). While there, they received the Ten Commandments, the Law of Moses, and specific instructions relating to the construction of a tabernacle, which they built and dedicated nine months later, the first month of the second year (Ex. 40:17). Thus, the book of Exodus closes with merely an introduction into the formation of the nation of Israel under the watchful care of God. The third book of the Pentateuch—Leviticus—basically is an interlude in the historical details of the formation of Israel, wherein we have a more detailed account of the worship manual for the children of Abraham, and specifically, the tribe of Levi. Thus, from a historical perspective, the narrative picks up with the book of our focus in this issue (the book of Numbers), and only one month has passed since the events that Moses recorded at the end of Exodus—we now come to the second month of the second year. The first ten chapters record the final preparations for their departure from Mount Sinai, which happens on the twentieth day of the second month of the second year. After encamping for almost an entire year at the base of Mount Sinai, they begin their journey to the Promised Land. Herein is the setting for our account, from which we may draw our lessons to learn:

“And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord: and the Lord heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp. And the people cried unto Moses; and when Moses prayed unto the Lord, the fire was quenched. And he called the name of the place Taberah: because the fire of the Lord burnt among them.” (Num. 11:1-3)

We learn that Satan will not wait long until temptation occurs. This place that Moses will name Taberah is the first stop on their journey where they encounter their first temptation to sin through complaining. From the close of the previous chapter, we note that they had only journeyed three days (Num. 10:33). After almost a year of preparation and instruction, it was just three days before they sinned! Such illustrates the problem of humanity and the perils of faith.

A second lesson that we learn revolves around the sin of complaining. The ASV translates the first verse of Numbers 11, “And the people were as murmurers, speaking evil in the ears of Jehovah….” While Moses did not record a reason for their complaints, evidently there is some grumbling and complaining on their part. Perhaps it was due to the traveling. Perhaps it was due to their impatience. Perhaps it was due to their inconveniences. Regardless, we learn that complaining illustrates a sinful inward attitude that God hears! The disposition of mind that indicates discontent and complaining angers our Lord. How easy is it to complain? It is very easy. Nevertheless, how dangerous is it to complain? The fire of Taberah indicates that it is very dangerous! The reason that complaining is so dangerous is that it indicates an inward attitude that is not in harmony with what the Bible teaches (Phil. 4:4-13).

From the context that follows, we can presume that complaining leads to unlawful desires that may correlate with a life of ease and convenience. One of the greatest problems that we all face is looking for life to be easy and to avoid some of the responsibilities that belong to Christianity (Luke 9:23). Generally, we do not like inconveniences, difficulties and hardships that come from serving God, and we may fall prey to the temptation of complaining and lusting after the comforts of this world whenever we face such (Matt. 4:1-4).

A final lesson that we may learn is that the sin of complaining is contagious, which we see throughout this particular chapter of emphasis. We see the complaining of the Israelites (Num. 11:1) spread to the complaining of “the mixed multitude” that directly relates to their lusting (Num. 11:4-6). Not only this, but later, we see Moses complaining to God under the pressures and stresses of leadership (Num. 11:10-15). In other words, very often, a few can influence a great number. Sin grows until it is checked, and unless stopped, it will continue to spread and grow. Their sin grew out of distrust in God, which resulted in discontent, dissatisfaction and disobedience.

May we learn these (and many more) lessons from the fire of Taberah!

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