What the Bible Teaches on Teachers, MMM 3-14-2011

What the Bible Teaches about Teachers!

Monday Morning Message, March 14, 2011

It is impossible to avoid the subject of the value of teachers in our society today.  The states of Wisconsin, Ohio, Florida, and many others are embroiled in legislation affecting teacher compensation while individual families and students often blame their teachers for any number of failures.  Meanwhile, local school systems struggle with the merits of tenure, class size, and responsibilities that keep getting more burdensome for teachers.  It appears that when you can reduce teachers as union enforcers or some other negative stereotype, they are not as sympathetic as when they take special time to help your son or daughter grow up to be special members of society.

Both Matthew (10:24) and Luke (6:40) talk about how the disciple can never be above his teacher.  I would include the parents of the disciples (students) as never being above their teacher.  If ever there were a parable that fits our schools and the parents of today’s students, it is the one about judging others.  Jesus indicates that many of us try to find the speck of dust in someone else’s eye while we have a “log” in our own eye.  “You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.” 

As more and more parents are missing in action in the children’s lives and dumping all of the raising of their children on someone else… often the schools; it seems high time to work on removing the log of MIA parenting.  Of all the groups of people that I know, teachers are the least of our problems in this world.  In fact, if all of the corporate executives and hedge fund managers were as dedicated to the betterment of our society to the extent teachers are, we would be living in a better world.  When the man asked Jesus, Who is my neighbor?  I think He would answer today, the teacher who labors in vain under adverse conditions, with limited resources and funds, but totally sold out to making our kids better citizens and scholars would be your neighbor!

Job 36:22 (RSV) “Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like Him?”

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