Three Temptations in Teaching

Yesterday we covered three temptations in our teaching commission (Matthew 28.20):

1. Temptation to twist. Jesus wasn't impressed that the congregation in Pergamum tolerated teaching that twisted the truth (Balaam's and the Nicolaitan's teaching in Revelation 2.12-17). Why tolerate twisted truth? Its hard to oppose a nice teacher. I know congregations that have been accustomed to solid teaching who get a new nice but twisted teacher. "Nice" trumps truth in many of these congregations. Another reason we tolerate twisted teaching is because it suits us. Paul warns Timothy that "the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions" (2 Timothy 4.3).

2. Temptation to tease out. Many think it wouldn't hurt to tease out the truth a little bit (or more). There were teachers working along side of Titus in Crete who were "enhancing" the gospel with surgical stipulations. Paul doesn't mince words, "They must be silenced...they ought not to teach" (Titus 1.11).

3. Temptation to tame. The opposite is also dangerous. Reducing the truth is what Jesus warns about in Matthew 5.19, "Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

Jesus makes clear he is not commissioning teachers who come up with their own content. These disciples will deliver the content delivered to them. "Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded." The content of God's revelation to us is so effective, it needs no clever twisting, teasing, or taming.