Those Who Teach

 I have to tell you, trying to write this Bible Study this morning is hard. What a sad week for our county. We don't really know what was going through this 22-year old's head when he shot and killed someone who was speaking what he believed. I have to admit, I don't watch a lot of influencers online, so I only knew the name from a few passing videos I saw on facebook, but Robert knew immediately. Robert is of the generation that given a tv show or given a youtube app, he will pick the app every time. He learns more there. Part of his own recovery is following several Christian influencers, and as he said in his own Facebook post, he didn't agree with everything Charlie Kirk said, but he respected how he truly showed Christ's love in his answers. Robert was impressed with the fact that Charlie could have a conversation and never lose his temper, he was definitely speaking in love. 

I saw several Facebook posts that showed there were other people who were celebrating his death. I thought I knew my friends better than that, but I was a little hesitant to see what others put. Those of us who are Christians feel a big target on our backs. We had a missionary killed in the United States this week. The day before the anniversary of having a terrorist attack on our own soil. It is a sad week. 

Our pastor's son pointed out this week that it could be his dad. I woke up this morning thinking about this. As a parent, the worst thing in the world is seeing your kids have a fear that you can't put out by saying, "there really isn't monsters under the bed". Robert loved the St. Louis arch when he was little. He was in third grade when the September 11th attacks happened. That Spring, we visited the arch and Robert wasn't thrilled about going up in it like he normally was. His grandparents were here and so we wanted to go and he went but I could tell he wasn't enjoying it like he used to. As we walked back to the car, he turned around and said, "a plane could have flown right through there while we were up there and killed us all". That was a horrible moment for a mom. He wasn't wrong and he now lived with a fear that no child should have to live with. Unfortunately, now even more children are living with a new fear. Will my parents get killed because they are speaking what they believe?

I find it ironic that God gave me James chapter 3 this week. The first 2 verses are about teaching others about Christ, honestly, it is about teaching in general. Those first two verses are very important so that is all we are talking about today.

Here we go:

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.

Verse 1:

Highlight= We who teach will be judged more strictly. Explain= This is talking about Biblical judgment. James is warning us, if you are going to be telling about Jesus, make sure you get it right. It is a big responsibility.  I have heard of people who don't want anything to do with being a Christian because they have heard someone who is an "expert" in Theology say something that person interpreted as hate.  Apply= It is hard to explain to someone who doesn't realize we are ALL sinners that they are doing anything wrong. As Christians, we have accepted the fact that we are not perfect, even though we try to be. We know it is impossible. I think it is a different mindset for someone who has never looked at things that way. We have this world now that blames everyone else for their problems, why? Because it couldn't be the individual themselves, they are perfect, it is the people around them that caused them problems. I guess that is why I am okay with taking the blame for it when things go wrong. I know it wasn't on purpose, I know I make mistakes. I know I am forgiven. That being said, I try not to make mistakes and I know God knows that. He knows my heart. This week, I spent a day in another agency teaching two new coordinators what I know. At one point in time, one of them said, "Is there anything you don't know?" I had to laugh, and say most definitely yes, but I appreciated the confidence. Later that same day, something came up that I wasn't prepared to talk about and I wasn't 100% sure on the answer, so I reached out to our State Coordinator to get the answer. I feel that teaching being a big responsibility applies to everything in our lives, not just teaching about Christ. Respond = Lord, help me as I reach out to others for you, help me always say what is true and correct and use enough love that I draw people to you and not turn them away.

Verse 2:

 Highlight= Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect. Explain= We are going to spend more time talking about the tongue next week, I would have done it today, but seriously, my heart is hurting too much over someone being killed for spreading the word of God. Was Charlie Kirk perfect? Nope. Did he know he wasn't perfect? Yep. Did he have a right to say what he believed? Yep. As Robert said, he didn't believe in everything Charlie said. I had seriously only listened to a few clips. I have listened to more since then and I know Charlie was a very big proponent of women not working away from home. I personally don't agree. I worked away from home, was still there for my family, still took care of the house and made sure food was on the table and I believe I benefitted as a person for doing it. That is his right for believing that way, am I mad because he thinks I am wrong? No. We disagree and I know God put me on this earth to do exactly what I am doing. Apply= I had never really thought about the fact that we who are Christians have it built in to us that we fail. As a human race, we started failing with the very first person God put on earth and have been carrying on the tradition ever since. God sent Christ to die for that very thing. Because we also know that Christ was part human, part God, we know he very seriously put himself on the cross for us and for that part of us that isn't perfect. I think the hardest part of reaching unbelievers is helping them understand they aren't perfect and that is okay. It isn't okay to harm someone just because you don't believe as they do. Now, here is a hard truth. One I had to face when a very dear close friend of mine was murdered over 30 years ago. NOBODY is beyond reaching for Christ. Not even Charlie Kirk's shooter. I sat here and stared at that sentence for a while before I could move on. Should I say it? Yes, I should. Our agency sees people daily that have made a series of bad choices and landed themselves in our office. I believe my staff has learned over the years they know better than to tell me any one of them is beyond help. If they are still breathing, there is still hope. And as Christians, if you encounter someone that needs Christ, don't ever think it is useless, God probably put you there for a reason, don't let that be a missed opportunity that pops up on the big screen when you meet our Lord and Savior. Respond= Lord, help me always meet the challenge to talk to others about you. Help me know that it is a big responsibility to teach others but that you have equipped me for the job. Help me not be afraid of the enemy at the gate.

I am afraid of rambling today because of emotions, so I will leave this here.  

I hope you all have a good day and have found a little encouragement in these words. Our local fall festival is today and I have been looking forward to it and now, it has a little cloud over it, but I will get out there and go and hopefully continue to heal, as I hope you do as well.