Teachers

One of the passages in Scripture that always causes me--as a sometime Bible teacher--to stop and ponder is found In I Corinthians 2. Paul, in describing his own teaching ministry, states that he made it a point to not try to persuade people to believe by using human, specious philosophy or an impressive delivery style. He was focused on presenting truth as simply and plainly as he could--no manipulation. He explains that man limited to human reasoning cannot understand the... Word because it is spiritually discerned. Paul feared that some might respond to his teaching based on his "style" and not be responding to the Spirit's moving. Such people--those who respond to human manipulation--are deceived. Their faith is powerless. How many today have a faith based on a man's eloquence and charisma rather than the Spirit's wooing? Are we "entertaining" people into a human-based faith? How long will that last in difficult times? I pray that God's teachers today--that this old man--will not be guilty of recruiting followers of men. All powerful teaching relies totally on the Spirit's power--and the simple message: Christ crucified.