Mark 9:42-50
42And whosoever shall offend one of these little ones that believe in me, it is better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he were cast into the sea. 43And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 44Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 45And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: 46Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 47And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire: 48Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. 49For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt. 50Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
This passage continues the discussion Jesus has been having with the disciples about how to interact with each other as they follow him. Though these directives are for all believers, I believe they are particularly prescribed to anybody who holds a position of authority in the church. Leaders should be selfless servants, particularly mindful of the poor and needy, and in harmonious collaboration with all other believers, even those outside one’s own particular congregation.
Here’s another precept: as a leader, causing another to sin has very dire consequences. We all need to be mindful when interacting with one another not to do this, but woe to the church leader who knowingly does this. For example, I think of the church ministers before the Civil War who taught that slavery was the will of God. Even afterward, some churches taught that it was “God’s will” that the races be kept separate. Anytime the scriptures are used to teach and foster hate is wrong and those who teach this must repent and repent fast.
No, any teacher, whether it be a pastor or a person leading a bible study, needs to be especially circumspect in what he or she offers to their students. Everything they teach and every action directed towards the congregation must be “good salt”, with the intention of preserving the word and, through that, teach love and kindness and to “have peace one with another.”
LJG (c) 2009
3 Comments
July 9, 2009 at 12:37 am
I teach Bible studies to women and I teach my own children (ages 3 to 20, boys and girls–9 of them). The Bible command to “be not many of you teachers” terrifies me. I am so afraid of teaching something wrong. I pray about it constantly. Thank you for this post. God bless.
July 9, 2009 at 12:54 am
I think you are doing exactly the right thing: praying. I wonder all the time if what I write is correct. I pray to God that it is too!
Thank you for dropping by and commenting.
July 10, 2009 at 8:10 am
Lori:
Amen to what you wrote. May we all be kept from becoming “front porches” that lead others into sin – either by being incorrect doctrinally or inconsistent ethically. Our talk and walk must not be a cause for others to stumble.
John