Teaching as Calling

One of the tasks of the church is to bring people to Christ and help them grow up in Christ. Christian education plays a strategic role in this process. Since I started to engage in a local church in Indianapolis in preaching and teaching, Jesus’ concern for instruction (Matt. 28:19-20) has been practiced. I was not highly aware of what I did in my previous pastorate. I did what I did because I was supposed and expected to do what I did. I was not very conscious of what I was doing. Now, when I do it again, I think that I am able to ask conceptual questions about what I am doing as a pastor or an educator.

In Teaching the Faith, Forming the Faithful: A Biblical Vision for Education in the Church (Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2009), Gary A. Parrett[1] and S. Steve Kang discuss calling as one of the attitudes and attributes Christlike teachers should have. Based on Romans 1:1-7, Parrett says that “teachers not only respond to the call of God that is on their own lives, they also help others respond to God’s call” (p. 179). In Rom. 1:1, Paul is “called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God.” Then, Rom. 1:5 says that Paul’s apostolic ministry is “to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith” (see also vv. 6-7). Paul responds God’s calling to teach others. He must not be satisfied with his own endeavor to respond to what he is doing in his life. He must teach others in a way that they are being equipped to respond to God’s callings in their lives. Thus, in Christian education, teachers have double callings: his own calling to teach and to teach others to respond to God’s callings. “Faithful teachers are responsive to God’s call on their lives and long to see those they serve be likewise responsive and eager to see how their lives fit into God’s kingdom vision” (p. 180).

Teachers must bear in mind that they don’t just do the talking. They participate in God’s calling in the midst of the learners. Learners must also keep in mind that they are not just on the receiving side. They discern and participate in God’s calling as they are being taught and equipped. Teachers tend to fall into a temptation that they speak without knowing the needs of learners. In other words, they stick with their agenda (curriculum). However, learners also tend to learn in a passive mode in which learning must be effortless. Otherwise, teachers are not doing their job right.

Christian education is a noble task. It is a task that deserves our labor.

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[1] Gary A. Parrett is my former professor at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He taught me a course titled “Educational Ministry of the Church.” Parrett is a very good professor. When I recalled his lectures, he demonstrated to students that Christian education is an integrative study. However, at the time, I did not pay much attention to this class. Other subjects, such as biblical studies, theology, etc…caught my attention. It was in later stage of my pastoral ministry I then realized this simple fact: everything that I do in ministry is a form of educational ministry. Every ministry is an educational ministry. I am glad that he published this book based on materials from his several classes he has taught at this institution. I think I learn a lot more now in reading his educational vision, concepts, and strategies.