{"id":1142,"date":"2018-01-31T15:00:34","date_gmt":"2018-01-31T21:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/?p=1142"},"modified":"2018-02-06T15:20:13","modified_gmt":"2018-02-06T21:20:13","slug":"being-a-lutheran-teacher-is-awesome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.mlc-wels.edu\/wels-educator\/2018\/01\/31\/being-a-lutheran-teacher-is-awesome\/","title":{"rendered":"Being a Lutheran Teacher Is Awesome!"},"content":{"rendered":"

Written by Dr. John Meyer<\/em><\/p>\n

Every teacher is special. Through them, children and young people develop full and productive lives. But Lutheran<\/em> teachers are more, and being one is an awesome privilege and a tremendous responsibility.<\/p>\n

An Awesome Privilege
\n<\/strong>Lutheran teachers are called.<\/em> That\u2019s not just a fancy way of saying hired. A call comes from God through a group of believers in Christ (Acts 1) to people whom he has appointed and gifted for ministry (Ephesians 4:11-13). Their contract is with God, and so the call is divine (Gerlach, 1977; Mueller, 1988). Since Lutheran teachers do not seek their positions by putting out r\u00e9sum\u00e9s (Romans 10:15; Hebrews 5:4), they are confident that God himself has appointed them to serve where they are (Fehlauer, 1968; Gerlach, n.d.; Mueller, 1988).<\/p>\n

Lutheran teachers are public ministers.<\/em> They may not preach from the pulpit, but they represent Christ and daily get to share his gospel with children and their families. Through the call, a group of believers appoints teachers to publicly carry out its gospel ministry \u201con behalf of, in the name of, and in place of the calling body\u201d (Mueller, 1988, p. 3).<\/p>\n

Lutheran teachers minister to children and their families.<\/em> Those who serve children, serve Jesus (Matthew 18:4). Lutheran teachers nurture and guide children to heaven by teaching them God\u2019s Word and spiritual songs, by correctly applying law and gospel to their lives, by leading them to worship Jesus, and by teaming with caregivers to encourage children\u2019s spiritual growth (Albrecht, 1964; Fehlauer, 1968). They use the power of God\u2019s Word to counsel and comfort their students. Often, they are missionaries, sharing the gospel with children and adults who have never heard it before (Keibel, 1964; Mueller, 1988).<\/p>\n

A Tremendous Responsibility
\n<\/strong>Lutheran teachers model godly living.<\/em> Christ sets high expectations for those who serve in public ministry. They are reliable, able to teach others, and able to endure hardship (2 Timothy 2). They have a deep knowledge of the truths of God\u2019s Word and sound doctrine, and so they are able to recognize and refute false teachings (1 Timothy 3:9; Titus 1:9). A detailed list of characteristics of the called public minister is recorded in 1 Timothy 3.<\/p>\n

Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. <\/em>(1 Timothy 3: 1-4)<\/p>\n

Lutheran teachers are entrusted with children\u2019s souls.<\/em> This work requires great care (Swantz, 1954) because Jesus gives dire warnings to those who cause children to stumble in their faith (Matthew 18:6). The Lutheran teacher must be sure to teach and apply God\u2019s Word correctly, to use law and gospel appropriately when disciplining, and to teach all subjects in a way that glorifies God and aligns with his Word (Fehlauer, 1968; Grunze, 1965; Habermann, 1964; Keibel, 1964).<\/p>\n

Lutheran teachers are leaders in the congregation.<\/em> Motivated by Christ\u2019s love, called ministers set an example of faith and faithful living (Gerlach, n.d.). They serve with love and devotion whenever and however is needed, not as people who punch a time clock (Gerlach, 1977; Sorgatz, 1964). They serve on committees and boards, volunteer at school and congregation events, and provide wise counsel when requested by the congregation, never asking whether these duties are specified in their calls.<\/p>\n

A Necessary Preparation
\n<\/strong>Lutheran teachers know God\u2019s Word.<\/em> They are more than teachers who are Lutheran. They are public ministers who know the Bible so deeply that they can teach it correctly, recognize doctrinal errors in secular subjects and Christian songs and devotional materials, and refute false teachings. They know when and how to properly use God\u2019s law and gospel. They appreciate the Lutheran heritage with its emphasis on Scripture, grace, faith, and Christ alone. Lutheran teachers have not only studied the entire Bible, they understand Christian doctrine and agree with the Lutheran Confessions (Fehlauer, 1968; Grunze, 1965; unknown, 1965).<\/p>\n

Lutheran teachers are redeemed.<\/em> No one is worthy to be called by God into public ministry. No one is always faithful with God\u2019s Word, disciplines perfectly, and correctly applies the law and gospel (Ecclesiastes 7:20). Even the most faithful servants fail to meet the responsibilities of the divine call. The best part of being a Lutheran teacher is that the One who calls (Jesus) is also the One who saves (Romans 8:30). Jesus calls Lutheran teachers and makes them worthy to serve (Ephesians 4:11).<\/p>\n

Dr. John Meyer (DMLC \u201987) is the director of synod certification for WELS teachers. <\/em><\/p>\n

References<\/h1>\n

Albrecht, M. (1964, May). The Christian teacher and the parents. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, pp. 7-9.<\/p>\n

Fehlauer, A. (1968, October ). To those who teach. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, p. 5.<\/p>\n

Gerlach, J. (1977). The servant’s call.<\/em> Michigan District Pastor-Teacher Conference.<\/p>\n

Gerlach, J. (n.d.). Practical applications of the teacher’s call.<\/em> unknown.<\/p>\n

Grunze, R. W. (1965, October). A necessary choice. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, pp. 2-4.<\/p>\n

Habermann, E. (1964, May). The Christian teacher and his calling. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, pp. 2-3.<\/p>\n

Keibel, A. K. (1964, May). Fishers of men. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, p. 1.<\/p>\n

Mueller, W. (1988). A biblical perspective of Christian ministry.<\/em> Milwaukee, WI: WELS Board for Parish Ministry: Task Force on Alternate Forms of Public Ministry.<\/p>\n

Sorgatz, E. H. (1964, May). The Christian teacher and his congregation. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, pp. 4-6.<\/p>\n

Swantz, R. (1954). The glory of the teaching ministry.<\/em> unknown.<\/p>\n

Unknown. (1965, October). Bringing the Lutheran heritage to our children. The Lutheran Educator<\/em>, pp. 14-15.<\/p>\n

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