James 3:1-2

Let me start by saying I love teachers. My mother and my sister are both retired teachers. James is not talking about secular education. He is writing to Christian believers and warning them that the consequences of false teaching can be devastating. So far, in his letter he has illustrated that what we think will determine how we act. If you think the wealthy are evil you will act hatefully toward them. If you think wealth is proof of God’s blessing you will envy the wealthy. James has made the argument that your understanding of saving faith will determine the nature of your relationships with others. A person’s spiritual belief system (Theology) will determine their life choices.

James tells his fellow believers that God will judge a teacher of theology much more strictly than God will judge their students. At first look, this does not seem right. Why should God judge the teacher of an Adult Sunday School class more strictly than he will judge the students? After all, as James points out, we all stumble and miss the mark in many ways. So what is the difference between teacher and student? When the student stumbles, their sphere of influence limits the damage. When a teacher stumbles, and teaches false or erroneous beliefs, the number of students multiplies the size of the sphere of influence.

On Nov. 18, 1978, Jim Jones stumbled and committed suicide. That would be tragedy enough, but that is not the whole story. Jim Jones was a spiritual teacher and when he stumbled in his teaching, the damage multiplied through his students. In the Jonestown massacre, more than 900 men women and children died in the largest mass suicide in human history.

If you are a spiritual teacher, you are in a position of great power. With great power comes great responsibility. Never underestimate it and never take it for granted. Just as a pastor should never preach without prayerful preparation, a teacher should never teach without covering their lessons and their students in prayer.