A Closer Look at Teachings

Teachings too often find their way into the same category as abused gifts, misused authority, and many other things that began spiritual and ended up sidetracked. Let someone learn some new “gee-whiz” teaching and in his zeal, he can’t tell whether to nourish others with it, or use it to club them senseless. More than one small church has borne the ill-effects of a person who has learned just enough to be dangerous.

Make no mistake about it, accurate teaching is a must, but it’s just as important to know why it’s a must. Check out this fictional dialogue as an older Christian attempts to instruct a younger one in the importance of “cutting straight the word of truth” (2 Tim. 2:15).

Young Christian: Why is correct teaching necessary?
Older Christian: So that we would believe the right things.
Y.C.: But why is that important?
O.C.: You must have right knowledge and believe right things so that you can teach right things.
Y.C.: Why is it important to teach right things?
O.C.: So that others can believe right things.
Y.C.: And why is that so important?

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