As a registered nurse, one of my jobs was to teach patients all of the information a doctor wanted them to know prior to discharging them from the hospital. This meant that before I let them leave the hospital, it was my responsibility to make sure they knew how to change their dressings, what medications they could take and how much they could take, how to empty out any drains that were still in them, how to know if there was an infection, when to call the doctor, and what they should look out for. This task is hard. Patients usually don't listen well because they're anxious to go home. And you have to know about each doctor's preferences, surgeries, medication regimens, plus the side effects of all medications and surgeries.
If I failed to properly teach my patients, it could result in their death or injury. I could also lose my license or get sued for malpractice. Patient teaching is a very crucial job. That's why nurses are in charge of it. Nursing assistants, translators, unit secretaries, and other hospital personnel have no business instructing patients, because it's a big deal with life or death consequences.
James says that being a teacher in the church is also a big deal. Church leaders, like nurses, deal with life and death situations. The only difference is that church leaders are liable to God, not a licensing board or to patients and church leaders are dealing with ETERNAL life and death situations.
This doesn't mean that people shouldn't become teachers in the church. This just means that people who teach in the church have a huge responsibility. What they teach better align with Scriptures. How they live ought to reflect God's will for their life. And their testimony better remain intact.
If you're a church teacher or leader, please consider the impact that you have on people. Let's pray for our leaders. Let's pray that they will lead by example and teach the Truth.
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