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An Atmosphere of Teaching - Becoming A Master of Divinity
Brian Mashburn
September 23, 2007
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The Atmosphere of Teaching
The world is the beloved object of the affection of God. He loves and so unconditionally accepts the world right where it is, just as it is, that he sent his Son Jesus to bleed and die for it without requiring any guarantee of change, transformation, or acceptance back from it (John 3:16).
But that doesn't mean he doesn't want them to change or transform. On the contrary, he spends his whole life and ministry teaching that the Kingdom life is real, that it is available, and that it can be learned. The old adage, "God accepts you right where you are, but loves you too much to let you stay there" is true. And Jesus was the perfect embodiment of that. And we, as Jesus' church, want to embody that, too.
So last week we spoke of our need to erase all lines of judgment and pre-requisites that keeps us from creating an atmosphere of accepting that looks like Christ's. But we must follow that up quickly with the atmosphere of teaching that also looks like Christ's.
It is a paradox, but it is not impossible to do both. We learned last week from Paul that we are to "accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 7:7)
We will learn this week from Paul that we are to "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom." (Colossians 3:16)
Jesus was sent by God to accept the world exactly where it is, and to teach the world exactly what will bring it life to the full. After he did it, he told his first disciples, "as the Father has sent me, I am sending you". (John 20:21)
A final word on the subject matter to be taught: What did all of Christ's teaching have in common? What was it's point? Of all the things he could have educated us in, why did he choose the things he did educate us in? What was he after?
Change. Buy in. The fruits of the Spirit. Godliness. Holiness. In one word: Transformation. Most teaching that is done in the world has value, but Christian teaching only has value inasmuch as it transforms people into the image of Christ and gives them more life.