Infecting the Whole Batch
Do you ever hear people talk about education as if it were ‘neutral’ – that is, that teaching is independent of our beliefs? What do you think about that? Does it matter who teaches ‘2 + 2 = 4’?
We can turn to an ‘ancient friend’ to help us with this question: Aurelius Augustine outlined in 427 AD (in his wonderful little book, On Christian Teaching) what he believed was the most important purpose of teaching as a Christian: “So anyone who thinks that he has understood the divine scriptures or any part of them, but cannot by his understanding build up this double love of God and neighbour, has not yet succeeded in understanding them.” (p.27)
It is not difficult to see where Augustine might go to in the Bible to reach such a conclusion. Both the Gospels of Matthew and Mark describe the incident when Jesus was ‘tested’ with the question about what was most important across Hebraic law1. His response captured two summary statements from the Old Testament – love God with your all (Deuteronomy 6:5), and love others as you love yourself (Leviticus 19:18). Augustine summarised this as the “double love”.
What Augustine understood, is that the Bible is the lens through which we are to understand, or see, all aspects of reality. If that is true, then the purpose of Scripture applies to all we study – i.e. to all our teaching and learning. Thus, all we teach invites us to love God and others more, or it does not. For Augustine, that is the deepest question to ask as Christian educators. As such, it is a celebration of the heart when we acknowledge the gift of teaching. For to have the opportunity to invite others to a safe place where they are accepted and cared for, so that they can receive God-honouring, Christ-focussed and Holy Spirit led instruction, delight, and challenge, is pure privilege.
The Apostle Paul reflected this in many ways – but one of his most direct moments is in his letter to the Christians in Galatia:
Galatians 5:7-10 You were running superbly! Who cut in on you, deflecting you from the true course of obedience? This detour doesn’t come from the One who called you into the race in the first place. And please don’t toss this off as insignificant. It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread. Deep down, the Master has given me confidence that you will not defect. But the one who is upsetting you, whoever he is, will bear the divine judgment.
Did you notice this phrase?
“It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread.”
Every time we step into a classroom, we become that yeast. Or, as Augustine described it, we are the message as well as the messenger. Do our students discern this? Yes, they do. That is why teaching is such a privilege, but not for those with divided hearts. Let’s ask God to help us be purer of heart today.
Stephen J Fyson
Matthew 22:34-40 & Mark 12:38-33