Are you an Olympian? Probably not. But you are an athlete.
Yes, you—because A) you wear tennis shoes, or B) you walk from your car into your house, a physical activity, or C) you know all the sports and yell at sports officials or coaches while sitting in front of your screen eating Doritos, or D) you are a physical being designed by God to move, function and be healthy.
So, we’re all called by God to be athletes, but we’re not all called to be Olympians. Similarly, all believers are called by God to ministry, but not all believers are called by God into the public ministry of the gospel.
How about entering a slightly above average athlete (like the shortstop on your softball team or your kid’s swim coach) into the same competition as Olympic athletes? Yikes. The comparative gap in performance would help us appreciate the astonishing level of athleticism in these Olympians.
There’s an astonishing level of ministry (from the Greek word diakonia meaning “service”) in those called by God through Christian schools to be teachers. This teaching ministry is next level compared to general ministry.
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up” (Ephesians 4:11,12).
Some believers are chosen, gifted, trained and set apart by Christ for the public ministry of the gospel. Part of this “next level” ministry is the call a teacher receives from a Christian school.
More than that, it is generally expected that the teacher embodies a next level competence to know, live and share with others the gospel. Normally this includes education, experience, expertise in teaching, and the pursuit of excelling both personally and professionally.
Some qualities of the public ministry listed in 1 Timothy 3 include “able to teach … not quarrelsome, not a lover of money … good reputation with outsiders … They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith … worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.”
Now, most teachers can expect to receive support from the school that called them. That usually means compensation such as salary (but not everyone in public ministry is paid).
Teachers “are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching … ‘Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain’” (1 Timothy 5:17,18). This double honor implies both faith-filled respect and appreciation for teachers, and also financial support.
If you want an ox to grind grain under its hooves to remove the chaff from the kernel, then you don’t muzzle it. Instead, you allow it to munch on some of the grain. There is a little loss of grain, but a net gain from the focused work.
In the same way, schools who want teachers to focus on the teaching ministry will make sure that they support these hard workers.
Show up on work days to hang bulletin boards or volunteer to reprogram smart boards for the teachers. Serve on the school board and design salary packages to provide enough support so that teachers don’t need a second job. Provide financial gifts and offerings to act as agents of Christ, caring for provision.
The expectations of Christian teachers called by a school, biblically speaking, are higher. Schools should also raise their own expectations to take care of them.
PRAYER: Give gifts to teachers everywhere, Lord, to help them be the best teachers they can be. Bless Christian teachers called into the ministry, and the schools that call them, to partner together in your mission. Amen.
NEXT STEP: Ask a teacher called to a Christian school how you can help them get ready for the school year. Watch for wish lists and make a donation. Provide lunch for faculty meetings preparing for the school year. Be creative.