Week 49 James 3
James wrote: not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness.
So if I’m a teacher I’ll be judged at a higher standard…
But if I’m a not teacher I’ll be judged at a lower standard.
This is a pretty interesting verse. Following the Lord is a little bit like being in a job where I’ll be evaluated for my work performance. Maybe not annually. But eventually.
I wondered whether I could map out a more comprehensive Assessment Hierarchy for the church. James says teachers will be assessed more strictly. What about other church positions? I started thinking back… In week 47 Paul listed a few positions: apostles prophets evangelists pastors teachers. He also mentioned bishops and deacons in the church. They’d likely be included. But I’m not sure what to make of people with “spiritual gifts” like healing & miracles & speaking in tongues. Are they ranked too?
I don’t get far before I start thinking that developing a church Assessment Hierarchy tool is likely a waste of time. For one thing the NT isn’t giving me enough info. And for another what difference does it make if an apostle is judged to a 98% degree-of-strictness and a teacher is assessed 12% less strictly?
The point is likely: keep it in mind that my assessment is coming…and act accordingly.
Note: quote from James 3:1 (NLT). See Ephesians 4:11.