Command AND Teach

"These things command and teach."

1 Timothy 4:11

These are the two necessary compenents of successfully passing truth. We are ineffective as preachers if we err to one side to the exclusion of the other. We all have a tendency to one side or the other. Which ever of these two aspects of leadership we lack we must prayerfully ask God to give us grace to produce it.

OVEREMPHASIZING COMMANDING

• To err to the side of commanding makes one a dictator.
• To err to the side of commanding is lazy; it is much easier, but it puts truth in noones heart. A person who is only commanded, but not taught, will soon rebel.
• Erring to the side of commanding will quickley get you external compliance, but will never produce interal faith.
• Erring to the side of commanding will produce fear of man, but never faith in God.
• Erring to the side of commanding will compliment the preachers image, but will not conform to Christ's image.

OVEREMPHASIZING TEACHING

By this I mean the tendancy of some to say, "My job is to just teach. It is then left up to them to comply." While I agree this is the approach to some, however it cannot be the approach to all. A true leader will insist that at least his leaders comply. You cannot have a strong church when everything is optional, and nothing is absolute.

• Erring to the side of only teaching is cowardice.
• Erring to the side of only teaching will never produce responsible leaders.
• Erring to the side of only teaching will never produce a faithful foundation.
• Erring to the side of only teaching will produce crowds, but not disciples.

COMMAND OR TEACH

I must also point out that some things are meant to be taught and some are meant to be commanded. God give us the discernment to know the difference.

• We are to teach what concerns Christian liberty.
• We are to command and teach what concerns Christian doctrine.

We need ministries that have grace and strength to command and teach, and to know when to do what.