Thou Shalt Make Alive!

By Rev. Ellsworth McIntyre

Ask any normal adult, "Who was your favorite teacher and describe why that teacher was your favorite." You will hear a description of a teacher whose lessons brought some life-changing insight into the life of their student. "I found myself able for the first time ..." or "I discovered I had a talent ... or "I suddenly found a belief in my ability to change or to accomplish or to cope ..."and other variations of self-discovery. In other words, the favorite teacher inspires the student to overcome.

When asked to describe this favorite teacher, you may be surprised to learn that the teacher is described as "stern," “a taskmaster" or "pleasant but not likely to accept excuses." The memory of a favorite teacher is someone who said over and over, "You can do it if you try harder. Don't make excuses. Try again." In other words,the difference between a poor teacher and a favorite is that a godly teacher placed the responsibility to learn on you. The poor teacher accepted your excuses and permitted you to blame your environment. The favorite teacher will not allow you to give up on yourself, but presses you to heights of achievement you previously thought out of reach. Well, that's the method, but what is the source of this approach?

Blame Others & Give Up

First, the poor teacher is a humanist. Humanistic teachers constantly seek to "understand" the student. Once they see a plausible excuse such as poor family background, poor self esteem, bullying by other students, or even too much competition, the humanist, overflowing with sympathy, rushes to explain to the student why he is experiencing difficulty. The humanist theory is that once the student understands the reason for his difficulty, he can forgive himself and be happy in his failure. This psycho­ babble enables the student to grow fond of his teacher and allows the humanist to turn sympathetically to bring "happiness"to the next troubled student.

Blame Yourself & Succeed!

The godly teacher, on the other hand, says, ''The trouble is with you.” Perhaps not in those words, but that is in essence the thrust of his method. For example, generations of old-fashioned teachers used to tell people that they could overcome a bad habit or summon the strength to try again by saying, “Don’t you have the willpower?”

Today's humanists say, "Oh, you’re addicted to smoking, drinking, laziness, or sex. You're a victim. It's not your fault!" One method springs from the Bible; the other from the pit of hell. Our society too often accepts palliatives such as "I feel your pain." Well-meaning do-gooders condemn the godly as "harsh," "stern," "cruel," or most often, "unloving."

Mercy: Cruel as the Grave

R. J.  Rushdoony in Inst;itytes of Biblical Law, Vol. l, discusses  the  theology  at  the  roots  of  such teaching  methods. Every parent and teacher should read his commentary on the Sixth Commandment, 11Thou shalt not kill." I can almost see some readers' surprise. "Murder?   Did I read correctly?

 Are we discussing murder?" Yes, it is murder to be a sponge for excuse-makers, because you see the flip side of "Thou shalt not kill" is: Thou shalt make alive. The great parent/teacher brings you alive, alive more than ever. Once you were the victim of bad habits or bad circumstances, but now, thanks to your life-giving teacher, you throw off the handicaps of poverty and poor character. You rise to glorious heights crying, "I can" instead of "I can't." The poor teacher kills ability. "The tender mercies of the wicked are cruel (Pr. 12:10)."

Christian schools (including many I know) are blind to these truths. If I had $100 for every time some deacon's or pastor's wife or church member accused me or one of my teachers of being "unloving," I would be wealthy beyond my dreams. Sadly, evangelistic (soul-winning) church schools are almost as guilty as government schools of honoring murderers and condemning the Godly. For this reason, the strongest Christian schools are seldom dominated by churches. Why? The modern churches have replaced the law of God with a perverted law of love. This evil doctrine murders more slowly than a bullet or knife, but it is murder, pure and simple. Permissive schools assassinate Christian teachers, while misguided churchmen dance on their graves.

My Favorite Teacher

My favorite teacher  was a  6' 4"  black  sergeant  named Cheek. I met him as a 19-year-old recruit at the crack of a cold and rainy dawn at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.  I can still smell his terrible cigarette, coffee, and rotten teeth breath. He leaned down and shouted, "McIntyre, don't give me any of your lame­ brained excuses. You failed! You didn't make your objective. Hear me, boy! NO EXCUSE, SIR!" The last "no excuses sir" was delivered with a roaring shout straight in my face, bad breath mixed together with a mist of putrid spittle.(Please understand that this recollection is accurate in content, but that the actual expletives have been deleted.)

Although Sgt. Cheek would be surprised to learn that his instruction was actually Biblical. He would be even more surprised to learn that Christ touched my life through his screaming criticism. Military tradition has more in common with historical Christianity than a humanist preacher canknow. I thank the Lord Jesus Christ for that foul-mouthed teacher. He was guided by the Holy Spirit that cold South Carolina morning. I have often prayed that the Lord would save Sgt. Cheek's soul. It would be grand to shake his hand in heaven. I have faith that his breath and speech will be cleaner in heaven. His pedagogy, I suspect, however guided by military tradition,cannot be more true in heaven than on that day on earth.

Is the Lord a Prisoner?

Is it possible the Lord would bestow divine instruction through a profane military instructor? Yes, according to the Bible. If you doubt that, check out the scripture proof texts for Question 88 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. In answer to the question, "What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?" The answer reads: "A.  The outward and ordinary (emphasis added) means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption,are his ordinances, especially the word, sacraments, and prayer;all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation."

In other words, the Lord does not restrict himself to church or churchmen or what is commonly thought of as "holy means." The Lord communicates with us by any means, at any time with the church or despite the church. Instruction comes from many sources and can lead us to the Saviour. The ordinary teacher in a classroom or the ordinary parent in the home can bring life when Christ wishes to communicate. The Lord is willing to communicate by means of a jackass (2 Pet. 2:16) and can use someone like me, Sgt. Cheek, or you to bless the soul of his elect?

Our Lord is not a helpless prisoner locked in the local church. If murderers have driven the godly from the temple, what can the elect do? I can show you how to liberate your ministry from the enemy. write for a copy of my book, How to Become a Millionaire in Christian Education,

Who's your favorite teacher, and why? Beware, think, or better yet pray. Your answer may indicate whether you are at war with the God of the Bible. Rich folks have instinctively grasped this truth for years and sent their spoiled sons to military schools all over the world. In Florida, where I live, thelocal sheriffs have formed "boot camps" for juvenile delinquents. Their methods are straight out of covenant theology. Would to God they could add R. J. Rushdoony’s robust Calvinism. It would lift their programs like an afterburner does a jet.

Good theology can boost the value of any parent/teacher's ministry, but we must first recognize that our work may bring life or death to those under our authority. The word Christianwas at first a term of derision. Our enemies spit the wordChristian from clenched jaws as a curse. rt means "little Christ."May God grant that all of us become little life-givers; it is our calling and our duty. Thou shalt make alive.