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 Man has nothing more
valuable than his own soul (Mt. 16:26) and can learn nothing more valuable than how to save his soul. That is why
gospel truth is the most important thing any man can learn or be taught. And that is why all who teach the word
of God should remember the extreme seriousness of their task as emphasized in Jas. 3:1: “Be not many of you teachers
my brethren, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgement.” So, teaching God’s truth is not something to be
taken lightly. In fact, all Bible teaching should be flavored with the realization that, unlike other teaching,
it is wrought with eternal consequences for both teacher and student. No math or English teacher ever
had that kind of motivation!
But effective Bible
teaching involves more than just talking about the Bible. It must be plain talk! — teaching that is understandable.
Paul states this principle in connection with speaking in tongues: “So also ye, unless ye utter by the tongue speech
easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye will be speaking into the air.” (1 Cor. 14:9)
Without plain talk in our Bible teaching there can be no understanding in things that need most to be understood.
Worse, there can be misunderstanding and confusion.
Regrettably, unplain
talk is dispensed in several hard- to-understand varieties, one of the most popular being ambiguity. This
involves the use of expressions and terms that are susceptible to different interpretations or that might convey
more than one possible meaning. The learner must understand words in the sense intended by the teacher.
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Unwitting ambiguity
may result with the use of such common terms as “church”, “baptism” and “Christian”, depending on the learner’s
background. Failure to understand such terms in their Bible sense may cause them to appear as nonsense—as with
the brother who taught that an elder could not join a labor union because he was to be “no striker”.
Generalization is
another kind of unplain talk hindering good teaching. While it is true that men must do the will of God to be saved
(Mt. 7: 21), His will consists of specifics
to be known and obeyed. Sin cannot be effectively dealt with generally simply because sins are not committed
“generally”. Speaking out against immodesty is one thing; mini-skirts and bathing suits are something else.
Being the slave of bad habits generalizes; being the slave of tobacco is specific. Everybody believes
in the autonomy of the church — until you get down to specifics. Over—generalizing is like “speaking into the air”
for all the good it does. Souls are at stake; understanding is essential; be specific!
Unplain talk
may be impressive, entertaining and eloquent without being instructive—and that’s the whole point of teaching.
The real measure of effective teaching lies in it’s being understood and remembered; not in the plaudits it may
receive from men. Teachers, what greater service can be rendered to others than helping them to understand and
remember God’s truth?
Dan S. Shipley
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