The Bible in general and the gospels in particularly have strong warnings to those who consider themselves to be great teachers and examples. Look again at the warnings to the Pharisees in Matthew 23 and/or the implied criticisms of religious leaders in Luke 20. Pick out one warning you would particularly like *your* teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, and explain why that warning is particularly important.
"They do all their deeds to be seen by others. For they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long, and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplace and being called 'rabbi' by others." (Matthew 22: 5-7) This verse is a very important warning I would like my teachers/leaders/professors to pay attention to, because I have had some professors who liked to be called that because it boosted their ego and made them feel important, and I want them to realize that if they continue to do that, they will be seen as awful people even if they don't see it.
ReplyDelete"They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden" (Matthew 23:4). I would like my professors/teachers/leaders to heed this verse. I have had certain educators and bosses in the past that absolutely love giving out tasks and assignments that they themselves wouldn't even attempt to do. They do not take into consideration that 1.) students are taking MORE than just that class, and 2.) the assignment that is given is something the professor hasn't even attempted to complete. Before releasing all of these intense demands upon students, I think certain educators should try to put themselves BACK into that mindset of a student (if only for a moment).
ReplyDelete- Lauren Bland
I feel like being a Rabbi in today's time will be harder than it was for Jesus to battle off those who don't believe he was who he was. Do you all remember reading in Luke 20, after Jesus spoke the parable of the wicked tenants, other scribes and priest became bothered by the words he spoke? In Luke 20:19-26, he was then tested by spies, that pretended to be sincere. Had Jesus not recognize their deceit, who knows what they may have accomplished that day. Yet this also goes to show that no one can be as enlightened as Christ at all times and one can easily fall prey to their pursuers.
ReplyDeleteMatthew 23:4
ReplyDelete"They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden."
I would like professors to pay particular attention to this warning as there are many who seem to have forgotten what it was like to be a student themselves. I spent two years studying music at NSU a few years ago before having to change my major because I got too overwhelmed with the intense demands. I was taking lessons in three different focus points and expected to practice a minimum of 8-10 hours a week per instrument/focus on top of my double major and 20 credit hours I was enrolled in. If I showed up to a lesson and it was obvious that I had not practiced for the appropriate amount of time I was given stern lectures on how that class/lesson was the most important thing in my life and I should put everything else aside for it.
I wish that some of my past bosses also paid more attention to this passage as I have had many bosses who hand out to their minions the tasks that they are less particular to. I do not think that it is very fair or good leadership to hand off the harder/less appealing tasks to those below you for no other reason than “because they can.” I believe that all tasks (desirable and less so) should be spread evenly throughout the workers. If a boss isn’t willing to “lower” themselves to a job then they shouldn’t expect a subordinate to do it instead.