The rise of social media has provided virtually anyone with the opportunity to establish a platform and present himself as an authority on the Scriptures. A person can discover a particular doctrine one week and begin producing videos explaining it to the world the next. While the accessibility of biblical teaching has certainly provided some benefits, it has also created an environment where a quality studio and production value is frequently mistaken for spiritual maturity.
In 1 Timothy 3:6, the Apostle Paul gives a specific warning concerning the qualifications of a bishop: “Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.” The word novice carries the idea of something newly planted. Consider a young tree that has only recently been placed into the ground. It may be alive and showing promising signs of growth, but its roots have not yet become firmly established. It has not endured the changing seasons or weathered the storms that strengthen a mature tree. There is nothing inherently wrong with the young tree. It simply needs time to grow.
Paul’s immediate concern is the danger of placing a newly converted believer into pastoral leadership. The novice may possess a genuine love for the Lord and an earnest desire to serve Him, but he has not yet had sufficient opportunity to become established in the faith. The warning is particularly significant because Paul identifies pride as the danger associated with premature elevation. A man who has only recently entered the Christian life may be especially vulnerable to the temptation of mistaking his newfound knowledge for spiritual superiority. When such a man is suddenly placed into a position of influence, the consequences extend beyond himself.
Although Paul’s prohibition specifically concerns the pastoral office, the principle deserves consideration in other areas of Christian teaching. James 3:1 declares, “My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.” The responsibility of teaching the Scriptures should never be approached casually. Those who publicly instruct others assume a responsibility for the doctrine they communicate and the influence they exercise. It is therefore reasonable to question whether every Christian who possesses the means to establish a teaching platform possesses the maturity necessary to occupy one.
One of the more troubling developments within modern Christianity is the growing number of self-appointed Bible teachers who have never demonstrated faithfulness within the context of a local church. Some have never served under the oversight of a pastor or submitted themselves to the ordinary responsibilities of church membership. Yet these same individuals confidently instruct other believers, criticize ministries, and pronounce judgment upon doctrinal controversies. Their authority is largely self-assumed, and their qualifications are often measured by little more than the number of people willing to listen.
The local church is not an optional accessory to the Christian life. It is the institution through which God has ordained that believers assemble, receive instruction, exercise their gifts, and grow together in the faith. Ephesians 4:11-12 explains that the Lord gave pastors and teachers “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” If a man has not demonstrated that he can faithfully participate in the life of a local congregation, on what basis should Christians entrust him with the responsibility of teaching them?
This is not to suggest that a local church confers infallibility upon its members or that pastoral oversight makes a man’s teaching immune from examination. Every doctrine must ultimately be judged by the Scriptures. Nevertheless, there is a considerable difference between a man who has been faithfully serving among believers and one whose entire ministerial identity exists behind a camera. Within a congregation, a man’s character can be observed over time. His willingness to receive correction becomes evident, and his faithfulness can be evaluated by those who actually know him. An online audience generally has no such opportunity. It sees what the teacher chooses to present.
Perhaps the clearest evidence of the danger associated with premature teaching is the remarkable instability demonstrated by some of these personalities. Having never developed firm doctrinal roots, they are constantly shifting their theological positions. One month they confidently defend a particular doctrine, only to abandon it the next after encountering a persuasive video or an unfamiliar argument. Each discovery becomes a new revelation, and each change of position is accompanied by the same confidence with which the previous position was defended. Their audiences are carried along through an endless succession of doctrinal developments, often without realizing that their teacher is still struggling to establish his own convictions.
Paul describes the danger of doctrinal instability in Ephesians 4:14: “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” This is precisely what happens when a man attempts to instruct others before becoming established himself. Like a newly planted tree whose roots have not taken hold, he is easily moved by the slightest wind. The tragedy is that his instability seldom affects him alone. Those who have entrusted themselves to his instruction may find their own convictions shaken every time their teacher changes his mind.
Of course, Christians should be willing to correct their beliefs when confronted with the truth of Scripture. Refusing to acknowledge an error is not evidence of spiritual maturity. However, there is a difference between honest doctrinal correction and habitual instability. A mature Christian does not change his convictions merely because he has encountered an articulate opponent. He carefully examines the Scriptures, weighs the arguments, and recognizes the seriousness of publicly teaching what he believes. The novice, by contrast, may be more impressed by the novelty of an argument than concerned with whether it has been thoroughly established.
There is also a dangerous relationship between premature teaching and personal pride. An individual who has built an audience around his theological opinions may eventually find himself more concerned with maintaining that audience than with pursuing the truth. The pressure to continually produce content encourages him to speak on subjects he has not adequately studied. Rather than admitting ignorance, he feels compelled to provide an answer. Over time, the platform that initially appeared to be an opportunity for ministry may become an obstacle to his own spiritual development. He is so occupied with teaching others that he neglects the instruction he desperately needs himself.
The biblical pattern is considerably different. Paul instructed Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” Notice that the responsibility of teaching was to be entrusted to faithful men. Their faithfulness was not assumed merely because they possessed knowledge or expressed an interest in ministry. There was an established body of doctrine to be received and a responsibility to preserve it accurately. The emphasis was upon the character and reliability of those entrusted with instructing others.
Before establishing a platform to instruct the church, a man would do well to examine his own relationship with Christ’s church. Has he demonstrated faithfulness when there was no audience to applaud him? Has he learned to receive correction from those who know him personally? Are his doctrinal convictions the product of careful biblical study, or are they borrowed from the latest personality to capture his attention? These are matters worthy of consideration before assuming responsibility for the spiritual instruction of others.
The church does not need another generation of self-appointed authorities whose influence has outgrown their spiritual development. It needs men who understand the weight of handling the word of God and who have demonstrated the faithfulness necessary to be entrusted with its instruction. The opportunity to speak should never be confused with the qualification to teach. A platform may be established in an afternoon, but spiritual maturity requires considerably more.
There is nothing disgraceful about being newly planted. Every mature tree was once a sapling. The danger arises when we attempt to bear the weight of mature ministry before our roots have taken hold. Before a man becomes preoccupied with how many people are listening to him, he ought to consider whether he has spent sufficient time listening and learning himself.
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