Caught or Taught

It is said that most of what we learn is caught, not taught. And it may well be true. If, by "caught", they mean "not explicitly taught", you know it's true. We learn by observation, by imitation, by examination, by trial and error. We didn't learn to speak because we sat in a classroom with parents who said, "This is a cat and it is pronounced 'cat'." We learned ... through osmosis.

So the question I'd like you to examine today is "What am I teaching?" Each of us are teachers, you know. No, not the explicit kind; the "caught" kind. Every one of us who is in contact with other people (which should include everyone) are teachers by example. So what are you saying in deeds that are louder than words?

We teach our kids that Jesus is Lord and don't live with Jesus as Lord and wonder why they exit the church as soon as they are out from under our roofs. Fathers tell their sons to avoid pornography while they secretly surf the web for their own private pleasures and wonder why their children are scoffing. Mothers urge their daughters to stand for Christ and then "dress to impress" and wonder why she's trying to go out "dressed like that". We tell them, "The Bible is true" and don't follow the Bible ourselves and wonder why they're not getting it. We claim Christian values, live as practical atheists, and can't figure out what went wrong with those we influence. What are you teaching by your example?

We know that we are to be imitators of God (Eph 5:1). But, let's be honest, not having Him in our conscious presence makes that somewhat difficult. Paul takes it a step further. "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." (1 Cor 11:1) A bold statement, but not as bold as it might feel. He says, "To the extent that I imitate Christ, imitate me." I get that. So it makes me ask myself, "How imitable am I?" Am I a reflection of Christ, or am I emanating things other than what I intend to teach?

It breaks my heart these days. It breaks my heart to know that I have not always been a good imitation of Christ. It breaks my heart that my children have suffered from that. And I count on God's grace to manage that situation. It breaks my heart to see others around me--others I care about and believe to hold Christian views--living practices contradictory to with their faith. Husbands who preach the truth but in practice are poor husbands and poor fathers. Wives who stand on the Word but will not "submit to that man" and don't seem to notice that their dress and behavior is not what the Word says it should be. Fellow workers who speak well of biblical issues in conversation but present a different face in their actions with coworkers and customers. And we wonder why the faith is being disparaged? We wonder why studies (right or wrong) tell us that divorce is just as rampant in the church as out.

I have not arrived. I am not what I would consider a good imitator of Christ. But I'm working on it. I want to live what I say I believe. I want to follow the Bible that I claim to be God's Word. I want, at the end of the day, to be able to say, "What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." (Phil 4:9) Pray for me. I'll do the same for you.