Teacher and His Work
61
Dress and Deportment
Every teacher in the Sabbath school should be a follower of Christ,
and those who have not identified themselves as the disciples of Christ,
showing by a consistent life that they are Christians, should not be
invited to become teachers in the Sabbath school, for they have need
that some one first teach them the foundation principles of the love
[94]
and fear of God. “Without Me,” Christ says, “ye can do nothing.”
Then of what value would be the teaching of one who knew nothing
by personal experience of the power of Christ? It would be a great
inconsistency to urge such a one to take a class in the Sabbath school,
but it is even worse to permit a class to be under the influence of
a teacher whose dress and deportment deny the Saviour, whom he
professes to serve.
Those who teach in Sabbath school must have their hearts warmed
and invigorated by the truth of God, being not hearers only, but also
doers of the Word. They should be nourished in Christ as the branches
are nourished in the vine. The dews of heavenly grace should fall upon
them, that their hearts may be like precious plants, whose buds open
and expand and give forth a grateful fragrance, as flowers in the garden
of God. Teachers should be diligent students of the word of God, and
ever reveal the fact that they are learning daily lessons in the school
of Christ, and are able to communicate to others the light they have
received from Him who is the Great Teacher, the Light of the world.
Teachers should feel their responsibility, and make use of every
opportunity to improve, that they may render the best kind of service
in a manner that will result in the salvation of souls. Both teachers
and pupils should awake to the importance of manifesting industry
and perseverance in the study of God’s word. They should be much in
communion with God, where petty temptations will not control them,
[95]
and indolence and apathy will be successfully resisted. No idleness, no
self-indulgence should be allowed by those who profess to be Christian
workers.—
Testimonies on Sabbath-School Work, 54, 55
.
A Representative of True Religion
The truly converted laborer in the Sabbath school will not be
molded after the customs and practices of the world, but will stand in