Christian Education
247
Teachers
Teachers can do a work of larger importance than even the
minister—The teachers for our schools should be selected from the
very best class. They should be experienced Christians who are bal-
anced in mind, men and women who have learned the lesson of self-
control. Then they can educate and do a work of larger importance
than even the minister in preaching the Word. They can prepare the
soil that the truth may have effect upon human hearts.—
Manuscript
Releases 13:95, 96
.
Christian teachers, knowing they sometimes break God’s
rules, should not be severe with students who break school rules—
I am alarmed for you at Battle Creek. Teachers are very exact in
visiting with denunciation and punishments those students who vio-
late the slight rules, not from any vicious purpose, but heedlessly; or
[239]
circumstances occur which make it no sin for them to deviate from
rules which have been made, and which should not be held with in-
flexibility if transgressed, and yet the person in fault is treated as if he
had grievously sinned. Now I want you to consider, teachers, where
you stand, and deal with yourselves and pronounce judgment against
yourselves; for you have not only infringed the rules, but you have
been so sharp, so severe upon students; and more than this, there is a
controversy between you and God. You have not made straight paths
for your feet lest the lame be turned out of the way. You have departed
from safe paths. I say “teachers”; I do not specify names. I leave that
to your own consciences to appropriate. The Lord God of Israel has
wrought in your midst again and again. You have had great evidences
of the stately steppings of the Most High. But a period of great light,
of the wonderful revealings of the Spirit and power of God, is a period
of great peril, lest the light shall not be improved. Will you consider
Jeremiah 17:5-10
;
18:12-15
? For you are most surely coming under
the rebuke of God. Light has been shining in clear and steady rays
upon you. What has this light done for you? Christ, the Chief Shep-
herd, is looking upon you with displeasure, and is inquiring, “Where
is the flock that was given thee, thy beautiful flock?”—
Fundamentals
of Christian Education, 222
.