It was argued by the priest in the online message I referred to in the beginning that some people can teach and some cannot. The authorized people can, but the unauthorized people should not. In his view, the ordained people (bishops, priests and deacons) are the only ones authorized to teach from scriptures. However, he also conceded that a few non-ordained people may be authorized to teach by the bishops or priests. But, the remaining non-ordained people have to learn with humility.
Thus, according to the priest, the people in the church are classified into two groups: those who teach and those who learn. Or, in other words, those who have wisdom or spiritual knowledge, and those who don’t.
Now let me clarify my own view. I see all the people in the world in the same category— as learners. God is the only one who really knows, and therefore, God is the only true teacher. If we have the willingness to accept God as our teacher, it makes all of us learners. Let us not divide people into teachers and learners, but let us all be learners.
Coming to God’s presence, whatever we know is foolishness. “The wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight” I Cor 3:9. “The man who thinks he knows something does not yet know as he ought to know” I Cor 8:2. Thus those who claim to know will be seen as foolish by God. But those who approach God admitting to be foolish will be called wise by God. That is why “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” Pro 1:7.
If we, (the bishops, priests, deacons, and all the people), together come to the presence of the Lord admitting our foolishness, and our willingness to learn, we will begin to learn what God wants us to learn. The ordained ones are ordained to lead the people in learning.
A priest is not supposed to tell the people, “Come, let me teach you the wisdom of God”. But a priest has to say, “Come, let us together learn the wisdom of God”. In the former case, the priest places himself in a different category assuming that he knows. But in the latter instance the priest has the humility to see himself as one among the people. The priest thus emerges as a leader and a role model. People will then admire him and trust him.
In online forums all people meet as a group of learners, often unaware of the true identity as well as the depth of the learning possessed by the participants. Although they vary in their social class and in their roles, they meet on the same level, learning from one another. Sometimes some of us might get upset when our beliefs are challenged. But that is a part of the learning process as well as a splendid opportunity to examine one’s own rigidly held views.
Our parishes have to become learning forums where people can learn from one another, and our clergy have to design effective learning opportunities and lead learning ventures to promote wisdom and understanding.
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