'taught of God'

From time to time, we may be called upon to teach something to another. It may be teaching children in our care to observe table manners. It may be teaching the one taking over a role we have served in, the lessons we have learned while in that role. A Sunday School might need additional teachers. Some are already teachers by profession. And we are all at some point needing to be a learner -- to learn new skills (who doesn't?) We may wonder how this process works best and what particular qualities support clear instruction and receptive learning.

Christian Science practice involves both teaching and learning, and the teaching process follows the example of the master Teacher, Christ Jesus. We know that Jesus' methods involved using examples from everyday life that would make sense to his listeners, for instance parables such as sowing seed. He also demonstrated what he was talking about by healing. 

In the book Mary Baker Eddy: A Centennial Appreciation, author DeWitt John has written a beautiful article about Mary Baker Eddy as an educator and teacher. He points out some of the qualities she expressed. For example, he mentions 'a listening attitude' along with 'selflessness and humility' (p. 72). Further along (p. 75) Mr John lists some of  'the moral and spiritual qualities' identified by her students, including 'courtesy, gentleness, tenderness...; ...youthfulness, wit, joy, radiancy, and beauty; ...discernment, incisiveness, lucidity, and brevity of statement...'.

Tellingly, 'She dealt directly with the thought of each student. She taught by means of searching questions and answers' (ibid). This one-to-one teaching could not 'be thoroughly taught to large audiences, because [it] require[d] addressing the pupils individually and examining critically the thoughts expressed' (p. 73).

This is a very different skill set from those required in a lecture room, where the message is necessarily designed for larger groups and on a more general level. Paul Stark Seeley comments on Eddy's skills as lecturer. 'As a public speaker' Seeley writes, Mrs Eddy 'was able so to impart her message that it did not become shadowed by her personality' (p. 42). He continues - 'Her natural dignity, poise, and conviction...left an enduring impression on her hearers' (ibid). Also notable were qualities such as 'courage, fearlessness, inspiration, and patience' (ibid).

Words are important! Seeley notes that 'the spoken word of Truth is indispensable to arousing human thought to discern the oncoming dawn of spiritual reality' (p. 44). Words must be chosen wisely. How helpful, then, is God's promise to the reluctant Moses (Exodus 4: 12): 'Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say.'

John summed it up in his gospel, (John 6:63): 'They shall be all taught of God.'

Julie Swannell

PS 6pm tonight May 7 2019, Mon Komo Hotel in Redcliffe: lecture delivered by Michelle Nanouche, 'Angry No More'. Free admission. Bring your open heart.