By Elizabeth Crawford
The role of a classroom teacher is anything but simple. For the youngest students, teachers are expected to teach children not only how to read, write, add and subtract, but they also teach children about kindness, sharing, and – in the case of Christian schools – about the love of Jesus. Lutheran teachers in particular understand that being a teacher is much more than a kind adult standing at the front of the classroom focusing on reading, writing, and arithmetic. In the Lutheran classroom, being a teacher is a called position that is vital to raising up the next generation to be rooted in their Lutheran, Christian faith.
The Lutheran church is blessed to have professional church workers who are trained and rostered as pastors, teachers, school administrators, Directors of Christian Education, and those who serve in other roles. These workers are “called” to their positions and are considered ministers of the Gospel. Not everyone is called by God to be a teacher, just as not everyone is called by God to be a pastor, doctor, or lawyer. This does not mean that others cannot teach. Public school teachers, homeschooling parents, and others fulfill the important role of teaching in many and various ways, as well. They, too, have opportunities to share the Gospel with others in certain settings.
God has called each person into a particular vocations to do His work. We each have many vocations. I am a student, daughter, friend, and more. And I dream of one day serving as a Lutheran school teacher.
While teaching involves equipping students with skills needed to perform tasks that will eventually contribute to their future jobs and vocations, in a Lutheran school setting it also includes the most important subject of all: our Savior Jesus Christ. Lutheran teachers are able teach their students about Jesus and nurture their faith. In some cases, they may even have the opportunity to introduce a student to the Good News of Jesus for the very first time. More important than any math problem or piece of literature, the knowledge of what Jesus did on the cross for us to save us from our sins is the most vital lesson a teacher can share with students.
In addition, it is important for teachers to create a classroom that is a safe space for students. Teachers spend a large portion of each day with their students and become a large part of the lives of their students. Our world is full of bad news, severe illness, financial difficulties, and many other hard things. Teachers not only create a safe space, but they also have the opportunity to uphold lives.
Some students may have uncertain home lives, and they may feel safer or more comfortable at school than they do at home. When teachers show students Jesus, this is a perfect time to remind all students that they are created in God’s image, redeemed by Jesus’ death and resurrection, and called to be His children, no matter what challenges they may face. Lutheran school teachers have the wonderful opportunity to daily remind students of Christ’s unfailing love for all of us.
Teachers of students of all age levels have the wonderful privilege to positively impact the lives of their students. Having the opportunity to show students Jesus’ love for them each day is work to be sure, but it is also an incredible gift. God has called some to be pastors, some to work in computer science, some to be engineers, some to work in health care, and others He has called to teach. Pray daily for our teachers, asking God to give them patience, strength and endurance as they do the good, hard work of educating children and showing them the love of our Savior.
Teachers, thank you for using the gifts God has given you in your classroom and beyond to not only teach needed skills, but also and most importantly to spread the love of Jesus to future generations.
Elizabeth Crawford is a freshman at Concordia University, Nebraska, where she will double major in elementary education and music and also study classical liberal arts. She dreams of one day serving as a Lutheran Kindergarten teacher and church musician.