The moment you put one teacher or pastor on a pedestal you’ve proven that that person is not worthy of such calling – or at least that your powers of discernment are awry!
IF A TEACHER IS NOT TEACHING YOU TO QUESTION EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HIMSELF, THEN HE’S NOT A TEACHER AT ALL.

A real teacher doesn’t exploit impressionable minds by saying anything but “Follow me only as far as I follow Christ!” Teach your students HOW to do their own thinking, discerning and decision-making. It’s no feather in your bonnet, oh lofty teacher, to grab your followers by their minds and get them to do your bidding. Teach them that the unfailing power to make perfect decisions lies with God, Who happens to be within THEM !!

Bible students should never be seduced away from doing their own thinking: their own God-aligned thinking is what can – and will – save the world! How? With the full power of God (not you) on their side, they will learn HOW TO recognize God’s voice within them. They won’t be preoccupied with all the warring methodologies out there that are vying for attention, but will recognize that to be a real teacher THEY need to sever their allegiance to you and become themself a Teacher Trainer.

Followers need to be encouraged – not discouraged – to break new ground courageously by studying out the new findings of highly qualified Bible scholars, rather than huddle around their leader (you). The Kingdom is advancing: let those impressionable minds who would sooner follow you off a cliff – let them know that they must take their learning beyond you, into the thirtieth century and beyond – way, way beyond!