Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 1

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 1

Students who are in a music education degree program often wonder if teaching music is a sacred trust and therefore a calling of God.  During my lifetime I have seen very little written on the subject of whether or not music teaching is a calling of God like being a pastor or a missionary. Also, I have never had the privilege of hearing anyone give a lecture on music teaching being considered a sacred trust. 1Corinthians 12:28 states,  “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

First of all, before I answer the question “Does God call teachers?” I believe that it is necessary for me to identify the Bible definitions of the words teacher and teachers and false teachers. I Corinthians 12:28 & 29 use the word didaskalos (1320) which means a master or instructor. II Peter uses false teachers (pseudodidaskalos 5572) which has the connotation of a spurious teacher.    The same Greek word is translated master several times in the AV.  Sometimes it was referring to Jesus and others who were also referred to as “master’.  It was translated once in James 3:1 as many masters (pokus didaskalos 4183 1320). 

Of special interest is a reference in Ephesians 4:11 where pastors and teachers (poimen, didaskolos 4166 1320) are referred to as one instead of different callings.  Because of this reference some believe that being a teacher is a concomitant gift of a pastoral calling rather than a separate calling.  The fact that God endows some pastors with the gift of teaching does not preclude God calling others to be teachers.  It seems perfectly clear from I Corinthians 12:28 where the inspired writer is careful to include teachers among the various classifications of callings.  I believe that the words “God hath set” clearly indicate that God places (tithemi, 5087) or calls Christians into these several ministries.