Teacher and Disciple
W. Carl Ketcherside
We are disciples of Christ. He is our teacher. This state of things can
never be reversed. We cannot teach him; we can only learn from him. Nor do we ever arrive at
the place where we know it all. There are no graduates from his school. We never cease to be
disciples while on this earth. We are also servants. He is our master. This relationship must ever
be sustained. We can never arrive at the place where we tell him what to do, or tell him what we
prefer to do. "A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master" (Matt. 10:
24).
Because we are all disciples and servants we should share with each
other.
We are all frail, fallible, and liable to err. No one of us is immune to
mistakes. With an eagerness to know the truth, we earnestly solicit your analysis and criticism of
the views we express. We urge you to write and point out where you think we are in error. We
read carefully, prayerfully and studiously every letter or article of disagreement. We prefer that
you write in love, free from rancor and the party spirit. But if you cannot so write, and if your
criticisms must be submitted even in a spirit of hatred, send them to us, and with love for you,
we shall endeavor to separate what you say from the spirit in which you convey it. We are
interested in and concerned about principles, and we are not so vain as to reason that only those
friendly to ourselves have correct principles.
It is not necessary that you agree with us to be loved and respected by us.
Our heart reaches out to embrace many who do not see all things as we do, but who love the
same Jesus we try to serve. It is dangerous for any fallible man to set up his reasoning as a
criterion by which to judge the worthiness of any of his fellows. We do not stand or fall to our
fellow slaves. "To his own master he standeth or falleth." But since we are disciples, you may
help us to learn, and since we are servants you may help us to serve. Feel free to question, to
doubt, to disagree with, and to censure what we write. You may be right, and if so, we wish to
know it. There is nothing to be gained by continuing in error when one can learn better. While
all of us sit at the feet of the same great teacher let us share what we glean from a study of his
words.
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