Why the Teacher's Transformation Matters

“The greatest obstacle to discovering is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”

“Simply accept the fact that I know what I’m talking about!” This was the attitude I had for much of my career as a worship leader and mentor. I may not have said this out loud, but I certainly lived this attitude and strongly believed in my own abilities, which gave me a self-assurance that, for some people I influenced, may have been motivating, but for many others was probably off-putting.

Thank goodness we all change. Positive transformation is crucial for those who influence others. Observing a teacher’s redemptive metamorphosis helps students realize how life-giving abandoning fixed or rigid positions can be. Teachers who are willing to develop, shift, change and keep learning make superior teachers. It takes humility to be that kind of a teacher – the attitude that communicates to the student, “Your questions and observations are fascinating, tell me more”. Finding a teaching language that consistently communicates, “let’s explore…”, “what if we thought about it this way…”, “could it be that…”, “another way to view this may be…” demonstrates love toward students, helps them feel known and valued, and models for them a way to honor others.

There was a time when I undervalued this way of disseminating information. It seemed weak, uncertain. I wrongly imagined that my listener expected me to unequivocally know the answers to their questions, and I answered them in a way that reflected this. I exuded too much confidence. I was too certain. Instead of honestly admitting not knowing the answer, I forged ahead anyway, bluffing and improvising, truthfully, I was clueless. I imagined my listeners’ silence to mean I had adequately satisfied their questions. Their silence, in all likelihood, was more due to their feelings of uncertainty in light of my over confidence. This confidence squashed their true inquiries. I knew the spiritual principle about God’s strength being made perfect through weakness, but I had not yet taken it to heart.

What I needed was a transformation from pride to humility, made up of many smaller transformations, ones that I resisted at times, falsely thinking that I was justified in holding onto my rigid positions. The reasons I resisted were numerous. Some of my convictions were correct and worth holding. But there was something else at work as well – a strand of pride braided together with my other reasons. I needed to unwind myself from the idea that being flexible meant an abandoning and rejecting my convictions. Rather it meant being gracious, patient, and open to new ideas and probing questions. This was the real indication of wisdom and strength.

Looking back my pride had an element of fear. Fear of my lack of knowledge being exposed, fear of judgment, fear of losing control, fear of inadequacy, fear of change. All these played into my constructing an ornamental façade of uber-confidence and inflexibility. It was historian Daniel J. Boorstin who wrote the opening quote, “The greatest obstacle to discovering is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge.”[1] This “illusion of knowledge” can be defined as hubris, or conceit. The transformation required to break through to the other side can be highly uncomfortable, but more and more the “strength” that one abandons in humbly subjecting oneself to the light of scrutiny yields to deeper strength, power and wisdom.

The Holy Spirit does this work within us as we allow it. The call to humility is the call to experience a deeper truth, a deeper strength and a more profound wisdom. It’s the paradox of losing one’s position, influence and power that ultimately leads to the deeper realities of God. “For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it.” (Luke 9:24 NIV)

A good teacher is knowledgeable. A great teacher is one who is certainly that, but also one who allows Christ to transform them into a state of childlike humility and innocence, who is willing to learn from the “least of these” in that classic and timeless cycle of discovery that takes place between teacher and student. The teacher needs their own transformation in order to be fully used by God to model life-giving humility and love toward others.

Danny Plett
Danny hails from northern British Columbia, Canada. At twelve, Danny tried his hand at composing simple melodies for the piano. This rapidly grew into his lifelong passion! In 1992, together with his family, he hopped the great Atlantic to live and work as a singer/songwriter with TeachBeyond Ministries in Germany. After 30 years of service with TeachBeyond in Germany, Danny returned to Canada to serve as worship pastor in his hometown. He returned in 2019 to work once again with TeachBeyond, continuing to write and record music, give concerts and workshops, and mentor young musicians and songwriters because he’s a passionate follower of the one called Christ and because it’s his unshakeable belief that the message of Christ is the best news that’s ever been heard!  Go to www.dannyplett.com to check out his latest releases, including “As Diamond Cuts Diamond” and “Losing Myself in You”.