Humility in Teaching
1. The danger of pride in teaching
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III explains that lack of humility appears when someone takes a personal idea and makes it a doctrine and argues with it, or invents rites not recognized, which creates factions and independent fronts within the church.
2. Unity of thought and doctrinal tradition
Theological and doctrinal teaching requires unity of thought; individual pluralities lead to divisions and many denominations as happened with the Protestants. Therefore it is required to accept general curricula and obedience with wisdom and love.
3. Practical humility and preparation
Humility also appears in the servant’s readiness and lesson preparation: to respect the mentality of listeners and come down to their level, not to display terms or demand showcasing one’s knowledge. Good preparation is a sign of humility and sense of responsibility.
4. Respecting elders and experience
Humility requires respecting those who are older in knowledge or service, and not seeking to build oneself through positions or control, but to seek that the Lord appear and the self be hidden.
5. Daily humble behaviour
The humble servant is quiet, gentle, obedient to order, does not wound nor raise his voice, serves in secret, keeps appointments and does not crave positions, because service without humility costs the person his soul.
6. The effect of humility on the community
Lack of humility leads to curriculum imbalance, fragmentation of branches, failure of meetings and confusion among servants. Humility strengthens love, unity and spiritual growth within the service.
7. Humility of heart and knowledge together
Humility is required both academically and spiritually: the servant learns and adds to his knowledge and respects others’ understanding, and at the same time denies himself so that the Lord might appear; humility is not weakness but mature spirituality.
8. Practical conclusion
His Holiness Pope Shenouda III calls every servant to self-examination: prepare your lessons, respect others, submit to order, and seek that your work be for praise and the kingdom, not for building self or demanding authority.
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