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WhatItMeanstoBeaTeacherofGod
ExcerptsfromtheWorkshopheldatthe
FoundationforACOURSEINMIRACLES
TemeculaCA

KennethWapnick,Ph.D.

PartI

Ihavestructuredthetopic,whatitmeanstobeateacherofGod,intothreebasiccategories,basedonthemore
importantsectionsintheteachers'manualthatdealwiththeteacherofGod.ThefirstisthecharacteristicsofGod's
teacher,atthebeginningofthemanual(M4).Thesecondisthethemeofmagic,anextremelyimportantissueinthe
manual,andacrucialoneforanyonewhoworkswiththeCourse.Wewilldiscussnotonlywhatmagicthoughtsare
andhowtheyinterferewithourfunctioning,butalsotheimportantissueofhowonedealswithanger,whichisclosely
relatedtotheconceptofmagicthoughts.Thefinalthemeishealingandtherelationshipbetweenteachingand
healing,whichactuallyarethesame.SothesearethethreebasicareasofbeingateacherofGodthatwewilltalk
about.

IwillbeginbysayingafewwordsofintroductionaboutwhatateacherofGodisandisnot.Thephraseateacherof
Goddoesnotappearinthetextortheworkbookatallitisusedonlyinthemanual.Basically,ateacherofGodis
anyonewhohasacceptedhisorherfunction,whichistoteachandlearnforgiveness.TheCoursesaysthat"the
soleresponsibilityofthemiracleworkeristoaccepttheAtonementforhimself"(T2.V.5:1,T5.V.7:8,M7.3:2).Atthe
momentthatweacceptthataswhywearehere,webecomeateacher.TheCourserepeatedlyequatesteachingand
learning.Weteachwhatwearelearningand,asweteachit,welearnit.Weareallteachingandlearningallthetime.
ThisteachinglearningthemeisreflectedintheverystructureoftheCourse.Itsthreebooksincludeatextbook,
whichobviouslywearesupposedtostudyaworkbook,whichobviouslyissupposedtoteachusaswepracticeits
lessons,andateachers'manual,whichremindsusofourteachinglearningfunction.Sothecurriculum,byitsvery
structure,emphasizesthatweareallteachersandstudentsatthesametime.

AlovelysummaryofwhatitmeanstobeateacherofGodisgivenearlyinthemanual:

AteacherofGodisanyonewhochoosestobeone.Hisqualificationsconsistsolelyinthissomehow,
somewherehehasmadeadeliberatechoiceinwhichhedidnotseehisinterestsasapartfromsomeone
else's(M1.1:12).

TheprinciplecriterionthatestablishesoneasateacherofGodisthatheseesjoining,andnotseparation,ashis
reality.Thisisalsoawayofcharacterizingthedifferencebetweenaholyrelationshipandaspecialrelationship.Ina
specialrelationship,wealwaysseeourinterestsasdifferentandseparateandmoreimportantthananyoneelse's.In
ourminds,then,thisjustifiesthemurderousattackthatistheunderlyingcontentofspecialness.Inaholy
relationship,ontheotherhand,Idonotperceiveyouasseparatefrommenorashavinginterestsseparatefrom
mine.Rather,wegotoHeaventogether.Thisshiftisnotonthelevelofformitoccursinmymind,sothatIdonot
perceivemysalvationasseparatefromorindependentofyou.

Thus,attackingyouinthebeliefthatmyattackonyouwillletmeoffthehooksoIwillfeelbetterwillkeepmeinthe
ego'shell.Intheshifttoaholyrelationship,Irecognizethatyouarereallyonewithmeandwebothsharethesame
problem.Weandeveryoneelseonthisearthbelievethatwearetrappedintheworldwithoutanyhopeofgettingfree.
Andinjoiningwithyou,Irealizethatwesharethecommoninterestofawakeningfromthisnightmaredream.Thatis
whatcharacterizestheteacherofGodandmakestherelationshipholy.Notthatweidentifywiththatpurpose
perfectly.Ifwedid,wewouldnotbehere.Thatsimplyiswhatourgoalhasbecome.Thisisathemethatwewill
returntooverandoveragaininthisworkshop.

Asinmanyotherareasofitsteachings,theCoursetalksaboutateacherofGodontwolevels.Itisclearinthe
introductiontothesectiononthecharacteristicsofGod'steachersthatthecharacteristicsbelongtowhattheCourse
referstoasthe"advancedteachersofGod"(M4.2:2)thosewhohavealreadylearnedsomeofthemorebasic
lessonsofforgiveness.Oncethosebasiclessonsarelearned,thenweshareinthetencharacteristics.

Onanotherlevel,however,weareallteachersbecausewearealllearning.Onthislevel,beingateacherofGod
doesnotmeanthatwehavemasteredallthelessons.Infact,apointismadeinthetextthatisrepeatedinthe
characteristicsofGod'steachers,whichshouldalwaysberememberedasacomfort:readinessdoesnotmean
mastery(T2.VII.7,M4.IX.1:10).Wecanbereadytoteachwithouthavingmasteredthecurriculum.Ifthatwerenot
true,noneofuscoulddoanythingbecause,obviously,noneofushasmasteredthecurriculumoftheCourse.

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SowelearntheCourseandobviouslythisismeant,notintellectually,butexperientiallybylearningour
forgivenesslessons.Themorewelearnthem,themoreweteachthem.Andasweteachthem,wearealsolearning
them.Teachingandlearningarealwaysreciprocal.

AteacherofGodisnotsomeonewhoteachesgreatthingsordoesgreatthingsintheworld.Rather,ateacherof
Godissomeonewhohasacceptedhispurposeinthisworldaslearningforgiveness.WhentheCoursetalksabout
function,itisnottalkingaboutanythingexternal.Itistalkingonlyaboutacceptingafunctionofforgiveness.And
ultimately,ofcourse,wedonotforgivethepersonoutthere.Weforgiveourselves.

Onceweacceptforgivenessasourpurposenotoncewehavelearnedit,butoncewehaveaccepteditasour
purposethenweareestablishedasteachers.AndthenIwillseethateverythingthathappensinmydailylife,as
wellaswhathappensinthecourseofmywholelife,ispartofaclassroominwhichIlearnmylessonsof
forgiveness.SoitdoesnotmatterwhetherthingsgowellorthingsdonotgowellasIevaluatethem.Iwillrealize
theyareallthesamebecausetheyallsharethesamepurpose.TheCoursesaystheonlyquestionweshouldask
aboutanythingis:whatisitfor?(T4.V.6:79).Ifwelistentotheego,theneverythingisforestablishingthatweare
victimsorsomebodyelseisavictim.Andeverythingintheworldisseenfromthatpointofviewthewholetheme
ofvictimizationisaliveandwellinthisworld.Andthat,ofcourse,keepstheegoaliveandwell.

TheHolySpirit,incontrast,seeseverythinginthisworldasservingthepurposeofundoingthatbeliefin
victimizationthatiswhatforgivenessdoes.Onceweacceptforgivenessasourfunction,webecometeachersof
God,whoseeeverythinginthisworldasenablingustolearnthelessonthattherearenovictims.Andaswelearnit,
theLoveoftheHolySpiritandofJesusextendsthroughus.Andthatteachesothers.Itisnotourwordsoractions
orbehaviorthatteachitistheLoveofGodthroughusthatteachessimplybyitspresence.

TheCourse,asweknow,makesadistinctionbetweenformandcontent.Theformisourwords,ourbehavior,and
ourdeeds.Butthosearenotwhatteach.Itisourcontentthatteaches.Inotherwords,ifloveisinmymindand
thereisnothingelseextendingthroughme,thennomatterwhatIamdoingornotdoing,themessageIamteaching
islove.ItmakesnodifferencewhetherIamstandingupinfrontofaclassteachingACourseinMiraclesorIam
teachingathirdgradeclasshowtoreadandwriteandadd.Itisnottheformthatteachesitisthecontentinmy
mindthatteaches.Thewordsandthebehaviorbecomesimplythemeansthroughwhichthatcontentorthatlovein
mymindisexpressed.

Letusgototheteachers'manualnow,andwewillstartwiththecharacteristicsofGod'steachers(M4).Wewill
discussthesetencharacteristicsindepththisisactuallyagoodwayoftalkingaboutwhatthewholeCourseis
about.WewillbeginwiththeIntroduction.

(1:12)ThesurfacetraitsofGod'steachersarenotatallalike.Theydonotlookaliketothebody'seyes,they
comefromvastlydifferentbackgrounds,theirexperiencesoftheworldvarygreatly,andtheirsuperficial
"personalities"arequitedistinct.

Thisisobvioustoanyone.Everyonelooksdifferentfromeveryoneelse.Wearealldifferentinform.The
characteristicsthisisaddressingareofcontent,ofattitudenothowwelook,orwhatwesayordo,butbasically
howwethinkandthecharacteristicsofthatthinking.

(1:3)Nor,atthebeginningstagesoftheirfunctioningasteachersofGod,havetheyasyetacquiredthe
deepercharacteristicsthatwillestablishthemaswhattheyare.

Thisistheinitiallevelofbeingateacher,thefirstofthetwolevelsIdescribedearlier.The"beginningstages"would
beourstartingoutonthejourneyofforgiveness,whichcomeswiththerecognitionthatthatisourpurposeinbeing
here.Wehavenotyetbeguntheprocessoftrulylearningandintegratingwhattheselessonsarewearestill
startingout.

(1:4)GodgivesspecialgiftstoHisteachers,becausetheyhaveaspecialroleinHisplanforAtonement.

Thisisoneofthosestatementswhich,iftakenoutofcontext,doesmakeitsoundasifGodhasfavorites,whichis
clearlyantitheticaltoeverythingtheCourseissaying.ThisreallyissayingthatthosewhomtheCoursewouldcall
"advancedteachers"thosewhoreallyhaveletgooftheirinvestmentinguilt,separation,attack,fear,etc.have
acceptedthegiftsthatarealreadythere.AndbasicallythereisonlyonegiftfromGodthegiftofLove.Orwecould
saythegiftoffreedomorthegiftofeternallifealldifferentaspectsofthesamebasicgift.Noneoftheseaspects
canbeknowninthisworld,aswewillreadattheendofthissectiononthecharacteristics(M4.X.3).Whatisknown
inthisworldisthereflectionofthisgiftofLove.

ThetencharacteristicsofGod'steachersthenarereflectionsofthisonegiftthatGodhasalreadygiventoallofus.
SowhentheCoursesaysherethatGodgivesHisspecialgifts,itreallyisthattheadvancedteacherswhohaveset
asidetheiregos,areallowingthemselvestoacceptandexperienceGod'sLove.ThatLovethenwillmanifestitselfin

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theirdailylivingthroughthesetencharacteristics.PleasedonotthinkthatGodfavorscertainpeopleorgivesHis
giftsonlytothosewhoaregood,etc.

(1:5)Theirspecialnessis,ofcourse,onlytemporarysetintimeasameansofleadingoutoftime.

Inthissense,someonelikeJesusisspecial.Allspecialrelationshipsarebasedontheideathatwearedifferent
fromeachother.YouhavesomethingspecialthatIneedandIwanttogetitfromyouthatisspeciallove.Oryou
havecertainspecialtraitsthatIhate,andthereforeIamjustifiedinattackingyouthatisspecialhate.Buttheyare
allpredicatedontheideathatwearedifferent.TheCoursemakesitveryclearthatwearedifferentintime,butwe
arenotdifferentineternity.Hence,theCoursetalksaboutbothbeginningandadvancedstagesofateacherofGod.
Thesectionontrust(M4.I)describessixstagesinthedevelopmentoftrust.Itisobviouslytalkingaboutdifferences
differentpeoplewillbeatdifferentstages.Nowthereisalwaysthedangeroftryingtodeterminewhoisatwhat
stageandwhentheygotthere,etc.thatisanegotrick.

ButinthisworldtherearedifferencesandsoJesusintheCourseisbasicallysayingtous,"Iamnodifferentfrom
youineternity,butintimeIamdifferentbecauseIamwiserthanyouare.IhaveawakenedfromthedreamandIwill
nowreachbackandhelpeveryoneelseawakenfromthatsamedream."Withintimetherearedifferencesweare
notaskedtodenythat.Theideawouldbethatwenotmakejudgmentsbaseduponthedifferences.BecauseJesus
hasalreadyawakenedfromthedreamdoesnotmeanthatheisanybetterthananyoneelseorthatGodloveshim
more.Itsimplymeansthatheloveshimselfmoreatthispointthanweloveourselves.Butthosedifferences
disappearwhentheegodisappears.ThissameideaisexpressedwhenJesussays,"Youarenotguiltlessintime,
butineternity"(T13.I.3:2).Intheworldoftime,whichistheworldofillusion,theworldofthedream,weareallguilty.
Otherwisewewouldnotbehere.ButthatisnotourtruerealityinHeavenweareallthesameinHeaven.Inthis
worldwearenotthesame.

(1:67)Thesespecialgifts,bornintheholyrelationshiptowardwhichtheteachinglearningsituationis
geared,becomecharacteristicofallteachersofGodwhohaveadvancedintheirownlearning.Inthisrespect
theyareallalike.

Whatgivesbirthtothesespecialgifts,then,istheholyrelationship.Weevolvetowardsandaccepttheseten
characteristicsthroughtheprocessoflettinggoofallofournegativefeelingsaboutourselves,abouteachotherand
aboutGodthatisforgiveness.AsIsaidearlier,forgivenessdoesnotdoanythingitundoes.Itsimplytakesaway
whattheegohasputthere.

GodhasgivenusHisLoveasourtrueIdentity.Butwehavecovereditoverwithguilt,hatred,andfear.Sowedonot
havetodoanythingabouttheLoveofGodwithinusitisalreadythere.Butwedohavetoidentifytheinterferences
thatwehaveplacedbetweenourselvesandlove'spresenceinourminds,sothatforgivenesscantakethemaway.
Thatishowweadvanceonourspiritualpath.

Soforgivenessallowsustoacceptthesespecialgiftsbyhelpingusundoortakeawayalltheegothoughtsthatwe
haveputinourmindstotaketheplaceofthethoughtofLovethatGodgaveus.Thesespecialgifts,therefore,will
becharacteristicofallofusoncewechooseforgiveness.And,aswewillseeaswereviewthem,formostofthe
characteristicstohaveonereallyimpliesalltheothers.Alltenarereallyjustdifferentwaysoftalkingaboutwhat
automaticallyandinevitablymustfollowwhenweletgoofourbeliefinsinandguilt.Andforgivenessistheprocess
bywhichthathappens.

(2:12)AlldifferencesamongtheSonsofGodaretemporary.Nevertheless,intimeitcanbesaidthatthe
advancedteachersofGodhavethefollowingcharacteristics:

Intheend,alldifferenceswilldisappear.Butaslongasweareintimetherewillbethosewhoare"advanced."Again
thereisarealdangerintryingtoidentifywhoisadvancedandwhoisnotitisalwaystheegothatwoulddothat,
becausetheegoisalwaysinterestedindifferences.Andiftheegoisdoingit,weknowrightfromthestartitisa
mistake.Whentheegodoesanything,italwaysjudgesbasedonform,nevercontent.Andthatisoneoftheprimary
waysofdistinguishingaspecialrelationshipfromaholyone.Aspecialrelationshipalwaysevaluateslovebasedon
formlovefortheegoisalwaysquantitativeratherthanqualitative.Itcanbemeasured.Similarly,hatredisalways
baseduponformIhatesomethinginyouorIhateyou.IdonotrecognizethatwhatIhateinyouisreallywhatI
hateinmyself,whichmeansthatweareboththesame.

Allspecialnesseverythingoftheegoisbasedupondifferences.Andalldifferencesareevaluatedbasedonform.
Sowhenwetrytojudgewhoismoreorlessspirituallyadvanced,wealwaysuseasetofcriteriainourmindsbased
onformtomakeourevaluation.

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