1 Corinthians 12, 13, 14
                                                               Spiritual Gifts

Spiritual gifts have always been the heart of my ministry. My mission statement can be stated in two words: making disciples, or developing people. All three of these chapters are interrelated and should not be separated. Here are some basic truths that stand out.

1 - Every Christian has at least one spiritual gift given by the Holy Spirit as He chooses. Couple that with my deep belief that God creates everyone uniquely and with purposes the Lord has determined for your life. This includes building into you both your abilities and your enjoyments.

2 - Some debate whether gifts and talents are the same thing. My take is a gift is a talent used in the Lord’s service. For example, the same talent used in a dance band becomes a gift, when used in worship to bring others into the presence of God.

3 - Another discussion involves whether the gifts listed here and in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 are all the gifts or merely illustrative.  I take the latter viewpoint. There are many gifts, and perhaps some new ones in our electronic age! Note also in Ephesians 4, the gifts are people! Does this imply each Christian is himself, or herself, a gift to the church body?

4 - Gifts differ. Paul illustrates it with the human body. Every part is necessary. Likewise in the church there is no room for jealousy because each contributes their own uniqueness.

5 - Gifts are NOT for the individual, but for the church. Just as an athletic team recruits players that fit its needs, so God collects followers with differing gifts in His church.

6 - Gifts must be discovered, called out, and developed. After evangelism, this is the first priority of the church.

7 - Speaking in tongues is listed as the least important gift. Chapter 14 goes into detail, with Paul insisting this is not a gift to be used in public worship without an interpreter. He says ignoring this created chaos and repels unbelievers. I have often wondered if his claim to speak in more tongues than the Corinthians meant languages. It’s very likely Paul could speak and write Greek, Latin, Hebrew, and Aramaic, perhaps another dialect or two.

I have no problem with anyone who has had a deep worship experience involving tongues. However, the notion that all Christians must speak in tongues to be saved or that it is a second blessing that somehow makes some sort of super-Christian is totally unbiblical. Note Paul brings it up because it is creating problems in Corinth. And the day of Pentecost, they were not speaking a holy language, but the languages of those in the crowd. I think of the 120 translating Peter’s sermon as he delivered it in Aramaic.

Also note in the Love chapter, Paul says “when I was a child I SPOKE as a child (baby babbling)...but when I became a man I put away childish things…” Once you see it, it’s hard not to feel that Paul believed tongues were an immature experience.

8 - Gifts are not the most important thing - love is. Without love you don’t have God, for God IS love. Love is not a gift, but a command and the first fruit of the Spirit!

9 - Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you...that you love one another AS I HAVE LOVED YOU! That love is undeserved. Jesus loved His disciples because of who He was, not who they were. And we are called to love others because of who WE are, not who THEY are.

10 - IMHO, the Golden Rule is a good working definition of what Christian love looks like in action.