Now there are varieties of gifts,
but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the
same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same
God who activates all of them in everyone.
- 1 Corinthians 12:4-6
Then again, who does? It has been my
experience that God offers each community the gifts we need to be
whole, healthy and a blessing to the world. Our giftedness - whether
in compassionate care for others, inspired preaching, practical
helps, administration, evangelism or work for social justice - are
distributed throughout our community gathered in Jesus. Does any one
of us have all the gifts necessary for a vibrant, fruitful community?
If we did, would we even need community?
As we look to the health of this body,
there are two very real obstacles that we confront: One is our
potential for individual pride. We can become so enamored with our
own gifts that we fail to realize how partial and contingent we are,
how much we rely on our sisters and brothers to shore up our weakness
and make us whole. If we elevate one person's spiritual gifts - or
one type of spiritual gifts - above others, we mutilate the body.
After all, if
the body were only an eye, where would the hearing be? If we had only
an ear, where would the sense of smell be?
If we are to embrace the full array of
spiritual gifts that God has granted us as a community, we probably
need to develop a better awareness of what our gifts actually are.
How can we as communities in Jesus become more intentional about
discovering the giftedness of each person? How can we raise awareness
of how each of us fits together into one living organism - one body
with many parts?
1 comment:
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Eph 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Eph 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
Eph 4:15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:
In most denominations any sign of spiritual gifts leads to identifying the one with the gift as a leader. This works as a Christian "Peter Principle" where that person is given a position in the church which eventually leads to him or her becoming an administrator or figurehead with the burying or exaltation of his gift depending on circumstances. If the gift is freely spread among the community without undue homage to the individual exercising the gift I believe it works for the community's benefit and is more likely to result as Paul says in the maturing of the individual followers. In other words when we come across a special plant we should let it mature where it's planted and not dig it up and put it in a pot to be admired by a select few. In nature that plant will spread by having it's seeds dispersed by birds, insects and the wind, so to in our communities gifts can be spread from one to another as we travel from meeting to meeting. Biblically this was done by the laying on of hands. Maybe when we see someone using a gift we admire we should ask them to lay hands on us and pray that that gift be imparted to us?
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