1) Even if you don't like the Bible, do yourself a favor and read Esther. The story is extremely well-written.
2) How can we read passages like 1 Corinthians 12 without reevaluating how we operate as a church? The passage clearly indicates a variety of spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit, according to the Spirit's own unction (my favorite Scott word that fits perfectly here). The passage indicates that we all have the Spirit's gifts so that we can exercise them for the Spirit's use in the Spirit's church. The passage compares all of us with our various gifts to our bodies, which have various parts all used together to operate as one body. It asks what good our bodies would be without some of those smaller, less dignified parts. Two thoughts...
2a) How can we ever separate ourselves from ANYONE in our churches? Even those people who require extra grace are given the Spirit's gifts and grace for the good of us all. Spiritual gifts are not given based on maturity, age, income, experience, intelligence, or physical attributes. They are given as the Spirit sees fit. As the Spirit sees fit. However the Spirit sees fit.
2b) Who are we to decide what is and what is not a spiritual gift for our church and time? Who are we to decide whether a gift is helpful for the faith? If gifts are given as the Spirit sees fit, then any gifts we experience are a benefit (whether or not we understand that). It should be said that gifts exercised in ecstasy under our own unction have led many of us to question the inexplicable gifts. Some even think that prophecy, healing, tongues, and interpretation are not for us at all. They are for us now. They are not to be abused, nor are they to be surpressed. Nor will they be surpressed among Spirit-filled people in Spirit-filled churches. We have yet to see what a Spirit-filled people in a Spirit-filled church really looks like. (Perhaps we should put as much time into seeking the Lord as we put into our attempts to understand the mysteries of the Holy Spirit, explaining Him away.)
1 comment:
Good word, Lynn! So much of our attention goes to the manifestation, rather than the Spirit Who manifests. When we focus on the gift itself, rather than keeping our eyes on Christ, we definitely risk being crippled by Spiritual pride. I had recognized in myself the perception that certain people with certain gifts are more "spiritually aware" than those without said gifts. Then I recognized that that was definitely incorrect. We are all different, and gifted, like you said, as the HS sees fit. Therefore, we all have different giftings, none more important than the other, all useful when working together under the anointing of the HS. I do feel there is risk for us to feel prideful about our gifts, and know that therefore, when we recognize what the Lord is doing in and through us, our gift and its uses must be continually submitted to the Lord. All that gift talk being said, the most important thing for us as believers to do is to keep our eyes on Christ and continually draw nearer to Him. The manifestations of our spiritual gifts, therefore, will come out of our nearness to Him, and will not be the focus. We also need to recogize the manifestations of His Holy Spirit are real, and that the Lord can and will choose to manifest and use the gifts of the Spirit as He sees fit. He is not to be boxed in or understood...but glorified, pursued and trusted.
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