It's hard to put together an article which reflects a dispassionate, analytical approach to such an interesting (and hotly-contested) topic as spiritual gifts. Frankly, I'm not capable of that. As I've been reading about these gifts and how they have been understood traditionally (and recently), I'm more convinced the Pentecostal (and increasingly evangelical) understanding is misguided at best, and severely harmful, at worst.
An initial search on Google (the infallible metric for Internet statistics that it is), I'm blown away by the plethora of online tools to determine one's spiritual gifts. Instead of sites which defining and explaining what spiritual gifts are and their purpose, instead I see a myriad of questionnaires, surveys, and cleverly-worded analyses of "personalized" results for each individual trying to find his or her capabilities.
Of course, it's not all that bad. There are sites which use Scripture to define these gifts, many opting for a less-than-comprehensive approach. No fault to them, but it makes it harder to flesh-out a decent understanding of gifts without a number of passages to accompany them.
This article is purposed to capture what I've been learning as I read and research spiritual gifts and their purpose. I don't list every gift mentioned in Scripture, nor do I defend the current manifestation of or (in my opinion) the cessation of certain revelatory and miraculous gifts. I figure that can be done another time. This piece of writing will hopefully provide a simple framework in which I can better understand what gifts are, how they are to be used, how Scripture speaks of them, and how to avoid their misuse.
Shall we start? One note: all quotations are from the NASB; any misquotations or mistypings are my solely my own. As are any misguided, incorrect, or mule-headed conclusions :)
Spiritual Gifts: a Definition
First, I'd like to try and define spiritual gifts. Though there are a number of references to them in non-orthodox, spiritualistic circles, I would like to focus narrowly on gifts as defined in Scripture (I am, after all, an orthodox Christian). Though examples of their use are found throughout the New Testament, there are a number of references which should help form a solid definition. This article will quote heavily from I Corinthians, Ephesians, and Romans, though this is by no means an exhaustive reference of passages regarding spiritual gifts.
After examining these passages, the best definition I can come up with (in my own words) is this:
Spiritual Gifts: special endowments given to each believer by the Holy Spirit for the edification and building up of the Church. An article written by John Piper defined them this way: "A spiritual gift is an ability given by the Holy Spirit to express our faith effectively (in word or deed) for the strengthening of someone else's faith." Though there are slight differences in our definitions, I think they almost compliment each other. Piper mentions individuals; I mention the Body of Christ, which is composed of individuals. Yeah, it's a subtle distinction, I know :) Frankly, his definition is better-sounding than mine, but he's also much smarter than I am :)
So how is this definition defended by Scripture?
"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, 'When He ascended on high, He led captive a host of captives, and He gave gifts to men.'...And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:7-13)Note the purpose Paul explicitly lays out: "the building up of the body of Christ." Spiritual gifts were given for the benefit of the Church; they were to be used as acts of loving and joyous service (more on that in a minute). I don't want to intimate that gifts are only for those inside the Church. Part of edifying and serving the Body of Christ is working toward its growth and expansion. As we'll see later, there are many examples of gifts which were used to glorify God by growing His Church. But the gifts were directed out, not in.
"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." (I Corinthians: 12:4-7)Again, we see the words, "common good" as a theme; spiritual gifts are directed outward. We may benefit from their use, but do so indirectly. When I serve others out of love and affection, I tend to see this love and affection grow. It's weird, but it happens. When I reject other peoples' needs and focus selfishly on my own, I tend to see my opinion of them go quickly down. Indeed, I suffer when I direct my focus inward; when I direct it outward (from a desire to serve as Christ served), I find my joy increase. The seemingly-inverse economy of the Kingdom of God is directly tied to our benefit: we grow when we place ourselves last; we shrink when we push ourselves to be first.
Within the proper exercise of spiritual gifts, there is a unity which arises and benefits the entirety of the Church.
"...Let all things be done for edification...For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted." (I Corinthians 14:26, 31)Paul instructs those who teach, prophesy, speak in tongues, etc. to do so with a goal for all to be exhorted. They would all learn, and they would all share in the benefits of that knowledge. Though some would learn or understand at the different rates and levels, there is clearly a unifying element when the benefit of others is sought through the exercise of spiritual gifts.
"For I long o see you so that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established; that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the others faith, both yours and mine." (Romans 1:11-12)Spiritual GIFTS, not Merit Points
As we delve into these endowments, it's important to keep one thing at the forefront of our minds: these are gifts. They are not a "means of grace" (though we might experience grace through them). They are not rewards, nor are they partitioned by the Holy Spirit in accordance with our worthiness or inherent goodness. I'm not going to harp on the very last point; this article assumes "Total Depravity" is a Biblically supported truth (the idea that mankind's nature is inherently evil -- though not as evil as it could be, due to the wonderful grace God bestows upon His creation). I will, however, directly speak to the concept of gifts.
"But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills." (I Corinthians 4:11)Spiritual gifts are given in accordance with the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit. They are given to all, as He sees fit. Though we may desire certain gifts (again, a topic which will hopefully be covered in a future article), we are not to view others' gifts with envy or malice. The Spirit works sovereignly, and we are to accept His choice and bestowal.
"Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly..." (Romans 12:6)Second, gifts (of one type or another) are given to all believers. In Christ, we all receive the the Holy Spirit (this is also a gift, though not the same as the "spiritual gifts" being addressed). From the Holy Spirit, however, comes those endowments which He purposes to edify and build up the Church. Though not all have the same gifts, all are gifted in some way. There is no clear numeric standard: not all have 2 gifts, 3 gifts, etc. But all Christians are gifted by the Holy Spirit.
Because these are given to us, we should be very careful how we perceive them and ourselves. Spiritual gifts are not a stamp of spiritual accomplishment or a seal of personal greatness. They are not to be used to the exclusion of others within or without the Church; they are not to be viewed with disdain or contempt; they are not to be belittled or ignored, based on their perceived attractiveness. If we have a certain gift, we are not to perceive ourselves has attaining a certain level of spirituality; the same Spirit which unifies us in Christ, gifts us to serve. If we lack a different gift, we are not to view ourselves as lesser in the Kingdom of Heaven, or lacking in faith or devotion. Though we may at times lack for faith and devotion, spiritual gifts are not a measuring stick by which we gage our worthiness.
As I learn more about the struggles in Corinth, this seems clear to me: this church was abusing their gifts. Though we'll speak of a few of these abuses shortly, it's important to note Paul's appeal to the church.
"And the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you'; or again the head to the feet, 'I have no need of you.'" (I Corinthians 12:21)Though some gifts were more "flashy" than others, Paul is clear: no member of the Body of Christ is unimportant. In fact, those who would receive less honor for "lesser" gifts were often those who were needed the most (vs 23-24). The way we view ourselves and others in the church are often tied to how we perceive our station or position. This is something we ought guard ourselves against, particularly when using the gifts given to us for service:
"As each one has received a spiritual gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 4:10-11)
"Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others." (Philippians 2:3-4)Spiritual gifts, therefore, are not to be exercised to the exclusion or isolation of others within the Church. They are not to be used a validation of our worthiness or spirituality. If we exercise gifts without love and service as our motive (I Corinthians 13), we are outside their Biblically-proscribed use.
The Definitive Spiritual Gifts?
So what are the spiritual gifts, specifically? I've discussed their purpose and the pitfalls surrounding their abuse, but how are they defined in Scripture? Well, there doesn't appear to be a single, comprehensive list. In fact, it's possible to find quite a bit of disagreement among Christians about what constitutes a gift within the confines of the New Testament. I don't think it's necessary to try and nail down a single point in the Bible where everything is listed; the Epistles aren't composed like a systematic theology book, and I think it's reasonable to conclude certain gifts are discussed at certain times in Scripture.
Frankly, I think some of the ambiguity is comforting. Piper concludes we ought not be overly concerned with what gifts we have, and focus instead on simply serving the church. I think he's right. There might not be a "gift" of Linux administration, but if I can serve my church by helping mitigate the headaches of dealing with Windows on regular basis (yes, I'm a Linux fanboy), then I should. If I have a heart for serving in the nursery, I may do so and be content in using my talents for God's people. Though I think we can discover these gifts in our lives, we are called to serve, serve, serve.
Thankfully, we can, however, derive a good number of them from a few passages. Ephesians 4 describes apostleship, prophecy, evangelism, pastorship, and teaching (the latter two may possibly go together). I Corinthians 12 lists the following: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miracles, prophecy, distinguishing spirits, tongues, and interpretations of tongues. In fact, later in chapter 12, Paul lists several appointments within the church, with an associated priority:
"...first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues." (I Corinthians 12:28)What's interesting here is to note the _order_ Paul associates with each. He doesn't devalue them, but one of the more prominent "gifts" today is ordered last: tongues. Paul doesn't diminish their validity (or their worth), but speaks of them as lesser gifts. Those in the Pentecostal movement might do well to consider the prominence they give tongues.
Regardless, as verses 14-26 point out, though some are lesser, all were given by the Spirit, and thus all were of value.
The Importance of Spiritual Gifts
So what? If spiritual gifts are divisive and misunderstood, why should we even bother? Can't we all get along? Can we ignore those things which cause disunity?
Bah, my questions are rhetorical. Of course we can get along. Of course we can find unity in the midst of disagreement. But spiritual gifts are important. They're important because Scripture clearly makes them so:
"Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware...Therefore, my brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak in tongues." (I Corinthians 12:1, 39)We may need to further explore Paul's statements in verse 39 (again, at a later date), but the intention of his letter is to instruct their purpose, proper use, and result. Though the Corinthians were chastised for their misuse of gifts, they were not forbidden their use. Paul is emphasizing the importance of understanding these gifts, and not allowing them to be misused or abused. Therefore, I would postulate (which I can since this is my blog) they are important for us to understand.
As was mentioned before, Paul earnestly desired to use his gift to exhort and encourage those in Rome. His purpose was the building up and edification of the Body, and those gifts given by the Holy Spirit were for that explicit purpose. If we are to be servants within the Church, we need to know and utilize the means in which we are equipped to serve.
Abusing Spiritual Gifts
So how are spiritual gifts misused? Frankly, I don't think I'll get into a long discussion regarding the Corinthian church and the situation they found themselves in. There are a number of fascinating accounts about the church, and I'll post links to these expositions at the bottom.
Suffice to say, the Corinthian church provides us a keen insight as to how gifts may be abused. People were disrupting the order of the services as they gathered together; they were overemphasizing certain gifts and devaluing or disregarding others; they were promoting disunity as they claimed allegiance to one gifted person over another (1:12). Through ignorance and sin, these gifts given by the Holy Spirit to build up the Body were being used to promote disunity and division. Moreover, they were being used to justify public blasphemy and maligning of Christ's name and Person:
"You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, 'Jesus is accursed'; and no one can say, 'Jesus is Lord,' except by the Holy Spirit." (I Corinthians 12:2-3)
Within Corinth, there were individuals claiming to speak by the Holy Spirit when actively blaspheming Jesus. Paul expressly condemns this. Words spoken from "gifts", such as prophecy or tongues, will always be in harmony and accord with the truth we know from God's revelation. During the first decades of the Church, this meant harmony with the Old Testament and the words of the Apostles. Today, all utterings and statements need to be viewed in the light of Scripture (God's full revelation to man).
Though there are prominent leaders in the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements who frequently invoke Christ's name, their words (and fruit) need to be fully examined in light of God's Word:
"'Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, "Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness."' (Matthew 7:15-23)Jesus words here are quite clear: though there are those who invoke His name in their ministries, cast out demons and prophesy in His name, they are told by their fruit. We do well to heed these warnings with caution and care, lest we be led astray by false teachers who desire to destroy and rend apart.
What's more, in today's charismatic (and other, traditionally conservative) churches, we see accounts of "gifts" which directly contradict the work of the Holy Spirit.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22)No endowment from the Holy Spirit violates these fruits. How can the work of the Holy Spirit not produce the result of the Holy Spirit's work? Such a thought is ridiculous and self-contradictory. Therefore, if a gift is shown to be lacking any of these, its use (at the least) is not originated by the Holy Spirit. This includes any uncontrolled expressions of tongues or prophecies, as well as "slayings" of the Spirit. Our God is not a God of chaos; His Spirit does not work against Itself.
I'd like to be clear on one point I'm fully convinced of: no spiritual gift will express itself through a lack of self-control. Paul is quite clear about the control individuals have over their gifts:
I Corinthians 14:26-32
"If anyone speaks in a tongue, it should be by two or at most three, and each in turn, and one must interpret; but if there is no one interpreter, he must keep silent in the church..." (vs 27)
"Let two or three prophets speak, and let others pass judgment. But if a revelation is made to another who is seated, the first one must keep silent..." (vs 29-30)Though we might disagree on the current manifestation of certain gifts, those who are truly endowed are in control of their use. They are not "taken over" or "slain" or removed from their own self-possession. In fact, Jesus spoke about such mindlessness:
"'And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him."' ((Matthew 6:7-8)Though Jesus isn't speaking about tongues in this passage, He is giving us a clear distinction between the prayers of the godly and ungodly. The ungodly believed many words and mindless uttering would somehow catch their gods' attention. Their desire was to attract attention, appease, and supplicate before an uncaring and dispassionate deity; frankly, they often tried to annoy him into responding, much in the way a child will thoughtlessly repeat the words "mommy" trying to capture a parent's attention. Our Heavenly Father is not like that. He knows exactly what we need, when we need it, and will give to His children with more compassion and care than an earthly father. Therefore, our prayers and supplications are not mindless uttering or meaningless words. We are to clearly and cognitively make our requests know to the Lord.
Examples of Spiritual Gifts?
So how do we know what spiritual gifts look like?
In Acts 1-2, we see uneducated fishermen suddenly speaking other natural languages, teaching and convicting Jews and Gentiles alike. They relayed God's revelation of His Son to the people, after which an explosion of growth in the Church occurred (hallelujah!).
In Acts 3, we see Peter and John heal a lame man, inspiring awe and praise to the Lord from observers in the temple. After this, we read of Peter and John preaching to them about the truth of God's Son.
In Acts 8, Phillip is brought alongside a eunich from Etheopia. Though we don't necessarily know the extent of his education, we see him correctly interpreting the prophecies of Christ to this man, leading to his conversion.
Other passages could also be referenced. Heck, Acts and the Epistles are replete with examples of the Holy Spirit equipping people for the building up and edifying of the Body.
Summary
In conclusion, our presence as members within the Body of Christ is one of servitude and love. Jesus told His followers, "'By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.'" (John 13:35). Therefore, we must examine our practices within the Church in light of this commandment. Spiritual gifts are to be used for the edification and building up of each other, not ourselves or those we deem "worthy." If we mistake this point, and we begin to exercise talents and gifts given to us by the Lord and Holy Spirit, we become the noisy gong and clanging symbol Paul speaks of. The purpose of these gifts might be tied to Christ's words in John (13:35): that we may love each other, and the world would see this love and know we are His.
How can we love if we do not serve? How can we serve if we do not understand the means in which we are equipped to serve? How can we serve others if our intent is only serving ourselves? With this in mind, I think it well to consider closely what we believe to be Scriptural expressions of God-given gifts.
Links
- Spiritual Gifts: A Bible Study by Fred Zaspel
- Spiritual Gifts by John Piper
- The Importance of Spiritual Gifts by John MacArthur
- Charismatic Chaos by John MacArthur
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