It’s all good in sports until the referee or umpire makes a bad call. Tempers flare, dust flies, and people are ejected from the game. That’s nearly the same scene when spiritual gifts are discussed in an audience with mixed views. Both sides point an accusing finger at each other, with disfellowship not far behind. For those of you who have been in those discussions either in person or online, you know that this can be one of the most controversial things to talk about.
Paul’s purpose for launching head first into the controversy is to provide order to the gathering of the saints.“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be unaware. 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.” (1 Corinthians 12:1–3, NASB 2020) Chapters twelve through fourteen discuss spiritual gifts and their place in the body of Christ.
The bookends for Paul’s discussion are found in 1 Corinthians 12:4-7 and 14:26. “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 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.” (1 Corinthians 12:4–7, NASB 2020) “What is the outcome then, brothers and sisters? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation. All things are to be done for edification.” (1 Corinthians 14:26, NASB 2020) Paul’s point is that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are bountiful and intended to build up one another.
Now, before things get spicy, I do approach this controversy from the viewpoint and experience that the gifts of the Spirit continue to operate today. But I refuse to separate from anyone over this, even though they may disfellowship me. I also recognize that extremes from both the continuationism and cessationist (the gifts have stopped) camps go too far. It’s those extremes that create the most heat for this controversy. Both sides eventually arrive at the same ugly point: “If you don’t believe as I do, then you can’t be saved.” Not very edifying in either case.
Walking this road requires honesty. The gifts, ministries, and effects are not up to us; they are given by the Holy Spirit as He wills. We can fake it to some degree, but that’s not being honest. Some try to control others by saying, “The Lord says…” when He isn’t. God’s wrath will fall on those who do that. We can quench the Holy Spirit’s prompting and gifting, but that isn’t walking in honesty and integrity either. If we say that Jesus is Lord, who are we to either do or say something He isn’t directing us to say? And that question also works in reverse: who are we to refuse the directions of our Lord? No, employing gifts, ministries, and effects requires humble honesty.
In this study, we will not review the gifts of the Spirit in depth. I’ll leave that for another season. I do want to give you a four-pointed tool to discern if someone is faking the gifts or using them improperly. Ask these questions. Who is getting the glory and attention? If it is not Jesus, then it’s wrong. Sometimes, they may speak the right words, but their actions and attitudes declare that it is really all about them. Does it line up with God’s Word? Are they adding or taking away things from the Word? Are you or others being built up in their faith by employing those gifts? Are they creating fear? Often a means of control. Lastly, are they engaged in an orderly fashion? In other words, at the right time in the gathering.
My encouragement for you today is to be open to whatever the Holy Spirit has for you. Use those gifts with humble honesty and integrity to build up others. Bless others whose gifts of the Spirit build you up. The gifts are not controversial or divisive when properly understood and deployed.
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