The topic of spiritual gifts is a deceptively difficult one to understand. First of all the Biblical material which forms our starting point is fairly complex. There are three spiritual gift passages which each have different terms, different but overlapping lists of gifts, and different perspectives on the subject. The second difficulty is that we carry with us many premises about spiritual gifts which may or may not be correct. Depending on our background, we may believe that the gifts are to be discovered within us, or that we are to operate in the gifts as they flow through us. We may believe there are 7 gifts, 31 gifts, or any number in between. There is probably no aspect of the doctrine of spiritual gifts that is without dispute.
At this point, we have a mountain of published works to turn to for assistance. Some of this literature is excellent, but there is a tremendous amount of duplication as well. The reader will also find that many authors will assume a position on a debatable point without defending that position, and sometimes without mentioning that other options even exist. It could take dozens of books just to understand the various positions.
As the Christian blogosphere takes shape, we find the subject of spiritual gifts very much in flux. As bloggers enter the discussion, several debates, such as the one over the cessation or continuation of the miraculous gifts, have been under way for decades. Other discussions, such as the relationship of spiritual gifts to personality, are just on the horizon, and may be largely hashed out in the Christian blogs.
This “Guide to Spiritual Gifts” will attempt to make navigation through this topic easier. It will be under construction for a while, and I will add to it as often as I can. It will contain a mix of facts and opinion. If your interest is in the gifts of tongues, miracles, or healing, this guide won’t be as useful to you. First, I don’t have much to add on these gifts that hasn’t been said. Second, I consider them to be the least interesting of all the spiritual gifts. I find the “ordinary” gifts such as mercy and encouragement to be far more relevant to our lives, and more fascinating.
Finally, I suspect that the Church has failed in comprehending the gifts because we have not taken the Biblical passages on them literally enough. When we don’t understand a distinction in concepts, we erase the distinction and merge the concepts. If a literal conception of the body analogy used by Paul violates our presuppositions, we dull the force of the analogy by generalizing it into a basic “unity in diversity” message. A literal reading, by contrast, produces an elegant picture of spiritual gifts that is a balance of form and fluidity. One of the greatest pleasures in my research was to find that the scriptural passages on the gifts are far more precise and accurate than any of us would have imagined.
At this point, we have a mountain of published works to turn to for assistance. Some of this literature is excellent, but there is a tremendous amount of duplication as well. The reader will also find that many authors will assume a position on a debatable point without defending that position, and sometimes without mentioning that other options even exist. It could take dozens of books just to understand the various positions.
As the Christian blogosphere takes shape, we find the subject of spiritual gifts very much in flux. As bloggers enter the discussion, several debates, such as the one over the cessation or continuation of the miraculous gifts, have been under way for decades. Other discussions, such as the relationship of spiritual gifts to personality, are just on the horizon, and may be largely hashed out in the Christian blogs.
This “Guide to Spiritual Gifts” will attempt to make navigation through this topic easier. It will be under construction for a while, and I will add to it as often as I can. It will contain a mix of facts and opinion. If your interest is in the gifts of tongues, miracles, or healing, this guide won’t be as useful to you. First, I don’t have much to add on these gifts that hasn’t been said. Second, I consider them to be the least interesting of all the spiritual gifts. I find the “ordinary” gifts such as mercy and encouragement to be far more relevant to our lives, and more fascinating.
Finally, I suspect that the Church has failed in comprehending the gifts because we have not taken the Biblical passages on them literally enough. When we don’t understand a distinction in concepts, we erase the distinction and merge the concepts. If a literal conception of the body analogy used by Paul violates our presuppositions, we dull the force of the analogy by generalizing it into a basic “unity in diversity” message. A literal reading, by contrast, produces an elegant picture of spiritual gifts that is a balance of form and fluidity. One of the greatest pleasures in my research was to find that the scriptural passages on the gifts are far more precise and accurate than any of us would have imagined.
powered by performancing firefox
No comments:
Post a Comment