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spiritual gifts

37 1Corinthians 12:11-13 Should everyone speak in tongues?

March 11, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

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37 1Corinthians 12:11-13 Should everyone speak in tongues? | WednesdayintheWord.com

As Paul continues discussing the unity and diversity of the body of Christ, we pause to consider what that tells us about speaking in tongues today. Should everyone speak in tongues?

Review

Paul is speaking to a group of believers who are grading and judging each other by whether or not they speak in tongues.  Through chapters 12-14, Paul makes a series of points to give them perspective on that situation.

First, Paul said, the mark of the Spirit of God at work in a person’s life is not what kind of outward experience they have.  The mark of the Spirit of God at work in a person’s life is that they say and mean in a profound way that Jesus is Lord. 

Then Paul began contrasting the unity and diversity in the body of Christ. While all God’s people have the same Spirit at work in them, the Spirit gives a variety of differing gifts to different people. 

In the last podcast, I argued that we should think of spiritual gifts as roles and opportunities to serve the body of Christ, rather than as “super powers” or talents.

Passage

12:11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14For the body is not one member, but many. – 1Corinthians 12:11-14

  • By God’s design, the human body is meant to be a coherent whole made up of a variety of different parts.  So it is in the church of Christ.
  • Just as it is God’s purpose for different parts of the human body to play different roles and have different functions, it is God’s purpose throughout history for different people to play different roles in the story of redemption. 
  • In 12:13, Paul uses two analogies to summarize the source of our unity.
  • Both analogies involve water and come from the language of Jesus.
  • All 4 gospels report that John the Baptist baptizes with water, but Jesus Christ will baptize with the spirit. 

“As for me, I baptize you with water for repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, and I am not fit to remove His sandals; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ” – John the Baptist speaking in Matthew 3:11 (Also, Mark 1:8; Luke 3:16; John 1:26)

  • The Gospel of John records two places where Jesus says the thirsty should come to him for living water.  One is speaking to the woman at the well (John 4). The other is John 7.

7:37Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. 38He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'” 39But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. – John 7:37-29.

  • Baptism is an outward cleansing with water the symbolizes conversion and becoming a disciple of someone. 
  • The true baptism is the baptism of the Spirit where the Spirit cleanses our hard hearts and truly makes us people who want to follow Christ. 
  • It is an inward washing and transformation of which water baptism is a sign.
  • When we are physically thirsty, we drink water to quench our thirst.  But the true drink is a water of the Spirit, which quenches our spiritual thirst.
  • The reality behind these metaphors is the same idea Paul introduced in 1Corinthians 12:1-3:  No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Spirit working in him to give him faith and understanding.  
  • The basis for our unity is that all believers were washed by the same Spirit; and all believers quench our spiritual thirst with the same Spirit. 

In this section, Paul highlights two ways the Spirit works.

  1.  The Spirit gives all believers the same faith, the same spiritual awakening, the same perseverance in the faith and the same desire to follow Jesus. 
  2. The Spirit gives each believer a different role to play in the body of Christ.  

Just as different parts of the body have different jobs to fulfill to keep the body healthy, so believers have different jobs to fulfill in the history of God’s people to bring about His glory and His purposes. 

Should everyone speak in tongues?

Should I be worried if no one in my local church has healed anyone or spoken in tongues?

  • Paul has not answered this question, and does not intend to answer it in this passage.
  • He says there are miracles of healing but he does not say that every local church throughout history will have someone who can miraculously heal. 
  • From the New Testament, we know sometimes people were inexplicably healed. We have stories that this same kind of miraculous healing is happening today and has happened at times in history. 
  • From what Paul has said here, I think we can conclude that if God wants miracles or tongues to happen at any particular point in history to any particular person for any particular reason, then the Spirit of God will make it happen.  If that kind of activity is not happening now, then that too is part of God’s plan. 
  • The Bible does not say whether God intends to keep acting in miraculous ways.  It does not tell us whether the New Testament was a unique period of church history or the beginning of some new way of working.
  • We do know the sign gifts (miracles, healing and tongues) were given to confirm the authority of the speaker (usually an apostle or prophet).

What were tongues in Corinth?

  • The Greek word translated tongues simply means languages. To speak in tongues is literally to speak in languages. 
  • Acts presents a coherent picture that people speak in normal human languages they have not been taught.
  • Today we see what is called “glossolalia” were someone speaks in a language no one understands, usually including the speaker.
  • I suspect Paul is referring to the Acts event where someone speaks a normal language he/she has not been taught.
  • I suspect the Corinthians were practicing glossolalia or something closer to it.

What about the charismatic movement?

  • I am not criticizing the charismatic movement we see today. 
  • From this passage, Paul has not said anything that rules that modern phenomenon of tongues in or out.
  • But IF any group believes that everyone must speak in tongues and IF their theology is that those who don’t speak in tongues are not spiritual, that’s the same mistake Paul is pointing out in Corinth.
  • Paul has just argued that gifts are diverse and you cannot judge someone’s spirituality by whether or not they have the gift of tongues. 
  • There’s a sense in which both charismatics and non-charsimatics could peacefully and gracefully agree to disagree, except both sides tend to see the other side as deficient.

Paul’s points so far

Here’s what I think Paul has clearly said so far. I know both charismatics and non-charismatics who hold these views (and I know some on both sides who don’t).

  1. The mark of true spirituality is not having a particular spiritual gift, including speaking in tongues, but rather the mark of true spirituality is to say and mean that Jesus is Lord
  2. Jesus has brought us together to be His people and to belong to each other as his family.
  3. God gives every individual a role to play serving and bringing about His kingdom.
  4. It is wrong to judge others based on whether they have a particular gift or what role they have been given or not given.
  5. The purpose of having these roles is to build each other up in the faith.

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 38 1Corinthians 12:14-31 Understanding the body of Christ

Previous: 36 1Corinthians 12:4-11 What are spiritual gifts?

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

Study: 1Corinthians Resources

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Filed Under: Corinthians, Passages Tagged With: Corinthians, spiritual gifts, tongue

36 1Corinthians 12:4-11 What are spiritual gifts?

March 4, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

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36 1Corinthians 12:4-11 What are spiritual gifts? | WednesdayintheWord.com

Paul argues that while all believers have the same Spirit, God distributes different gifts to different believers on purpose. Paul’s point in this section is not to give a catalog of gifts, but examples of the diverse ways the Spirit works.

Review

Paul is speaking to a group of believers who are grading and judging each other by whether or not they speak in tongues.  Through chapters 12-14, Paul makes a series of points to give them perspective on that situation.

First, Paul said, the mark of the Spirit of God at work in a person’s life is not what kind of outward experience they have.  The mark of the Spirit of God at work in a person’s life is that they say and mean in a profound way that Jesus is Lord. 

Passage

12:4Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. -1Corinthians 12:4-7

  • Paul contrasts unity (what is the same) and diversity (what has variety).
  • All God’s people have the same Spirit.  But that same Spirit gives different gifts to different people. 
  • These gifts are given to us for the common good (12:7). They are meant for service to the body.
  • Compare with 1 Peter 4:10.

12:8For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. -1Corinthians 12:8-11

  • Paul’s purpose in giving us the list 12:8-11 is not to give a catalog of gifts so we can find our own. His purpose is to give a few examples of the variety of ways the spirit works.
  • To be wise is to have God’s perspective on things.
  • To have knowledge is to understand the truth God revealed.
  • Faith in 12:9 is not saving faith but a particular kind of confidence despite outward circumstance. Compare with 1Corinthians 13:2.
  • Healing and miracles could refer to the person who is benefits from the healing or miracle; or to the the person allowed to be the instrument through which God heals or performs a miracle.
  • Prophecy, I think, is the general kind of teaching or explaining God’s word.
  • Tongues, I think, are the kind of thing we see in Acts where people speak in a language they haven’t been taught.
  • Distinguishing of Spirits is the discernment to recognize right from wrong and truth from error.
  • 12:11 is his main point. The variety we see among God’s people is by God’s design.
  • I think we should understand spiritual gifts as roles and opportunities, rather than supernatural talents.

Handout: What are spiritual gifts

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 37 1Corinthians 12:11-13 Should everyone speak in tongues?

Previous: 35 1Corinthians 12:1-3 The mark of spirituality

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

Study: 1Corinthians Resources

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Filed Under: Corinthians, Passages Tagged With: Corinthians, spiritual gifts

What are spiritual gifts?

March 3, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

What are spiritual gifts? | WednesdayintheWord.com

Contrary to the popular view, I understand spiritual gifts as roles and opportunities to serve, rather than supernaturally given talents. For example, if I have the “gift of teaching,” the gift is the opportunity to teach, not the talent to teach.

This following questions compare my understanding of the Biblical view with the popular view and is a handout for this podcast #490:

36 1Corinthians 12:4-11 What are spiritual gifts?


What are spiritual gifts?

Biblical View: Roles or assignments God graciously gives us to accomplish His purposes.

Popular View: Supernatural abilities, similar to talents.


Are spiritual gifts the same as talents?

Biblical View: No, they are opportunities and roles we are privileged to play. However, there is some correlation between our roles and our talents.

Popular View: No, in that they are supernaturally given by God, rather than naturally developed through practice.


How many spiritual gifts does a believer have?

Biblical View: One role that is diverse and multifaceted.

Popular View: Usually a set of gifts while one primary gift.


How many spiritual gifts are there?

Biblical View: There are as many gifts as there are believers. Each believer plays a unique role in bringing about God’s plan.

Popular View: Usually the 20 or so that are listed in 1Corinthians 12 and Romans 12.


Are spiritual gifts identifiable?

Biblical View: Not necessarily, as they are as unique and diverse as believers.

Popular View: Yes, all gifts are distinguishable from each other and we should be able to tell who has what.


Are my gift(s) correlated to my livelihood?

Biblical View: Not necessarily, although your livelihood is part of the role you play.

Popular View: Usually not.


Is it important to identify my gifts?

Biblical View: No, the opportunity to serve is the gift. It is not important to be able to define the role or the abilities required to fulfill it.

Popular View: Yes, otherwise you can’t use them.


How do believers discover and exercise their gifts?

Biblical View: By pursuing wise choices, pursuing opportunities to serve, and growing in faith and wisdom.

Popular View: Trial and error; tests with feedback and analysis,


Will my gifts change?

Biblical View: They will probably change with the seasons of your life. There are no limits to the how God might call you to serve.

Popular View: Usually not. Our gifts place “limits” on what God will call us to do.


For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

Study: 1Corinthians Resources

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

Filed Under: Corinthians, Passages Tagged With: Corinthians, spiritual gifts

35 1Corinthians 12:1-3 The mark of spirituality

February 26, 2020 by Krisan Marotta

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35 1Corinthians 12:1-3 The mark of spirituality | WednesdayintheWord.com

Paul starts the topic of “spiritual gifts” in 1Corinthians 12. The Corinthians are confused in thinking that speaking in tongues is the mark of true spirituality. In 1Corinthians 12:1-3, Paul lays the foundation for his argument which will run through 1Corinthians 14.

Review

In this section of the letter, Paul is responding to questions the Corinthians have asked him.  In 1Corinthians 11, he begins addressing issues concerning their public gatherings.  Now he turns to their perspective on speaking in tongues.

Paul is speaking to a group of believers who are grading and judging each other by whether or not they speak in tongues.  Through the next chapters (12-14), Paul makes a series of points to give them perspective on that situation.

Passage

12:1Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3Therefore 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. – 1Corinthians 12:1-3

  • The word “gifts” is not in the Greek text. The translators add it because they think it is implied.
  • My translation: “Now concerning spiritual things” or “now concerning manifestations of the spirit.”
  • Today the term “spiritual gifts” has become a technical term with a specific theology behind it.  I think it’s a mistake to read the modern understanding into this section.
  • The phrase “spiritual gift(s)” occurs once in the New Testament in Romans 1:11-12. There Paul is clearly not talking about our modern understanding.

12:2You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led.

  • The Gentile Corinthians’ concept of spirituality was formed by growing up in pagan temples.
  • Priests and worshipers in pagan temples drank wine and danced themselves dizzy until the were “led away” by the temple-god and babbled incoherently. The Gentile Corinthians expect a similar experience in Christian worship, something like tongues.
  • Paul’s addressing that question: Is that true?  Are tongues really the mark of being a spiritual person?  If not, what’s the nature of spirituality? 

12:3Therefore 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.

  • Paul says you can tell a spiritual person by what comes out of their mouths. BUT it’s not ecstatic utterances. The spiritual person will say and mean that Jesus is Lord.
  • The mark of a spiritual person is how he/she responds to Jesus.
  • The mark of the Spirit of God at work in our lives is not what kind of ecstatic outward experience we have. 
  • The mark of the Spirit of God at work in our lives is that we say and mean in a profound way that Jesus is Lord. 

What does it mean to say “Jesus is Lord”?

  • Jesus is Lord is a shorthand for the specific beliefs that make up the gospel. 
  • The gospel is sometimes summarized as Jesus is Lord and God demonstrated that by raising him from the dead (Romans 10:9; Acts 2:36).
  • When I come to faith, I realize that I have been created by God, God has the right to tell me what is true and to determine my destiny. 
  • God appointed the Christ (Messiah) to represent Him and to proclaim the truth and the way to find life.
  • The Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth.  I know this because God raised him from the dead.
  • What Jesus Christ said is true.  His teaching is the truth I have to follow.  His words are the words of life.  He is the one who has the power to forgive my sins and grant me eternal life.  He is the one who has the power to judge and condemn me.  His commands will set the course of my life.  He is the one I will worship and obey.
  • To say Jesus is Lord is to look at the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth and say I believe he is the Messiah.  He is the one who speaks for God.  If I want to find eternal life, he is the one I must listen to. 

Summary

  • Paul is speaking to a group of believers who are grading and judging each other by whether or not they speak in tongues. 
  • Because of their pagan background, the Corinthians think that the mark of spirituality – the mark that the Holy Spirit is at work in a someone’s life – is that speaking in tongues. 
  • Paul says, the mark of a truly spiritual person is the person who can say and mean in a profound way that Jesus is Lord.
  • Spirituality for Paul is very specific.  It is not necessarily flashy outward ecstatic utterances. 
  • It is not a feeling I have after singing the right songs. 
  • It is not the feelings I have after a motivational sermon or devotional talk. 
  • It is not vague mystical feelings I get when I meditate on God’s word. 
  • It is not marked by social justice causes or giving away lots of money to worthy causes. 
  • It is not marked by my choice of profession or my lack of material things.
  • It is not even being a good, nice person. 
  • For Paul to be a spiritual person is to be someone who can say and mean in a profound way that Jesus is Lord. 

For more detail and explanation, please listen to the podcast.

Next: 36 1Corinthians 12:4-11 What are spiritual gifts?

Previous: 34 1Corinthians 11:27-34 Taking communion in an unworthy manner

Series: 1 Corinthians: Pride & Prejudice in the church

Study: 1Corinthians Resources

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Filed Under: Corinthians, Passages Tagged With: Corinthians, spiritual gifts

Are congregations a means to an end or a flock to shepherd? 3 examples

July 16, 2012 by Krisan Marotta

Are congregations a means to an end or a flock? | WednesdayintheWord.com
In God’s worldview, which is more important: people or programs?

There been a debate in the American church recently over whether God is primarily concerned with saving individual souls or redeeming the cosmos.  In her blog post ‘Do people in the pews still matter?’  Rachel Miller asks, “What happens when pastors start looking at their congregation as a means to an end instead of a flock to shepherd?”

Here’s a real-life answer.

Recently I had the opportunity to see three churches encourage their congregations to increase their volunteer efforts.  The differences were striking. The three approaches illustrate that this debate over “saving individual souls or redeeming the cosmos” produces very different understandings of the role of church leadership and congregations.

PLEASE NOTE: I assume all three churches acted from a sincere desire to please God.  I am not criticizing the genuineness of their belief nor judging the success of their efforts.  I am merely reflecting on the consequences of theology and how what we believe changes how we act.

Church #1: “We know best.”

Church #1 offered an online survey under the heading “Where Do You Desire to Serve?”  This 10-minute survey listed the opportunities to volunteer within the church and asked participants to check both where they currently serve and where they would like to serve.  The announcements explained that the survey will be “tremendously valuable to all ministry leaders at the church”; that “we will use all of these responses in the coming year as we sustain and develop ministry”; and that information collected “will be used for the purpose of coordinating volunteers to meet needs that arise at our church and in our community.”  The survey was launched during a sermon series on financial stewardship, emphasizing that we serve not just by giving financially but also through using our time and talents.

Notice Church #1 asks participants to provide their information to central planners and then wait to be contacted. In this approach, the role of church leadership is to organize and galvanize its congregation and to plug participants into its various positions.

Church #2: “We’re here to help.”

Church #2 offered an online survey as well, which was launched during a sermon series on understanding spiritual gifts.  The survey was a 30-40 minute spiritual gifts test followed by a 5-minute survey of places to serve at the church.  The church asked for a twice per month commitment for three months.  At the end of that time if you didn’t find a “fit”, they promised to help you find another place to serve that would fit your gifts better, whether that place was inside or outside this particular church.  The announcements explained: ” You are about to start on a very exciting path toward determining your unique, God-given spiritual gifts! There are three parts to unwrapping your gifts: Part A: Completing the Spiritual Gifts Assessment;  Part B: Considering your passions; Part C: Discovering the volunteer opportunity that allows you to use your gifts and highlight your passion.”

Church #2 has adopted a more equipping role, shifting responsibility and choice into the hands of the participant.  Their central planners advertise themselves as helping you find your fit.

Church #3: “You know best.”

Church #3 had no survey, instead they offered ongoing training classes and mentoring.  Training was not tied to any given season or sermon series, but was regularly offered throughout the year.  Training ranged from general (how to lead a small group) to specific (counseling those in financial crisis).  Led and organized by people already serving in that area, the length and depth of training varied with the subject and could involve a range of activities from workshops to mentoring.  Neither attending the introductory session nor completing the training obligated the participant to serve in that area.

Church #3 removed the need for central planners entirely.  The trainers were volunteers already serving in the field.  No one in the church office compiled lists or surveys.   They equipped by teaching the Word on Sundays and in small groups, and applying it through training, mentoring and service the rest of the week.  Participants were encouraged to begin serving side by side in a community of believers and offered the tools and experience to grow in that service. For church #3, the greatest emphasis was on the care of souls.

What doe we learn from this?

If church leaders believe people in the pews are the means to fulfill the end goal of a cosmic redemption, then, of course, their job is to recruit bodies for the cause.

If church leaders believe God is redeeming the world by saving individuals souls in the midst of it, then their job is save and equip individual souls.

All three churches offered programs that served both members and non-members.  All three acted based on how they believed God is working in the world and how best to respond to it.  But depending on their worldview, they fell in very different places on the spectrum of  whether they emphasized building programs or the quiet care of souls.

All theology is practical.  What do you think? In God’s worldview, which is more important: people or programs?

Filed Under: Faith & Life, Topics Tagged With: authority, practical theology, spiritual gifts

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