Spiritual Gifts (ala Gangel)
I am not sure if the issue of spiritual gifts is on Todd's list of controversial conversation starters or not. If we throw the sign gifts, or Da Gifts as the boys over at PyroManiacs like to refer to them as, they might be. If you are interested, ask about the tongues issue that we discussed at two Sunday nights ago at our evening service. It made me check for my nitroglycerin patch! :) These probably will not have the same effect, but interact with these definitions. [Note: all quotes come from K.Gangel's book, Coaching Ministry Teams]
"Spiritual gifts are probably not ready-made abilities to perform, but rather capacities for service that must be developed." p.17
"All gifts represent supernatural levels of more common ministries." p.19
"Edification is the purpose, unity is the context, and love is the controlling principle or attitude for the proper exercise of spiritual gifts." p. 17
Remember, 1/2 of theology is defining your terms, the other 1/2 is defending your definitions (thx Dr. Stallard)!
Labels: quotes, Spiritual gifts
posted by Pastor Mike Paris @ 11:36 AM
6 Comments:
Actually, Spiritual gifts has been on my short list of topics but i haven't posted yet. Glad you beat me to it. I think Satan has used the extremists to send the fundamentalists to the other extreme thereby missing out on what the Holy Spirit has to offer the body of Christ.
I wonder if that wasn't part of the stress in Corinth. Extreme swings are always troublesome. The adversary will take a near miss or a diversionary tactic every day all day. As they say, "missing by inches is as bad as missing by a mile".
Thats my point. (conservative)People are either so afraid of missing the mark that they never take the shot or they(liberals) don't care and shoot carelessly missing the target completely. We need to do our part and be in fellowship with the Holy Spirit (not grieved or quenched) and allow Him to guide our shots. After all they ARE His gifts.
Yes, gifts given by the Spirit; but they are gifts. By that I mean, they are given without strings attached. We have no record of the gifts being withdrawn because of sin or neglect or misuse.
True. In fact the gifts and calling of the HS are both irrevocable. I never said that people would lose their gift or not get their gift. What I was trying to say is that some people may have a certain gift but are afraid to use it or even consider it as a possibility because of the stigma attached to it by "scholars". Its like being given a gift and never opening the package or trying it out etc.
Still working through the healing thing aren't you? Would you agree that the acts of healing/exorcism/signs&wonders are diminished in frequency from the book of Acts? Why do you suppose this is true? Is it because God is not able to do these miraculous events anymore? Is it because the demons are in check? Is it because scholars have made too much fuss about sign gifts and cessationism that we just don't know what to do with these spiritual gifts?
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