Friday, 21 November 2008
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Is There Really A Standard "List" of Spiritual Gifts?
Guest post submitted by Christismyrockforalways
After reading a post on Revelife about spiritual gifts, it made me think about how many Christians I know and our different beliefs about spiritual gifts.I believe God gives everyone special gifts and talents, but I do not believe God gives Christians a certain gift from that "list" (as many people I know call it) in the Bible. I've been put down for believing that, and a few have even questioned whether I was a Christian or not. Sure, I've held my ground saying that this is what I believe about it, but I don't focus on it. It's just a foolish debate. Still I find it odd that people get almost offended if you disagree with their stance on the issue, when it isn't really an issue.
But my question is, do you believe that each Christian receives one or more spiritual gifts from the "list", or not? Does it really matter what the spiritual gifts are?
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Comments (14)
I have changed my view on it over the years.
Once upon a time I was a big advocate of Spiritual gifts inventory's like Network to work it out.
Now, I believe that God gives us the grace and the strength to do anything he asks us to do.
I am somewhat worried these days by the trend to lock ourselves into a particular gift. It sometimes creates hierarchies and special people in our churches.
x
I think there is a list of spiritual gifts (generally acknowledged by churches) that God gives from. This doesn't mean that God doesn't give other "gifts" not on the "list". Also, not all gifts are given at the same degree; each person is different and created different by God.
I like the "list" because it helps people better figure out their giftedness, and especially in bigger churches it makes it easier to find a person's "sweet spot" based on what abilities that God has given them. If anything, spiritual gift finders are great for discovering more out about yourself. The reason why I did certain things just made more sense to me.
Of course Wherever_we_go makes a good point about heirarchies. I think this goes for a lot of things too. The point is to look at the spiritual gifts as "different" and not more or less important. Obviously not all churches do a good job at this, but some do, and for those churches, discovery of spirital gifts is a great way to plug into ministry.
I've read quite a bit on this. I think that the message the Bible is trying to get across is that a spiritual gift is ANYTHING that is used to build up and edify the church. So, no, I don't believe in a specific list. To one church Paul writes one list, and to another, he gives a slightly different list. So, I think that spiritual gifts (as I just said) are anything that we use to build up the body of Christ.
Yes, God does give us the strength to do anything He asks, but sometimes it's hard to know what He's asking. I served in so many ministries that I did because I thought that was the right thing to do. Because I just wanted to serve. Some of them I didn't enjoy but it was for God so I did them regardless if I enjoyed them or not.
NETWORK, is a wonderful course that helped me identify ways I could best serve, and do the best with the person God made me. It rejuvenated my servant heart and serving in the right place makes me so much more effective and so much happier than some of the ministries I learned were stressing me out.
Do I think there's a list? Not an exhaustive one. But what I learned is through the class I took is that there are so many many ways that you can serve God and edify others under each gift that IS listed in the Bible.
When I finally figured myself out and got into my current ministry where I'm so happy to be, an amazing transformation happened. Not only am I thrilled to be in the "right" place for me, I feel a responsibility for it. It has affected other areas in my life because I'm more conscious of the person that God created.
Yes, anything you do for God is serving. But when you find something related to your own passion, personality and makeup, it's just so much more dynamic. For me, there's a BIG difference between doing anything to serve and utilizing my spiritual gift. Do I do other things to serve that are not part of my spiritual gift? Yes. But I'm much better at the ones that do.
I can't think of a reason not to believe that God gives us gifts from the list. Since spiritual gifts are for the building up of the body of Christ it matters and it matters a lot.
there's a list?
Please define "spiritual gift". I'm having a hard time differentiating in my head between that and "personality and character traits". What distinguishes it from a natural talent? And if you have one, how do you know?
Edit: Sorry I answered your question with a demand of my own! As for your question: I don't think there could be a list that could include everything one might call a spiritual gift. It would be too long
I think the main gift is Jesus himself.
Jesus in you. So you really basically have access too all gifts.
but the gifts are there to bring him glory and not to make you prideful, boastful or something like that.
So only will those gift be manifested in you, at the right time, when you find your calling, you will know. god will build you up to use you where no one else could, special and unique innate skills and abilities, once forged and molded by God can be used for mighty, noble, and good works, for his glory.
A disciple of Christ should have the attitude of that of a servant…”God, use me as You Will, show me where You are working, allow me to be Your hands, Your heart, Your eyes, and Your feet, allow the words from my mouth to bless and not curse those around me in need.” Be a disciple of Christ, read the Word, get to know Him and His desires will become yours, never stop digging into the Word…it is God’s gift to us!
Looking for “giftings” in people to edify the Body of Christ is pure foolishness, look to the One who is blessed with all Spiritual Blessings…the Holy Spirit which God has placed in our heart as a deposit of what is to come. God does not need our talents and abilities…He needs our willingness to walk with and follow Him…our availability!
Your sister-in-Christ...Donna Sluder
@saxy_grrl@xanga - In I Corinthians 12:1, 4-7, Paul writes: Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed...Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
There are lists of spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12, 14; Ephesians 4:7-16 Romans 12:3-8. But then notice right in the context of those passages, we find exhortations to love (e.g.-I Cor. 12; Romans 12:9ff; Eph. 4:15-32).
Christismyrockforalways I'd be interested in hearing your reasoning behind your statement: "I do not believe God gives Christians a certain gift from that "list" (as many people I know call it) in the Bible." Thanks much.
This is something I've heard a lot about recently...but never really done too much research myself on it. So...I don't really know what I think about spiritual gifts. Most people that I trust about spiritual matters say that we do, so I guess I believe it...I've just never really done much on it myself.
WOW What a great question!
First, NETWORK is a great starting point to "confirm" the spiritual gifting you think you have. The book is a great help to narrow down your actual areas of focus. But really, anything that you have always wanted to do, but aren't doing yet, (another area of gifting) is something you should try.
Spiritual gifting, as said so eloquently by many above, is from God and God alone. Imagine the God of the Universe dwelling within you and waiting for you to be obedient to HIS direction and urging! Amazing things start happening! THAT is called walking in the spirit.
I certainly agree that some gifts are higher in profile than others and it is very important that we do not elevate the person, but our God Who is using that person for His purpose.
But I give the person a lot of credit also, because I have been used by God in some areas that scare the 'pea-wadding' out of me, and I know how hard it is to be obedient sometimes. So when God uses someone who is willing but obviously reluctant, you KNOW it is God speaking and working.
For example, God gives me visions(Acts2:17). Sometimes I speak from them, and sometimes I pray specifically for the person they are about.
One I could use as an example; I was meeting one on one w/another guy once a week for a bible study for spiritual growth. This guy knew more about the scripture than I did. Anyway, God gave me a vision about him. He was feeding 5 very serious areas of sin and keeping it stoked (fire) by continous feeding.
I won't tell you the vision, but it scared me to death to speak it back to him because he was a big truck driver. Well I did. His response was "God knows what's going on in my life and that is 100% correct". But he did not repent!
I know this is too wordy, but the other thing I wanted to say, is it is VERY hard to not get puffed up thinking how great I am, when these kinds of things happen. But I know that is the first step down a slippery slope. But then, that's one of the things my wife handles. Keeping me in perspective...... ;>)
My boyfriend and I just talked about this; while I'm amused by the answers I got from the Wagner-Modified Houts Questionaire, he was frustrated by over-thinking the questions. I don't think the list is conclusive for me--I think there should be others, like musical ability or the ability to work well with children. But that's just me. I can't speak for Paul, but maybe he was just throwing out suggestions when he wrote his letters in the Bible, and didn't give us a conclusive list.
I disagree with most people on "gifts."
Miraculous gifts were bestowed by apostles through the laying on of hands.
Gifts we have today are not miraculous (miracles can happen, but not because we have such a gift; otherwise, we could reproduce the acts on demand). God can use our natural abilities (and asks us to).
I think a lot of times people just use gifts inventories and stuff to get people actively involved.