You give us gifts and make them grow

The “Gifts of the Spirit” appear to be making the news again. Todd Bently, ministering at Lakeland, at what has become known as the Florida Revival, and Trevor Baker, ministering to the people of Dudley, at what has become known as the Dudley Outpouring, are two of the main people involved in this recent explosion.

I have to say, right from the start, that I’m somewhat sceptical of such movements. I guess, in this particular thing, I’m a little like Thomas, and need to see things for myself. But I do know that there are some very sincere people who have been affected by these events, and set great store by them.

However, I like to, at least try to, keep an open mind; and certainly don’t want to limit God by keeping him in my particular box.

My own, somewhat more conservative, thoughts on the spiritual gifts go something like this:

There are several instances recorded in the book of Acts in which the apostles were involved in healing and casting out demons (3:2-16; 5:12-16; 9:36-42; 20:6-12; 28:1-6). These miracles helped to give validity to the apostles’ teaching. Only two people who weren’t apostles were said to have performed miracles: both specially commissioned “deacons” (Acts 6:5), Stephen (Acts 6:8) and Philip (Acts 8:5-13).

The apostles had a unique function to play in the establishment of the early church. Ephesians 2:20 tells us that the church was “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone”. Paul spoke of miracles being the mark of a true apostle. Describing his own ministry he wrote, “The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, signs and wonders and mighty works” (2 Corinthians 12:12).

Nowhere in the New Testament do we find believers in general performing the same types of dramatic miracles as the apostles do. The apostles were commissioned especially for the founding stage of the church.

I don’t think we need dramatic “signs and wonders” to mature or minister, we can do both without the drama. “Allowing the Spirit to do his work” doesn’t mean we have to have out of control Church services. Our Lord is a God of order (1 Corinthians 14:40), and he produces the fruit of self-control (Galatians 5:23).

People asked Jesus for a sign, and he told them, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it” (Matthew 12:39). They were curious but not ready to repent and follow him yet. And the same problem exists today, people who have little desire to involve themselves in the spiritual self-discipline needed for personal growth, still want to see a show of supernatural power.

Despite all the protests to the contrary, those who promote the use of “spiritual gifts” — such as: speaking in tongues; healing; words of knowledge; prophetic utterances; and ecstatic feelings — do exert an intimidating force on those who don’t share their experiences, or question their validity. I’ve been on the receiving end of that intimidation, and the urge to conform was immense, and not from God.

Paul warned the Corinthian believers against false teachers who were trying to force them into submission with incredible claims of spiritual authority (2 Corinthians 11:1-15). These “super-apostles” even claimed to be superior to Paul. He was concerned that the believers may be led astray from the simple truth of the gospel.

We would be naive to think that we don’t face the same threat today. That’s why we must carefully examine our faith, evaluate what we’re being told, and test all things by what God has said in the Bible. We should do as the Bereans did; they “examined the scriptures every day” to see if what Paul preached to them was true (Acts 17:11).

I think I’ve wandered far enough away from the phrase chosen in this week’s Collect, so should probably stop now. I think what I’m really trying to say with the above is, let’s not deny the spiritual gifts, but let’s be careful out there and be sure they do come from God. But, I suspect, that isn’t quite what the Collect is referring to. Just as well this blog is about personal reflections.

Generous God,
you give us gifts and make them grow:
though our faith is small as mustard seed,
make it grow to your glory
and the flourishing of your kingdom;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Seventh Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council

You made us all in your image

I think I would want to stress the “all” in the phrase I’ve chosen to reflect on from this Collect for the Sixth Sunday after Trinity. “You have made us all in your image”.

When you look around at people, it’s obvious that we are all quite different in our outward appearance. But if you think about it, we’re not so very different in the way we’re made up. Most of us have two eyes, two ears, a nose, a mouth, a couple of arms with hands on the end, and a couple of legs with feet on the end. Obviously there are some exceptions to this, but basically we’re all pretty much the same. And we all reflect something of God, all!

We might differ a bit in eye colour, skin colour, the way we walk, the way we talk, etc etc. And there is, of course, the much more obvious differences between men and women. But despite the outward differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God, all!

There are probably many more differences between us that are less visible. Some people are happy all the time, some are depressed; some are healthy, some ill; some are addicted to drink or drugs, some never touch either; some are homosexual, some are heterosexual; etc etc. And there are, of course, many people who fall between the extremes mentioned here. But despite the less visible differences in our appearances, we all reflect something of God, all!

If we take seriously the thought that we all reflect something of God, because we are all made in the image of God, then, surely, we must also take seriously Jesus’ command that we should not judge one another.

‘Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgement you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, “Let me take the speck out of your eye”, while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbour’s eye.
–Matthew 7:1-5

Whilst that passage gives us an indication of Jesus’ wonderful sense of humour, it also carries a very serious message, “Do not judge, so that you may not be judged”. We have to learn to accept people for who they are, whoever they are! It isn’t for us to decide that one person is worth less than another, or worth less than us. And neither is it for us to decide that one person is worth more than another, or worth more than us. Because we are all worth everything to God, and we all reflect something of God, all!

I know how easy it is to slip into making snap judgements of people for all sorts of reasons. But, surely, an important part of living our Christian lives is learning to be non-judgemental — as hard as that can be at times. However, we must strive towards that important goal, because we all reflect something of God, all!

Creator God,
you made us all in your image:
may we discern you in all that we see,
and serve you in all that we do;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Additional Collect for The Sixth Sunday after Trinity
is Copyright © The Archbishops Council