kneel in wonder at heaven touching earth

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

Deepen our faithfulness to you

As I was reading this week’s Collect, for The Second Sunday after Trinity, I immediately thought of those words from St Mark’s Gospel, “I believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24). Jesus’ disciples had tried unsuccessfully to heal a boy with a spirit that put him in harms way and prevented him speaking. When the boys father spoke to Jesus he was told that, “All things can be done for the one who believes”. To which the father immediately responded with, “I believe, help my unbelief!”

You can almost imagine the disciples responding in a similar way when Jesus tells them later, after they asked him why they couldn’t cast the spirit out, “This kind can come out only through prayer.” (Read the full account in Mark 9:14-29.) Presumably prayer was always a part of what happened during the healing process; so perhaps Jesus was hinting about a specially focussed kind of prayer requiring even more spiritual effort. This incident happened soon after the Transfiguration (Mark 9:2-13), following it immediately in Mark’s Gospel. Perhaps we’re to assume that Jesus’ time on the mountain was, for him, a time of particularly intense prayer, giving him on his return particularly heightened power.

It seems to me, though, that there was a considerable amount of belief being shown that particular day. The boys father believed enough in all that he’d heard about what was happening around this charismatic figure of Jesus to bring his ill son to him. He believed in Jesus’ friends enough to let them try to heal his son when he found them before finding Jesus himself. The disciples believed enough to try. All of this would have shown already a tremendous amount of faith. But it appears, not quite enough.

This prompts a couple of thoughts in my mind:

1. I can remember all too well the pain I felt when some well-meaning friends told me that I wasn’t healed from my particular health issues because I didn’t believe enough. They equated, as did I at the time, “healing” with “cure”. I believe, now, that healing can mean cure, but doesn’t necessarily have to. And I believe, too, that I have received quite a lot of healing in my life in the last few years, despite the fact that I’m certainly not cured.
2. We often suppose that someone’s early years as a Christian pilgrim are the most difficult, and that as we mature and grow in faith things will get easier. But the opposite often turns out to be the case. And just as we’re learning to walk alongside Jesus, we’re given harder tasks, demanding more courage and spiritual energy.

We will, throughout our Christian pilgrimage, experience challenges to our faith and beliefs. Through those challenges there is huge potential for growth. When they come our way, let us join in prayer with the father in this story, “I believe, help my unbelief!” Let us pray that our faith in God, and his Son Jesus Christ, will be deepened and encouraged to grow. And then let us take the next step on our own pilgrimages of faith.

Faithful Creator,
whose mercy never fails:
deepen our faithfulness to you
and to your living Word,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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