Firstly, it's been way too long since I've done one of these. Life has been crazy and I have to admit that I haven't been living these past few weeks. I've been surviving. But I said I was going to have a part two for my original post on spiritual gifts and I gotta stay true to my word.
So what I wanted to focus on in this post was more of the purpose for spiritual gifts. Taking self out of the equation, spiritual gifts are given to strengthen the whole church. Going back into one gift in particular, the gift of tongues, this gift was originally supposed to be a sign to unbelievers. After speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The "unsaved" people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and motivated to look further into the Christian faith. This is one way to reach believers but Paul says that clear preaching is better. (Thus, the whole "if you're going to seek out a gift, seek out the gift of prophecy".) The Corinthian believers were using the gift as a sign of spiritual superiority rather than as a means of spiritual unity.
In many of our churches today, we see this being done. The focus is not on the church but solely on personal gain or what they think they gain by speaking in tongues. And honestly that idea is just traditional. People's parents, grandparents, leaders in their church and elders have all implemented this idea in to some people and they take it to be true because all of those people are "older" and "wiser". In reality it is just a belief based on tradition as opposed to a belief based on scripture and that's why the understanding isn't clear. I have personally, almost fallen in to this belief of "spiritual superiority" through the gift of tongues because of what I've been told and what has been demonstrated to me. Because I wasn't completely sure about it, I had to research myself. I didn't fully believe but when you keep hearing the same things from different people, you almost get there.
The improper use of this gift has caused disorder in worship. 1 Corinthians 14:6 says "Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language how would that help you?". Verse 7 says "Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody". Words must be preached in the hearer's language in order to be helpful. Does this help to understand the importance in the purposes behind gifts? God is decent and in order. Therefore he doesn't want anything done out of order because it can and has hindered his people. The misunderstanding of this gift in particular has brought division amongst different people and different denominations. I know in some churches that will look at you crazy if you begin speaking in tongues in the middle of a worship service and other churches its more common. But it doesn't matter whether you're accepting of it or not. No one should be talking down anyone who speaks in tongues and no one should speak down to those who don't speak in tongues. What matters is how it's being used to strengthen the church.
I feel like this post is somewhat all over the place and I wish I had time to do this close to when I posted the other one but I didn't. I also want to add that the scripture is based on the Corinthian church and how the gift had caused concern and I just connected it to what I've experienced at my school and at different churches. Feel free to leave some comments, questions or tell me if I've said something wrong or if I have a misunderstanding of something. I want to know so that I may do better.
"If you knew better, you'd do better".
Peace of Christ
So what I wanted to focus on in this post was more of the purpose for spiritual gifts. Taking self out of the equation, spiritual gifts are given to strengthen the whole church. Going back into one gift in particular, the gift of tongues, this gift was originally supposed to be a sign to unbelievers. After speaking in tongues, believers were supposed to explain what was said and give the credit to God. The "unsaved" people would then be convinced of a spiritual reality and motivated to look further into the Christian faith. This is one way to reach believers but Paul says that clear preaching is better. (Thus, the whole "if you're going to seek out a gift, seek out the gift of prophecy".) The Corinthian believers were using the gift as a sign of spiritual superiority rather than as a means of spiritual unity.
In many of our churches today, we see this being done. The focus is not on the church but solely on personal gain or what they think they gain by speaking in tongues. And honestly that idea is just traditional. People's parents, grandparents, leaders in their church and elders have all implemented this idea in to some people and they take it to be true because all of those people are "older" and "wiser". In reality it is just a belief based on tradition as opposed to a belief based on scripture and that's why the understanding isn't clear. I have personally, almost fallen in to this belief of "spiritual superiority" through the gift of tongues because of what I've been told and what has been demonstrated to me. Because I wasn't completely sure about it, I had to research myself. I didn't fully believe but when you keep hearing the same things from different people, you almost get there.
The improper use of this gift has caused disorder in worship. 1 Corinthians 14:6 says "Dear brothers and sisters, if I should come to you speaking in an unknown language how would that help you?". Verse 7 says "Even lifeless instruments like the flute or the harp must play the notes clearly, or no one will recognize the melody". Words must be preached in the hearer's language in order to be helpful. Does this help to understand the importance in the purposes behind gifts? God is decent and in order. Therefore he doesn't want anything done out of order because it can and has hindered his people. The misunderstanding of this gift in particular has brought division amongst different people and different denominations. I know in some churches that will look at you crazy if you begin speaking in tongues in the middle of a worship service and other churches its more common. But it doesn't matter whether you're accepting of it or not. No one should be talking down anyone who speaks in tongues and no one should speak down to those who don't speak in tongues. What matters is how it's being used to strengthen the church.
I feel like this post is somewhat all over the place and I wish I had time to do this close to when I posted the other one but I didn't. I also want to add that the scripture is based on the Corinthian church and how the gift had caused concern and I just connected it to what I've experienced at my school and at different churches. Feel free to leave some comments, questions or tell me if I've said something wrong or if I have a misunderstanding of something. I want to know so that I may do better.
"If you knew better, you'd do better".
Peace of Christ