From: timk@world.std.com (Tim King)
Subject: Re: Spiritual Gifts
Organization: The World Public Access UNIX, Brookline, MA
Date: Thu, 10 Sep 1992 01:21:03 GMT

First of all, Ian asked why, if spiritual gifts are still in force, are
hospitals still filled?  Why aren't demons still being cast out?  Etc.

The answer:  (1) Why didn't Jesus heal every sick person he met?  At one
point, he even escaped the crowd in order to go away and pray.  My point
is that the situation is a little more involved than this.  (2) Actually,
demons *are* still being cast out... especially in third-world countries
where demon activity is rampant.  Or at least this is true according to
a few missionaries my church supports.

Also, what *evidence* is there to support the claim that the gifts are no
longer for today?  I see nothing in scripture about it.  (Am I short-sighted?)


carol nemec <YA67@FERRIS.BITNET> writes:

>But remember this:  spiritual gifts become useless unless used in the
>context of the fruit of the Spirit.This was the problem among the Corin-
>thian Christians.  They had spiritual gifts and were using them, but
>with the wrong attitude (pride, for edication of self, to cause division
>etc.).  No wonder Paul places the great chapter on love (1 Corinthians
>13) between the two chapters in which he discusses spiritual gifts.
>That is a good reminder:  at the center of your use of spiritual gifts
>must be the attitude of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
>goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

I loved Carol's notes on spiritual gifts and fruit of the Spirit.

I've been kind of depressed lately, and the cause of my depression is
related to the paragraph quoted above.  What do you guys think about a
christian's right or responsibility to excercise his gift in order to
build up someone else, even if an unrelated third party is taken aback or
put off by it?  I'm not referring to the third party being led to sin by
his conscience.  I'm talking about the fact that some christians have
openly shown an attitude of prejudice towards ideas they are merely
uncomfortable with, although the ideas are neither supported nor condemned
in scripture or by any derivation thereof.

For example, christian A, who is at least somewhat mature, wants to be
in music ministry, but all he can play is guitar.  Unfortunately, his
church, which excels in practically every area, is dominated by outspoken
individuals who hate guitars (because, of course, they're the basis of
heavy-metal, which is inherently evil :-).  Now, these individuals,
although they make up, say, 60% (let's give them a majority vote), are
offset by a minority who enjoy guitar music, some who even find the
traditional Sunday morning worship bland.

Now, although this scenario is a rather severe one that I have seen in no
church, I think it demonstrates the concern that's been on my heart.  This
concern, incidentally, was generated by a real situation that is occuring
in my church.  My point is that A has a gift for music, he is a dedicated
christian, he wants to play his instrument, and his music would bless a
good portion of the congregation.  Yet, because he only knows how to play
guitar, he is denied from playing, even on a Saturday night!

Ideally, I'd think that christian A should be sensitive to others who may
not enjoy his style of music.  However, he should be given the opportunity
to exercise his gift so that it can edify some, perhaps, who could not be
touched through anybody else.  In other words, by suppressing this man's
gift, aren't we in effect firing the Holy Spirit and emoting the work that
God wants to do through A in order to further our own selfish prejudices?

Those of us who are mature should be accepting him, even on a Sunday
Morning, giving in to listen to him and make the best of it even though
we don't enjoy the style.  Those of us who are mature should be able to
do this without sacrificing our relationship with God, right?  However,
those who have been with the church the longest, it seems, are the first
to throw stones at this man.  Whereas those who are new christian are
more often flexible, only desiring to know the truth about their God and
experience a relationship with Him.  Why???????

Confused and Discouraged,
-TimK
-- 
Tim King                  |  Some of us favor logic in making decisions.
24 Myrtle Street          |  Some, emotions.  I, personally, get very    |\
Dedham, MA 02026          |  emotional about faulty logic! :-)           | >
timk@world.std.com        |                                             <>
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