Okay, I admit it: I’m nervous. As a firmly-entrenched
people-pleaser throughout my younger years, it is a constant work of God to
lead me to “try to discern what is
pleasing to the Lord”,[1]
instead of trying to make people like me.
The area of spiritual gifts in the church is divisive.
Taking a position can lose friends and loved ones who believe we have fallen
into heresy. The big name spokesmen on opposing views makes one think that God’s
word must not be very clear on the matter.
And yet, spiritual gifts are not only taught in the
Scriptures, but taught with such clarity that seeking to live by every word
that comes from the mouth of God,[2] to
let all the God-breathed words of Scripture speak to us without favoritism or
partiality,[3]
and to live by the whole counsel of God,[4] is
not only demanded, but is simpler than we might think (but not easy when the
threat of losing relationships hangs over our heads).
As with every issue we face, the measure of each position is
by the plumbline of God’s word. What God has said to the church through his
word, he still says to the church today. Follow the words of God, and we can’t
go wrong.
While the plumbline reveals which position is based solely
on the words of Christ, it also creates a contrast with the pendulum-swings of
the positions that are only partially scriptural. These positions exaggerate
their emphasis on some of the Scriptures, while excluding the teaching of others,
ending up with positions that are opposite in which Scriptures they approve,
and which ones they deny.
In this home church message we take our first look at how
Scripture reveals the plumbline of revelation regarding spiritual gifts, and
how we can trust what God says on these things without yielding to any contrary
opinions, no matter how prominent the proponents may be. The more we stand
around the clear teachings of Scripture, the less we will fall for the opinions
and perceptions of those who treat their reading-between-the-lines as if they
have the same authority as the lines themselves, so to speak.
© 2016 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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