The Spirit gives you gifts - 1 Corinthians 12:3-11

Few topics in the church spark more fascination, and confusion, than the gifts of the Spirit. Everywhere you turn there seems to be yet another opinion to be heard. And we, as confessional Lutherans, are no exception. But usually for a different reason. We like to avoid the label of sensationalism or emotionalism often attached to these conversations in broader Christianity. And that instinct is understandable. But sometimes I wonder if, in trying so hard to avoid the ditch on the one side, that it’s all about gifts, that maybe we risk steering head long into the other ditch by ignoring our God-given spiritual gifts.

I think that’s why I’ve found it so refreshing that over the course of these past few months here, our small group Bible studies have been discussing a book all about identifying and utilizing spiritual gifts. This morning, as we celebrate the festival of Pentecost, the day that God powerfully poured out spiritual gifts on his Church, we are reminded that the Spirit is still at work among us today. Because the Spirit of Pentecost is the same Spirit that gives you gifts, gifts that unite us in faith and gifts that serve the common good.

Now you might be tempted to say “But Vicar, Pentecost and Paul's subsequent letter on spiritual gifts was written a long time ago and Paul. So are you sure this text is relevant to us living today in the 21st century?” Well, as it turns out our world today is really not so drastically different as it was back when Paul first put pen to paper for the Corinthians. See, Paul visited Corinth on his second missionary journey. All told, he spends a year and a half there teaching the new believers there. But then, as was his custom, it was time to move on to the next place, and so he left. But these Corinthians still had questions for their beloved former pastor and so they send him a letter. Paul's response is the book of 1 Corinthians. Six times Paul says, “now concerning… this matter.” Frequently he references specific situations that the Corinthians had asked him about. They sought guidance about all sorts of things as they lived out their faith in a society that was anti-Christian. They askeed about marriage topics. About purchasing meat sold in the market at a discount as the leftovers from idol worship. About offerings, and most notably today, about spiritual gifts. Paul devotes three chapters to the topic. Clearly it was a hot-button topic back then as well.

But the Corinthians weren’t totally ignorant. They had at least some godly understanding of spiritual gifts. They knew that using their gifts was a way to praise their God. They recognized that there were a variety of gifts among believers. But somewhere along the line the Corinthians had gotten it in their mind that certain gifts were evidence of God’s special favor to some over others. And so they concluded that those with these more impressive gifts were better than those who didn’t have them. The presence of prominent spiritual gifts became the indicator of “a real spiritually mature Christian.” Indicative of a closer relationship to God. If someone wanted to be a “good Christian” they had to have these “top” specific gifts. And even worse, they were letting their ranking of spiritual gifts draw a dividing line between them. They were elevating some by their superior gifts, and making others feel inferior with “those” kinds. And factions resulted in a church ruled by pride, hostility and jealousy. It was tearing the church apart at its seams.

That sounds eerily similar to how Christianity today treats the topic. Some churches elevate charismatic and persuasive speakers. Others value miraculous healings. Some insist that speaking in tongues is a mark of true faith. Others admire those who know seemingly every Bible passage by memory. Others say it’s those who can give more generously than most. Still others say it’s the trained pastor or teacher, the talented musician or the person with an outgoing personality to draw people in. Or, and I’m not sure we can really call it a spiritual gift, even if we act like it is, maybe it's out boasting about being a bonafide generational WELS-er, someone who knows the lingo and can play the WELS name game better than most. These can easily become the metrics we use to assign spiritual value based on what we can perceive. But beneath them all lies the very same temptation, to draw a dividing line between the “better” and “worse” kind of Christians. Between the visibly gifted and the seemingly ordinary. Between the outspoken and the shy. Between the experienced church leader and the new Christian still searching for answers. Between the lifelong church-goer who knows the etiquette and between those who might not. We can so easily be tempted to judge a Christian by its cover and assign spiritual worth accordingly. To draw our very own dividing line.

And so this morning, along with the Corinthian Christians, we need to ask, “Paul, is this true? Are some gifts inherently better than others? Are only those with the prominent and powerfully spiritual gifts genuine Christians?” Paul’s answer comes in verse 3, “Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.” Do you see Paul’s point? The defining line between true believers and unbelievers, is not the presence of impressive spiritual gifts, it’s faith in Jesus! That’s why, if we back it up and read chapter 12 verse 2, we see Paul reminding the Corinthians who they once were. He writes, before the Spirit worked faith in their hearts, they “were influenced and led astray to mute idols.” They were spiritually dead and blind. Just like us. Like every sinner by nature. So the greatest gift that the Spirit gives is not charismatic speech, or the power to perform miracles or some other extra ordinary gift, it’s faith itself. The gift to truly confess "Jesus is Lord.” 

And that changes how Christians see one another. Because at the foot of the cross no Christian stands on higher ground. Apart from faith in our Savior, we would all stand equally lost and condemned before our God. Both the lifelong Lutheran and the new convert stand to view their every sin laid on Jesus. The outgoing church leader and the more reserved regular both needed a Savior to conquer their equally dead hearts the very same. The Christian who seems to have it all put together and the Christian who is noticeably holding it together by one desperate and frayed thread both come to the very same cross to receive the same assurance of pardon and grace. 

How could there be such a thing as a spiritually superior Christian? What could anyone possibly add to the all sufficient cross of Christ? If faith is the result of the Spirit’s work, then there's nothing left for us to boast about. You don't have faith because of your spiritual gifts, you have spiritual gifts because the Spirit has brought each of us to faith. Spiritual gifts were never meant to divide the church but to unite its members in a common confession of faith, that Jesus is Lord!

Paul continues, “There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.” He makes it obnoxiously obvious, every different kind of spiritual gift comes from our God. Paul uses the same word in each verse to emphasize both intentionality and variety. Spiritual gifts are neither accidental nor are they totally uniform. God intentionally gives different gifts to different people. Not so that the church would be divided, but so that having been united in a common faith, we would be diversely gifted.

Verse 7 explains this further, “to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” Variety is for the common good. The common good is a barbaric concept in our modern individualistic society. We live in a world where “I am my own boss. I answer to no one.” In verses 8-10 Pauls lets us peek behind the veil in Corinth. Here we see that gifts such as wisdom, miraculous healings and speaking in tongues had become the “important” gifts. But in so parading these gifts, the church had stopped seeing the full beauty of how God works through all his people. And that’s not just a Corinthian problem. God never intended his church to function as a hierarchy where the flashy gifts are honored while quieter gifts are overlooked. Paul says all gifts were given for the common good. It seems so simple. So then what stops some from using their God-given gifts for the common good?

There can be a number of reasons. Maybe it’s the age-old mantra, “What’s in it for me, how will serving benefit me?” For others, maybe they choose to hide their unique gifts and talents to avoid the commitment of sacrificing their own time and energy. Or perhaps we compare ourselves to others and conclude, “I can’t do it as well as they do, so why even try.” Or similarly, “What could I possibly contribute in my current condition, or at my age, either young or old, or at my skill level?” Maybe some resent the gifts they don’t have and struggle with the humility to rely on others who do have them. Maybe, to put it bluntly, some just don’t care. There’s a statistic that says in most settings, it's estimated that the same 10% of people do 90% of the work. Maybe some are okay with sitting in the stands watching others burnout rather than sharing the load as a team player. Or perhaps we hide behind false humility that says “God hasn’t given me any gifts to offer.”

But Paul leaves no room for such excuses. He says in verse 11, “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” The Spirit who unites our confession in faith also distributed gifts to each of us so that we would use them. And if that pricks at the conscience, well, I’d be the first to agree with you. But your gifts aren’t meant to be a burden to crush you, they’re opportunities to let the Spirit work through you for the benefit of others. And you, the members of God’s church here at Messiah, do this well. You have been abundantly blessed with spiritual gifts and more importantly you frequently and eagerly use them in a response of love to your Savior. God is at work through your gifts to be a blessing to others. Simply step into a bible class and hear the spiritual wisdom shared by your brothers and sisters. Listen as God’s people join together in song with angelic euphony and melodic instrumentation, a glimpse into the praise of the saints and angels before the throne of God. You’re served by a pastor and teacher who labor with compassion and care for the souls entrusted to them. You’re regularly treated to a post-worship buffet prepared by loving hands, far exceeding the mere coffee and donut craving. We have whole teams that seamlessly prepare and clean up without so much as a thought from most. You’re guided into the future of ministry here by a whole host of spiritually mature individuals who conduct the business of this congregation. Do you need help identifying opportunities to use your spiritual gifts? By God’s grace, look around and see so many Gospel motivated role models. There’s no shortage of uniquely gifted Christians who serve their God by serving one another. To God be the glory!

And that’s the beauty of Pentecost even still today. That the Spirit that blessed God’s church 2,000+ years ago with spiritual gifts is still the very same Spirit that gives you gifts, gifts that unite us in faith and gifts that serve the common good. Amen.