Starting in May 14th, our church will begin a series on the Spiritual Gifts. Spiritual gifts generally fall into two categories: conventional/non-supernatural and supernatural. The conventional gifts are the ones that can be developed withouth the aid of supernatural power. However, when infused with the Holy Spirit, they are powerful gifts that strengthen the local body. The supernatural gifts are the ones that cannot happen apart from supernatural aid. This week, we will look at some of the conventional gifts.
In the Bible, there are generally thee places where spiritual gifts are listed: Romans 12, 1 Corinthians 12, and Ephesians 4
Romans list: Prophecy, serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy.
1 Corinthians list: Word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, healing, miraculous powers, prophecy, discernment of spirits, tongues, tongues with interpretation, helps, and guidance.
Ephesians: Apostles, prophets, evangelists, preachers, teachers
Unique Importance of Conventional Gifts
It is iteresting how things tend to play out based on our beliefs regarding spiritual gifts. For example, most Evangelical congregations will only legtitmately recognize the conventional gifts as in use today. They will concede that there were supernatural gifts back in the early church. Some will say that is because those gifts were needed to help start the church in the “Age of the Apostles.” However, once the church was established, the use of such gifts began to dwindle.
It is easy to hold to this view, since much of the evanglical mind is formed and influenced by the words of the Reformers. One of the most influential Reformers in the Western Evangelical mind is John Calvin. He stated in his works that there were only conventional gifts left. He also declared there was no longer a space or office for Apostles, Prophets, and Evangelists. The only position that was in effect was that of Teacher/Pastor.
Our church does not side with that view. However, scripture is very clear that the conventional/non-spiritual gifts are of tantamount importance for the church body. Let’s take a look why the conventional gifts listed above: serving, teaching, encouragement, giving, leadership, mercy, helps, guidance, evangelists, preachers.
Conventional Gifts Require Stability
If you look at the nature of the conventional gifts, they require stability. Every gift in the list can only be practiced in terms of relationship. You can’t serve someone unless you are with them in person and are working toward a common cause or need. With encouragement, you have to know enough about the person’s inner life to be able to speak encouargement to them. For giving (wisely), one needs to know about the ministry and its leaders to know if it is a godly investment. Preachers and teachers need to have enough rapport with a congregation to be considered trustworth to speak.
Conventional Gifts Require Connection to Community
Unlike the flashy gifts of prophecy, healing, and words of knowledge, the conventional gifts excel best when people are connected to community. It is one thing for a travelling healer to come for a weekend seminar and administer healing to sick people. It is another for a teacher/pastor to know the heart of the congregation and what its spiritual needs are.
The conventional gifts really thrive on community–relationship. They are by far the hardest to develop because they cannot be done without a serious practice of the Greatest commandments to Love God and Love People.
Who listens to a teacher they know nothing about? What healthy person opens up to a complete stranger in order to receive encouragment? Who gives to an organization they don’t personally believe in or trust?
The Conventional gifts are designed to develop the community of Jesus in deeply personal ways. Healings and prophecies come in a moment. They are not sufficient to nourish a believer day in and day out. The community with the conventional gifts will be a community that practices the presence of Jesus with each other. They learn to work as a harmonious unit.
Conventional Gifts Require Character
Due to the relational nature of the conventional gifts, in order to do the community well, it requires a deep amount of character development. In order for a community to thrive together, they need to have pillars. People need to know their spiritual family will be there for them. They will also be available for the community. It is not profitable to have a teacher/pastor who does not consistently pour over the scriptures, uncovering the truths of God for the congregation. What would a church community be like if the teacher/pastor just randomly didn’t show up on Sunday mornings?
What would the church be like if the servants dedicated to setting up and running the sound equipment had a 50% reliability rate to showing up. When they are absent and never made arrangements for fill-ins, what would the service be like?
What if our encouragers never took the time to meet people beyond a Sunday morning “Hello?” What if the community didn’t give their tithe to the community that feeds them? How would the community function and operate?
To excel in the conventional gifts, one must be deeply devoted to a community where they can fit and flourish. Without the community, the conventional gifts are doomed to wither, or be exploited by the world.
So in the end, the supernatural gifts are more attention getting and attractive. However, they don’t require much in terms of communal connection. They can never be the substance with which a community is built. In order to fulfill the Great Commission, a community must build its foundation on the conventional gifts within the context of relationship.
Next week we will briefly look at the supernatural gifts. They are powerful gifts for advancing the gospel, lending evidence the the presence of the supernatural in the minds of doubters and skeptics.
If you are curious about the Spiritual Gifts, we will be starting our series on Sunday May 14th and ending on Pentecost Sunday (June 4th).