Posted on Nigel Rawlinson's behalf
We remember the coming of the Spirit at Pentecost this coming weekend. This is one of the great historical facts as evidence for our faith - how 12 men then could launch the worldwide phenomenon. In last week’s blog, we reflected on how Jesus becomes invisibly present for everyone and for all time after his ascension. Before he left earth, he promised to send the Holy Spirit. Today, we will think about the consequences of that anointing. The first disciples were on a steep learning curve to recognise that the spirit sought out people different to themselves (see Acts 11). I believe today Christian believers are still continually learning the reach of God’s love - his wide embracing arms.
Paul sets this out well:
Concerning Spiritual Gifts (1 Corinthians 12: 1-13)
Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 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.
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.
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.
Unity and Diversity in the Body
Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
The key verses are verse 4 (there are different kinds of gift but the same spirit) and verse 13 (we were all baptised by one spirit into one body – whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free. Today we could add other groups – black or white, straight or gay.
When we honestly look at ourselves and each other and seek to learn about each other, we can only marvel at the rich diversity of skills human beings present. A community works well when it works together. This is God’s intention. I was recently talking with a Pentecostal Pastor who is looking at how adequately the church cares for people with learning difficulties. We reflected that setting up special centres to cater for these brothers and sisters would identify them as ‘other’, and mean taking them out of the Christian community, which would then be incomplete. It is preferable to keep everyone together and discern what gifts everyone has and how to include them.
To truly discern the diversity of the gifts of the spirit means that we need to consciously identify and look beyond our own prejudices and preconceptions. This in turn takes humility.
It is, however, definitely worth the effort. Not only do we see more clearly what God is building in Jesus’ name. We also experience what it is like to be fully engaged and integrated into one functioning body. Paul continues in 1 Corinthians 12 to describe how we are to honour various parts of the body that seem to be weaker or unpresentable. Further discussion of that important principle is for another day.
For today let us celebrate the wonder of the Holy Spirit - and praise God!
Revd Nigel Rawlinson
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