A Litmus Test

Any discussion on spiritiual gifts is going to include at least three sections of Scripture.  The first and, perhaps, the primary one is I Corinthians 12.  The second is Romans 12 and the third one is Ephesians 4.  And while there is within those verses a listing of spiritual gifts, it is not necessarily an exclusive list to which gifts not mentioned in Scripture might be added.   For example, as best I can determine there is no mention of intercessory prayer as a spiritual gift; yet, we know people who seem as if they are mysteriously gifted in offering prayers for others.    

When Paul wrote to the Christians at Ephesus, he was led by the Spirit to use some powerful images to flesh out his teaching on spiritual gifts.  In Ephesians 4:12 he wrote that spiritual gifts are given "to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ."  Here is a statement of purpose and a litmus test to use as we discern if some gift not mentioned is truly a spiritual gift.  Spiritual gifts are not given to create a class of super saints, nor are they given to put the one with the gift in the spotlight.   

One of the teachings of the New Testament which is becoming more and more alien to our church culture is the one which affirms that the needs of the community supercede the needs of the individual.  Many of the strange and difficult to understand acts of God in the Old Testament can be seen as something which seeks to protect the identity and the integrity of the people of God and here in this passage about spiritual gifts there is once again a clear reminder that spiritual gifts are not given to set certain saints apart from and above others, but to provide the needs of the spiritual community.