Monthly Archives: August 2008
Spiritual Gifts (Charismata)
Introduction
George Marsh asks a four-fold question regarding spiritual gifts: (a) what are these spiritual gifts? (b) How does one receive them? (c) Are they for all believers or some (especially the gift of speaking in tongues)? (d) How can one identify his or her gift?
What are the Various Spiritual Gifts?
Altogether the Epistles makes mention of twenty one (21) spiritual gifts. In no particular order here they are:
Prophet, Prophetess or Prophecy (Rom 12:6; 1 Cor 12:10; 12:28, 29; 13: 2, 8; 14:1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 22; Eph 4:11)
Whether predictive or non-predictive, the goal of a prophetic utterance as outlined in 1 Cor 14 is primarily to instruct, strengthen, encourage, and to comfort the congregation (vv. 3, 31). Furthermore the utterance is subject to evaluation (v. 29). If predictive, failure of the utterance to come to fruition renders the utterer fake (Deut 18:22).
Evangelist (Eph 4:11)
If you have ever wondered what the portrait of an Evangelist looks like, look at Philip, one of the seven deacons in the Book of Acts and to whose name is tied to the label “Evangelist (Acts 21:8). He not only engaged the masses with his proclamation of the good news, but initiated evangelistic conversation one-on-one (Acts 8).
Pastor (Eph 4:11)
The word for Pastor in the Greek is literally a “shepherd.” In other words what a shepherd is to sheep, a pastor is to his flock. Like a shepherd the pastor displays care, offers guidance (cf. John 10:3), extends protection/security (cf., Matt 9:36), puts his life on the line for his sheep (John 10:11).
Service (Rom 12:7)
The word for service is a variation of the word “deacon.” As is well known deacons in the book of Acts offered, not received, services. They were players, not spectators, when it came to serving the church. The gift of service therefore has to do with being a participant in the process of meeting the needs of the saints/church (cf. 1 Cor 16:15; 2 Cor 9:1, 13).
Teaching (Rom 12:7)
Prophets speak the words which God reveals to them while teachers engage in the passing on of the truth of the gospel which is already the revealed truth.
Encouraging
The encourager comes in handy in challenging, low moments, in times of distress and affliction. The goal of encouragement is to inspire and to uplift. (Rom 12:8, cf. Acts 14:22; 15:32; 16:40; 20:1, 2; 1 Cor 14:31; 2 Cor 7:13; Eph 6:22; Col 2:2; 4:8; 1 Thes 2:12; 3:2, 7; 4:18; 5:11, 14; 2 Thes 2:17; 2 Tim 4:2; Titus 1:9; 2:6, 15; Heb 3:13; 10:25; 1 Pet 5:12)
Contributing to the Needs of Others
This has to do with a person sharing of what he or she owns with a needy party (Rom 12:8). This kind of sharing is mentioned at least three other times in the New Testament. The person with two tunics is urged to share with one without (Luke 3:11). As evident that the old sinful self has been shed off as a result of spiritual conversions, a thief-turned-believer is challenged to instead earn a living and share the fruit of his/her labor with those in need (Eph 4:28).
Helping Others
The single reference of the noun translated in our English Bible as “helping others” limits our discussion on this gift (1 Cor 12:28).
Leadership
This gift has in mind those who preside over, manager over, make administrative decisions over the affairs of the church (Rom 12:8, cf 1 Thes 5:12; 1 Tim 3:4, 5, 12; 5:17).
Administration
As is the case with the gift of “helping others,” the single reference of the noun translated in our English Bible as “administration” limits our discussion on this gift (1 Cor 12:28).
Showing Mercy
Most likely the gift denotes all sorts of works of mercy. This may include taking care of the sick or disadvantaged (Rom 12:8).
Celibacy
In the context of 1 Cor 7 where Paul is discussing sexual fulfillment and abstinence, it may be that the gift here should be best understood not so much as singleness but continence, i.e., the ability to refrain from sexual intercourse.
Message of Wisdom and Knowledge
These entail insights granted to the mind. They are revelatory in the sense that they include matters granted in some way or another by direct revelation (1 Cor 12:28). Granted, on this side of the Canon, the revelations must be subject to biblical scrutiny as is the case with prophetic utterance.
Faith, Healing (1 Cor 12:9), Miraculous powers (1 Cor 12:10)
We are here talking about a high degree of faith in God produced by the Holy Spirit, the effects of which manifested themselves in healings in one and in mighty works in another.
Distinguishing Between Spirits (1 Cor 12:10)
This refers to the ability to identify the source of the prophetic utterance. The ability may also include interpretation and the weighing of the prophetic content.
Speaking in different tongues and Interpretation of tongues (1 Cor 12:10f)
According to 1 Cor 14 tongues are God-directed (not audience-directed), incomprehensible to the listening ear, strictly for the edification of the speaker. For this reason, they require interpretation if they are to benefit the audience.
Apostles (1 Cor 12:28, 29; Eph 4:11)
How Can one Identify His/Her Gift
Even those who propose the use of questionnaires as a way of determining spiritual gifts are quick to point out that the questionnaires simply confirm an awareness of one’s spiritual gift. The awareness comes about through inner conviction and the testimony of outside observers.
Tithing: Is it Applicable to the Church Today?
Introduction
This posting has been prompted by the question of one of our readers? Mary asks:
”I was told by some people that they can’t pay tithe because it is not mentioned in the New Testament, i.e., it is part of the Old Testament Law and not meant for “grace” people like us. I can’t remember seeing it myself in the N.T.Is that the case? If so how do you respond to that?
First of all Mary, tithing is mentioned in the New Testament. Even then the question of its applicability still holds since in all the instances that tithing is mentioned in both Testaments it appears to be a Jewish/Old Testament practice that may therefore not carry forward to the church today.
In answering the question we will first of all define tithing, then look at how it is discussed in both the New and the Old Testaments, and finally determine whether the scarce mention of tithing in the New Testament implies that the practice is irrelevant today.
Definition of “Tithe”
That the term tithe translates to tenth or ten percent makes sense if we are aware that, according to the Merrian-Webster’s dictionary, the word tithe is traceable to the old English word teogotha which means tenth. Furthermore both the Hebrew (maasar) and Greek (dekate) words that are rendered tithe by our English Bible carry within them the word ten. The term for ten is deka in Greek and asar in Hebrew.
The meaning of tithe aside, how is tithe or tithing discussed in both the Old and New Testaments?
Tithing in the Old Testament
Mention of Incidences of tithing
a) Gen 14:20
A war involving Sodom, the adopted home of Lot, results in the capture of Lot among others. When word about Lot’s capture reaches his uncle Abram, Abram mobilizes an operation dubbed “rescue Lot.” With the mission accomplished, Abram returns home and is met by Melchisedek. It is during this encounter that Abram offers a tithe.
b) Gen 28:20-22
Jacob working under the instruction of his mother Rebekkah succeeds in stealing the blessings that rightly belonged to Esau. Isaac is deceived into granting deathbed blessings to Jacob instead of Esau. When Esau discovers his loss, he vows revenge. Naturally Jacob, the target of the vendetta, opts to flee to Laban’s den in Haran. Since Haran was a distance away, Jacob stopped to catch some sleep. While asleep, he experiences a dream. He wakes up and utters a vow: he will tithe a tenth form what God gives to him.
Divine Regulations concerning tithe or tithing
(a) Lev 27:30-32: The tithe belongs to the Lord
(b) Num 18:21: The tithes are meant for the Levites in exchange for their temple service
(c) Deut 12:6; 14:28: Tithes are to be brought to God’s dwelling place
The Practice of Tithing Falls by the Wayside and then is Revived
(a) 2 Chron 31
At the end of 2 Chron 28 we are told that King Ahaz suspended all temple operations by shutting the temple down. When Hezekiah ascended the throne, he reversed all these. He re-consecrated the temple and its staff in 29:3-19. He calls for the observation of the Passover in chap. 30. What else does he reinstall? Tithing (2 Chron 31:11)
(b) Neh 10:37; 13:12
Chapter 10 is an Ezra-led declaration of the people’s commitment to live by the law. Part of the commitment is the reinstatement of tithing.
Withholding the tithes equated with robbery; bringing the tithe tied to abundant blessings
Mal 3:8-11: “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse — the whole nation of you — because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not cast their fruit,” says the LORD Almighty.
Tithing in the New Testament
Mention of an Incident of tithing
Luke 18:12: The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’
Jesus does not fault the Pharisees and teachers of Law for Practicing Tithing
What he faults them for is their neglect of justice and the love of God (cf. Matt 23:23)
Is Tithing Applicable Today
Even though tithing is mentioned only a handful of times in the New Testament, does it mean that it is therefore no longer applicable today?
First of all, there is no evidence that the Scriptures prohibit the continuation of the practice. Jesus made mention of the practice without condemning or rendering it abolete. At the same time, it ought to give us pause that, beyond the three references in the Gospels, the word tithe or tithing is never again mentioned in the New Testament. References to tithing during the church age appear not in the New Testament but later on in the writings of the church fathers (e.g., Constitution of the Holy Apostles [325AD]:“wherefore you ought to love the bishop as your father, and fear him as your king and honor him …giving to him your … tithes) or in decrees by church councils (e.g., the council of Trent [1550]: “The payment of tithes is due to God, and they who refuse to pay them or hinder those who give them usurp the property of another…they who either withhold or hinder them shall be excommunicated..”)
Secondly, even though tithing is never again mentioned in the New Testament after the Gospels, the principle of tithing in the sense of the people of God catering for the needs and upkeep of the minister is cited over and over again in the Epistles and is certainly relevant and applicable today. First Corinthians 9: 13-14 is one such citation: Don’t you know that those who work in the temple get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is offered on the altar? In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel.
Thirdly, the emphasis in the Epistles when it comes to supplying the needs of the minister is not on percentage seeing that the word tithe or tithing is never mentioned there. The emphasis is on individual-motivated, generous, cheerful, voluntary giving (1 Cor 9:7).
Nicholas oyugi's Weblog 