"So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." Matthew 5:23,24 ESV
The altar of sacrifice was located just outside the Holy Place at the temple. By the time of Jesus' ministry, the temple had three courts that one must pass through before entering the area of sacrifice. These areas were crowded with money-changers, merchants, and other people doing the "business" associated with the temple (and the ones with whom Jesus showed His anger). For a person to offer a sacrifice, he had to wend his way through the mobs of people. We've experienced mobs--sporting events, day-after-Thanksgiving shopping, rush-hour traffic. And, we know how people act--short tempered, hurried, bumping and jostling for a place in line. By the time a person entered the temple proper to offer his sacrifice, he was probably a little tired, the day nearly spent, and a smelly, noisy animal in tow. As he offers his animal to the priest, he remembers that his neighbor has something against him. His neighbor who lives on the other side of town. His neighbor who is not a believer, and who watches his actions. Here in Matthew, the worshipper is told to leave the sacrifice and go make things right with whomever has offense against him. Wow. Think about the application to our lives.
As we enter worship, whether corporately on Sundays or privately, if we have someone who has offense against us, that is angry because of our actions, we need to leave our worship setting and make things right with him/her. And that makes sense. Can we truly offer our sacrifice of worship to God, deepening our relationship with Him when we have resolvable issues in our other relationships. I can remember having "issues" with a friend a few years ago. We attended the same church. As we entered worship one Sunday, I realized that the difficulties in our friendship were preventing me from fully worshipping God. I had to stop singing, walk over to her and make things right before I could continue.
I do have a question about this though, one that arises from personal experience and a separate occurance in a friend's life. What if the other person doesn't want to reconcile? What if they are unwilling to work things out? Is the responsibility off my shoulders? Am I able to offer the sacrifice? Do we treat the situation as water under the bridge and move on? Do we burn the bridge, hoping to rebuild it at a later date? Also out of this, I wonder what the relationship between being hurt and being offended is? How are they related, or are they?
As we go through the week, let us consider the impact of what Jesus is saying here in Matthew. And, if you have any answers or opinions about the questions raised, let me know.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Spiritual Gifts, Part 3
I know it's been a while, but here is the final installment of my musings on spiritual gifts. I have to admit to wanting to pull this, as I find I don't really have the time to invest in keeping this up as I want to. But, I'll keep at it--at least I have somewhere to record my thoughts.
The key New Testament passages on spiritual gifts are in First Corinthians--chapters 12-14. I've already covered chapter thirteen, and this time I'd like to look at the "bookends" of this passage. However, in order to understand the spiritual gifts, and their origin, we must first understand that the Holy Spirit is not a "new" thing in the New Testament. He, and I identify Him as such because He is part of the Trinity, is present throughout the Old Testament--at creation, throughout the age of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), the captivities (Egypt and Babylon), and the prophets. He appears as a pillar of fire, a cloud of smoke, a stillness, as man, and a myriad of other images/forms. His coming is prophesied in Joel 2, where the prophet tells us that the Spirit will be poured out on all people, regardless of age/gender/nationality. That prophecy is primarily fulfilled in Acts 2, when tongues like fire descended on the occupants of the upper room. The prophecy is still under fulfillment--we experience the presence of the Spirit in worship and prayer. As followers of Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Him (Jesus) as our Lord and Savior. Some would say that a "second baptism" of fire, as evidenced by speaking in tongues, is necessary for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. I don't see that in Scripture, and so, if anyone can show me this, please do so. I feel the Holy Spirit can work in and through us. Tongues is but one of many gifts the Holy Spirit gives us.
We must not put this Spirit in a box. Chapter 12 of First Corinthians tells us that the Spirit gifts each one as He wills. ALL of the gifts are to be used for the building up (edification) of the Church. What an awesome idea--each individual with his/her gifts, working together with others to spread the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, encouraging one another as they do so, strengthening each others weaknesses. Unfortunately, two thousand years of church history has shown us that this topic, rather than unifying the church, has divided it.
I digress. There are many different kinds/types of spiritual gifts. There are outward gifts, inward gifts, visible and unseen gifts. One gifted in teaching is more visible than one gifted in service and helps. An intercessor may go unnoticed while the evangelist he prays for becomes known. We have to be careful not to edify one gift above another. No one gift is more important--except that of love, which we discussed last time. Obviously, the church in Corinth had the same problem some of our churches have today (there is nothing new under the sun, Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes)--they promoted some gifts ahead of others. They had another problem--disorder. Paul lays out in chapter 14 some guidelines for the use of more outward gifts--limits, procedures, etc. I worshipped in a charismatic church for many years. I've seen improper use of the outward gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.). I've also seen the proper use of such gifts. The difference is amazing. It seemed to me the times of improper use were chaotic, drawn out, forced. The proper uses seemed to come "naturally" in the course of the service.
Another topic I want to briefly discuss is that of the "five-fold" ministry found in Ephesians 4. Paul tells us that God has given over some to be the "apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds (pastors), the teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." (ESV). The five-fold is not some higher level of ministry, as if God places us on different levels. Rather, it represents leadership who are to train ALL of us (saints) to minister and edify each other. I know some who place such emphasis on the five-fold that they seem to exclude those who disagree with them. Again, why do we have to be so divided? Why can't we recognize the giftings in others, regardless of our theology, and encourage one another in our walks and our ministries?
As I close out tonight, I want to encourage you to look at your life. Where has God gifted you? Are you using these gifts to build up the body? If not, what step can you take to exercise the gifts God has given you? I encourage you to find a place where you can work out your giftings. I know, from experience, that sitting on God's giftings in you will cause frustration, apathy, even a slow spiritual death. If you are unsure, ask a close friend, a mentor, a pastor, some one close enough to you that they can speak this truth to you. Seek out opportunities to use your gifts. Pray about them. Then, use them. Build up the body.
The key New Testament passages on spiritual gifts are in First Corinthians--chapters 12-14. I've already covered chapter thirteen, and this time I'd like to look at the "bookends" of this passage. However, in order to understand the spiritual gifts, and their origin, we must first understand that the Holy Spirit is not a "new" thing in the New Testament. He, and I identify Him as such because He is part of the Trinity, is present throughout the Old Testament--at creation, throughout the age of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob), the captivities (Egypt and Babylon), and the prophets. He appears as a pillar of fire, a cloud of smoke, a stillness, as man, and a myriad of other images/forms. His coming is prophesied in Joel 2, where the prophet tells us that the Spirit will be poured out on all people, regardless of age/gender/nationality. That prophecy is primarily fulfilled in Acts 2, when tongues like fire descended on the occupants of the upper room. The prophecy is still under fulfillment--we experience the presence of the Spirit in worship and prayer. As followers of Christ, we receive the Holy Spirit when we accept Him (Jesus) as our Lord and Savior. Some would say that a "second baptism" of fire, as evidenced by speaking in tongues, is necessary for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. I don't see that in Scripture, and so, if anyone can show me this, please do so. I feel the Holy Spirit can work in and through us. Tongues is but one of many gifts the Holy Spirit gives us.
We must not put this Spirit in a box. Chapter 12 of First Corinthians tells us that the Spirit gifts each one as He wills. ALL of the gifts are to be used for the building up (edification) of the Church. What an awesome idea--each individual with his/her gifts, working together with others to spread the message of salvation through Jesus Christ, encouraging one another as they do so, strengthening each others weaknesses. Unfortunately, two thousand years of church history has shown us that this topic, rather than unifying the church, has divided it.
I digress. There are many different kinds/types of spiritual gifts. There are outward gifts, inward gifts, visible and unseen gifts. One gifted in teaching is more visible than one gifted in service and helps. An intercessor may go unnoticed while the evangelist he prays for becomes known. We have to be careful not to edify one gift above another. No one gift is more important--except that of love, which we discussed last time. Obviously, the church in Corinth had the same problem some of our churches have today (there is nothing new under the sun, Solomon tells us in Ecclesiastes)--they promoted some gifts ahead of others. They had another problem--disorder. Paul lays out in chapter 14 some guidelines for the use of more outward gifts--limits, procedures, etc. I worshipped in a charismatic church for many years. I've seen improper use of the outward gifts (tongues, prophecy, healing, etc.). I've also seen the proper use of such gifts. The difference is amazing. It seemed to me the times of improper use were chaotic, drawn out, forced. The proper uses seemed to come "naturally" in the course of the service.
Another topic I want to briefly discuss is that of the "five-fold" ministry found in Ephesians 4. Paul tells us that God has given over some to be the "apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds (pastors), the teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ..." (ESV). The five-fold is not some higher level of ministry, as if God places us on different levels. Rather, it represents leadership who are to train ALL of us (saints) to minister and edify each other. I know some who place such emphasis on the five-fold that they seem to exclude those who disagree with them. Again, why do we have to be so divided? Why can't we recognize the giftings in others, regardless of our theology, and encourage one another in our walks and our ministries?
As I close out tonight, I want to encourage you to look at your life. Where has God gifted you? Are you using these gifts to build up the body? If not, what step can you take to exercise the gifts God has given you? I encourage you to find a place where you can work out your giftings. I know, from experience, that sitting on God's giftings in you will cause frustration, apathy, even a slow spiritual death. If you are unsure, ask a close friend, a mentor, a pastor, some one close enough to you that they can speak this truth to you. Seek out opportunities to use your gifts. Pray about them. Then, use them. Build up the body.
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