I remember when I was growing up, especially once I reached my teens, we took these 'tests' that were supposed to discover our Spiritual Gifts. I don't remember the ones I took as a young adult, but I took one recently and scored very high on Evangelism, Artistry and Teaching. I scored very low on Giving, Musical Inclination, and Pastoral. Others were somewhere in between. It seems that you can find a Biblical list in Romans 12:6-8, Ephesians 4:11 and 1 Corinthians 12:1-14. I remember being told about how these were the 'gifts' God had bestowed upon us through the Holy Spirit. We were supposed to take in consideration our strengths and figure a way to use them to do good works and in so doing, glorify God.
But are they really 'gifts' in the way we would perceive them? The list as I can compile from the three sources above are: Prophecy, Ministry, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading, Compassion, Evangelism, Pastoral, Wisdom, Knowledge, Discerning of Spirits, Speaking in Tongues, Interpretation of Tongues, Faith, Working Miracles and Healing. What I started thinking about was the darker side of these 'gifts'.
Usually when we talk about receiving a gift it is a positive thing. They are usually something we asked for or wanted that our friends or family have gotten us because they love us and want to make us happy (gift cards to our favorite store). Or they can be a slight let down if they are something a loved one gives us because it is something they perceive we need (like socks). But have you ever had one forced on you that you didn't ask for, that you didn't want, but had to accept?
I perceive our Spiritual Gifts to be in the last category. Stay with me for a moment. For most of us, these gifts are mild and manageable. Some like to help others so they volunteer their time to shelters, food pantries, and other causes that help those less fortunate than they are. Some like to teach people so they volunteer to become educators, tutors, or 'answer' people at their job. Etc, etc, etc. But take those gifts to the extreme. Like prophecy, discerning spirits, faith.
Do you think it was easy for Isaiah to write all those visions down? Or John with his Revelation? I would think that they would drive most of us mad as a hatter. Or how would you like to walk around and be able to actually see angels or demons? I can't think that those visions would be pleasant. They seem like they would be rather frightening. And what about carrying your faith out into the world and really showing it. For those who live their entire lives safe inside a community that all has similar ideas and beliefs it would be hard to understand what it is really like to walk in the world and have your beliefs questioned constantly. I thrive on it because I like to discuss and debate things with people, but I'm also doing it in a safe environment. What about those early Christians who we tortured for Roman sport? Or even now, in certain areas, people who openly practice what they believe can be executed. What about knowledge? As I recall when Adam and Eve took a bite from that tree the consequences weren't exactly positive. Would you call these 'gifts' or 'burdens'?
For every positive side of the 'gift' there is that dark underside. That shadowy piece that in an instant can make it a great and terrible hardship to bear. I think there is never enough emphasis placed on what these 'gifts' really mean, what responsibility they carry with them. After all how can we carry anything from God and it be easy? He is great and terrible, so wouldn't all things that come from Him be great and terrible?
