http://www.stmarkshighland.ang-md.org/reflect/renewal.htm
THIS IS A "RIP" OF PORTIONS OF THE ABOVE
MENTIONED ITEM, WITH SOME COMMENTARY BY ME.
Observation #1: INSTINCT/GUTS
St Paul writes frequently that he desires, prays for, and labors for our
deepening faith, our increasing spiritual maturity, our ongoing
transformation in Christ, our expanding knowledge of God, and our
experience of our unity together. Never once does St Paul write that
he prays or labors for our gaining or refraining from the practice of any
spiritual gifts. This is not a major issue for St Paul.
Observation #2: IMAGINATION
St Paul connects the filling of the Spirit with submission to others
(Eph 5.18-21) rather than with gaining or refraining from the practice
of spiritual gifts. For St Paul, the filling of the Spirit has to do with
the FRUIT of the spirit – spirituality, maturity, and holiness, more
than the gifts of the Spirit – abilities for ministry. To become polarized
in controversy, regardless of which side of the table one sits, is the
opposite of mutual submission. To judge another person because of
their experience (or lack of experience) only displays spiritual
immaturity rather than faith.
Observation #3: COMMON SENSE/WILL
St Paul did differentiate between greater and lesser gifts, and urged us,
if we should seek spiritual gifts, to seek the greater gifts rather than
the lesser gifts. Yet, amazingly, our controversy usually revolves
around the lesser gifts. Doesn’t that strike you as odd? Why would
we waste time and energy, and destroy the unity of the Body,
by arguing about minor things?
Observation #4: REASONING
St Paul ends the passage about seeking spiritual gifts by saying rather
than seeking any spiritual gifts (greater or lesser) there is something
far more important: Loving one another. Rather than becoming
passionate about any gifts (greater or lesser), we must become
passionate about our relationships and our unity together.
Observation #5: FEELINGS
St Paul describes Christian renewal in terms of conversion,
relationship, and spirituality rather than in terms of worship style
and spiritual gifts: “But now you must get rid of all such things--
anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth.
Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old
self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self,
which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its
creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew,
circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free;
but Christ is all and in all!” (Col 3.8-11). Christian renewal has
nothing to do with controversy, and everything to do with inner holiness.
Observation #6: INTUITION/POINT
St Paul prayed fervently that we would be rooted and based in love,
rather than in worship style or miracle. He prayed that we would
deepen in our knowledge of Christ’s love, so that we would be
complete (Eph 3.17-19). He called us to gentle and quiet behavior,
working for harmony, preserving the bond of peace rather than
falling sinfully into energetic controversy and division (Eph 4.2-3).
And finally, he claimed that spiritual gifts were to bring harmony,
not controversy, and spiritual maturity rather than childishness
(Eph 4.13-14). In contemporary Western Christianity, both
Congregations and Christians that avoid the Holy Spirit and those
that like to call themselves “spirit filled” equally miss the point.
