Spiritual Gifts or The Kingdom

What is Christ's deepest passion? He was always about doing His Father's work. He preached, taught, proclaimed and died for the Kingdom of God. Christ came to establish His Father's Kingdom and I too must be about this work. No, not because I'm a citizen nor because of the benefits a citizen receives. Honestly, I don't know why, nor do I know if everyone should do the same, but He lives in me and I love my King so much I can think of nothing else night and day.

The Old and New Testaments scream to me, not of the Law, not of Israel nor her history, not just of peace, love nor even grace, but Christ. God has given us all these things in Christ. He bequeaths all to Christ and Christ returns all to His Father.

I know that in searching for Jesus, in trying our earthly best to love Him, we come across many doctrines, many people and many different "faiths." Pastors tell us to find our spiritual gifts, often misquoting Paul (usually just taking out of context what should be very simple). Priests tell us to pray more, Preachers exhort us to live holy lives. These are all godly things. Theologians give us correct doctrines and insist we stand against false doctrine. Theology can be good! I so wish I could be counted as among the best of them! As a tool theology can teach us many things. As a tool, but not as a weapon. Beware the weapon. As a weapon, it makes us terribly self-righteous and proud, not to mention argumentative and downright beastly, backbiting "Christians," dividing brother from brother. As well, in putting so much weight upon theology we are emphasizing knowledge rather than faith and life. That's taking fruit from the wrong Tree in the garden.

Spiritual gifts, too, are gifts to be used, but do we need to search for them, brag about them, (or even mention them? I'm not sure Paul or any of the other apostles mention theirs (unless forced to) - they simply used them. Spiritual gifts are just that, gifts. In fact, they are tools for use in His Kingdom. It's a very sad thing to spend more time cleaning tools rather than using them. They are not orchestral instruments in need of tuning, nor power tools that need cleaning and polishing, servicing and care. God will clean them. God will tune them and He does so while you use them.

According to 1 Corinthians 12, some are called to be prophets, some teachers, some to heal, some to work miracles. Those are not positions, but functions. When we get to heaven, do you suppose that God will say, "Good job, teacher." If we think we are what we do, we are sadly mistaken. God does not even insist so much on just what you do, but that you know Him and He, you! (Matt 7:23) God does not care so much your career or gift or any such thing. He gave them to you, they are of Him, but they are not Him. Placing on anything, even godly things, undue emphasis, creates idols before Him. He cares for you! It is the living relationship He desires.

The wonders of the Kingdom fall in this territory too, I'm afraid. Viola writes in an article on "deep ecclesiology,"

Jesus Christ is Hope (1 Tim. 1:1).
Jesus Christ is Peace (Eph. 2:14).
Jesus Christ is Wisdom (1 Cor. 1:30).
Jesus Christ is Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).
Jesus Christ is Holiness (1 Cor. 1:30).
Jesus Christ is Righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30).

Hope is not a thing to be sought after, it is a Person. Peace is not a virtue to be obtained, it is Christ. Righteousness is not a grace to be asked for, it is Christ, and on and on. One is a spiritual “thing.” The other is the Lord Himself. To put it in a sentence, Jesus Christ is not simply the giver of gifts, He Himself is the Gift!

As I survey the landscape of modern Christianity, it seems to me that spiritual things and objects have replaced the Person of Christ. ... When the Father gives us something, it’s always His Son. When the Son gives us something, it’s always Himself. This insight greatly simplifies the Christian life. Instead of seeking many spiritual things, we only seek Him. Our single occupation is the Lord Jesus Christ. He becomes our only pursuit. We do not seek Divine things, we seek a Divine Person. We do not seek gifts, we seek the giver who embodies all the gifts. We do not seek truth, we seek the incarnation of all truth.

The Kingdom is born of the King. When the people taste and see that the LORD is good, that He is the center and purpose of everything, truly LORD OF ALL, we become a new nation, a new people, a new creation, under God. "A revelation that burns in the fiber of their being and leaves God’s people breathless, overwhelmed, and awash in the glories of Jesus."

God loves His Son so much that we have no words for it, no experience to match it. Be we do have Him. And we can experience Him. We are meant for that. The Kingdom is meant to revolve around the King, to glorify the King. We don't need gifts, we don't need prayer, we don't need wisdom, we don't need the things the Christian life produces. We need Christ. The gifts, the prayer, the holiness, these will come; they will come from the King. To Love Him, know Him, honor Him, and share Him is our goal, our life. May we be together, love one another, baptize each other, immerse each other in the name of, in the love of and in the life of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!

God bless and bless God!

Next: Our Salvation!