During Paul’s ministry in the various churches in Greece and Asia Minor (now Türkiye), spiritual gifts were abundant, and people wanted to have certain ones over others, believing the most impressive gifts to be the best. Paul had to address this issue in Corinth. It seems people were really fascinated with the gift of “tongues,” which meant something different from what it does today.
In 1st-century Israel and surrounding areas, “tongues” meant languages—human words that other people could interpret. Paul mentioned private spiritual utterances between a person and God but cautioned against its use in congregations since there would be no one to interpret it for the rest of the people there.
Now you are the body of Christ, and members of it individually, 28 and whom God has appointed in the church: first, apostles, second, prophets, third, teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helps, administrations, kinds of tongues. 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all are workers of miracles, are they? 30 Not all have gifts of healing, do they? Not all speak with tongues, do they? Not all interpret, do they? 31 But strive for the greater gifts. And I will show you a still more excellent way. — 1 Cor 12:27–31 (LEB)
Healing was another popular spiritual gift. But quite likely no one was clamoring for the spiritual gift of administration. Paul lists a wide array of spiritual gifts in his letters (about 26 in all), and God has many others besides those listed by Paul. Since Paul’s letters were not written with chapter or verse markings, the separation of chapters often interrupts the intended flow. As Paul is encouraging the church to recognize the need for all the spiritual gifts, wraps them all around one particular gift from God: Love.
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a ringing brass gong or a clashing cymbal. 2 And if I have the gift of prophecy and I know all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 And if I parcel out all my possessions, and if I hand over my body in order that I will be burned, but do not have love, it benefits me nothing. 4 Love is patient, love is kind, love is not jealous, it does not boast, it does not become conceited, 5 it does not behave dishonorably, it is not selfish, it does not become angry, it does not keep a record of wrongs, 6 it does not rejoice at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth, 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. But if there are prophecies, they will pass away. If there are tongues, they will cease. If there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but whenever the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I set aside the things of a child. 12 For now we see through a mirror indirectly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know completely, just as I have also been completely known. 13 And now these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. — 1 Cor 13:1–13
Despite its popularity at weddings, this passage is not referring to the “feeling” of love or romance. Verse 8 shows that Paul is writing about love in relation to the use of spiritual gifts. He specifically mentions the temporary status of prophecy, tongues, and knowledge—a type of understanding given by the Holy Spirit, not a human accumulation of data. Although the spiritual gifts will eventually pass away (they are only usable by physical, perishable beings), the gift of love will remain forever, because it is part
of God himself.
I have noticed many spiritual gifts among you during the past 16 years here, and all administered with amazing love. It is palpable to everyone who comes here and many of you continued coming to Christ the Redeemer because of it. Some of you moved here from other states because of it. God has given each of you spiritual gifts that you may not even be aware of, but that change in you has been noticed by others. God is continuously working on us, eventually completing the work he has begun (Phil 1:6). Sometimes we need a little touch-up or fine tuning; other times some major reconstruction may be needed. But the important thing to know is that God completes every project he starts. There are no half-formed planets meandering about the galaxy, or stars in some Heavenly shed waiting to be put into orbit.
We have endured some skirmishes. We have survived events that split many other churches. Many churches collapsed during the COVID lockdowns. Most churches fold before their seventh year. God has brought Christ the Redeemer through hardships, and we are thriving still.
Your love for each other was demonstrated last week as we commemorated the loss of two of our brothers; our loss is Heaven’s gain. Many visitors to those services commented about feeling the Holy Spirit’s love working through you.
We have brothers and sisters here who embody the gifts Paul describes. No one has them all, and that’s God’s deliberate design. If we each had all the gifts available, we wouldn’t need each other. And in these coming months you will need each other. You are a powerful outpost in the kingdom of God, and that attracts the enemy’s attention. Pray consistently.
This is my last article for our newsletter. I hope they have been enlightening and entertaining, as I have enjoyed researching and writing them. As Carrie and I head to West Virginia, I’m reminded that the Bible shows no retirement example for clergy; however, in the Book of Numbers, regarding the priests, Yahweh tells the Israelites:
“and those fifty years old will return from the service of the work and will serve no longer. They can attend their brothers in the tent of assembly to keep their responsibilities, but they will not do work…” (Num 8:25-26)
So, there’s that. Apparently, I’m about 13 years late.
Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church is a family. We sometimes forget that. A church is not a club that you join like a gym or a social media group. It’s a family you become part of. Families have disagreements at times; they may argue or be irritated by one another. But throughout it all, they are held together by love. God has placed each of us hear for a reason, and each of us is important to God for the continued mission he has for Christ the Redeemer. You are gifted and loved, and it’s been my honor and privilege to serve and watch you grow over the years. Trust and rely on God to provide the gifts you will need in these next months. Thank you for the opportunity to be part of this wonderful family.
Your Brother in Christ,
Fr. Austin