My strenghts as observed by those who know me

This week I asked a few people (who know me well) to share what they observe to be my strengths, particularly when it comes to ministry. The responses were somewhat similar but also had distinct differences that, I think, is the result of both how well the person knows me and the context of the relationship which we share.

Mike Scamilhorn, a mentor and former Executive Pastor, shared these observations:

1.         You have a servant’s heart.  I see your desire to serve others by facilitating opportunities for them to grow in relationship with God and others.
2.         You desire to use your talents to make a difference...music at church, studying with others to grow in knowledge of the bible, and your desire to use your home and other physical resources to help make a difference in the lives of others that appear to need a leg up.
3.         I see a tenderness towards those struggling to feel valued. I see your own relational struggles as places you invite others in to be real, vulnerable, and accepted.
4.          I see you living out of your strength of responsibility to do what you say will do. When you give your word, you are all in if at all possible.
5.         I see you valuing relationship through creativity, intellection, and service. You love to play and engage in the camaraderie of doing things with others. Music, or video games, or worship/prayer is always better for you in community than in solitude.
6. I think overall you have a heart of determination to be a true son of God. You long to live your life for a purpose and for it to count for others to know Jesus in closer relationship because of the interaction of community.

Hampton Hancock, a close friend that I have known for 25+ years, shared these observations:

1. Teaching: Jason can analyze the Word of God, explain the meaning, context, and application. Jason has the ability to clearly instruct and communicate knowledge. I have seen Jason lead several groups at NJCC. From worship-based prayer, to a monthly men’s group, Jason is not only willing to lead, he has a lot of passion into giving context and uplifting people.
2. Discerning: Jason possesses the ability to discern truth from deceit.  He can listen to issues and then discern the correct approach. I have known Jason since 1996, and through that time, Jason, through prayer and studies, could discern duplicity. He can hear what people say and through language verbal or by body, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit can get a sense of how he can minister to them. Jason doesn’t react initially, but listens, absorbs, and reflects. I think that by his ability to listen to others, and initially withhold his own judgement, it gives him perspective, and then with prayer, he is able to discern the logical course of action most of the time.
3. Serving: Jason has a natural ability and want to be able to give of himself and serve even when he doesn’t feel like it. He is able to put others needs ahead of his own. In all my years of knowing Jason, he has willingly served others, both individually, and corporately. He would serve on prayer teams, worship teams, and outreach and leadership teams. He would clean for people, cook for people, and no task is ever “below” him. If he is able to do it, he eagerly does it with thanksgiving and love. 
4. Mercy: This goes hand in hand with encouragement. If Jason senses a need, he will always show mercy and forgiveness, giving of himself eagerly and showing mercy even when the person receiving it doesn’t deserve it. Jason realizes that he deserved death through sin, and he was shown mercy, and he gives it easily. Jason has a passion to help people. This ties in well with his discerning and serving. Jason gives of himself unconditionally, and sometimes in observation, too much. He is willing to sacrifice his own comfort to help other people. His own brother struggles with alcoholism, and he has forgiven him many times over, and still gives. I haven’t been the best of persons, and struggle with my anxiety, and has shown me mercy. In fact, in my estimation, Jason has been the closest example to a living saint I have ever met. He isn’t perfect, has his struggles, and issues he knows he needs to work on. Yet, I can say, I would like to follow him as he follows Christ. That is in parallel to Paul saying, follow me, like I follow Christ. Jason will always be merciful over judging, love over hate, and is the most honorable man I have had the honor to meet in my life.

Adam Van Treese is a man I have gotten to know closely over the past year through mutual accountability and is now living in my home as he goes through a trial separation. He shared:

1.          Empathy: Having been dealing with some serious issues in my life; you have been good at understanding my feelings. Even though you haven’t been through this particular struggle, I’ve appreciated feeling like you understand.
2.         Listening: You have an uncommon ability to listen to what someone is going through and not try to speak. While you have given wise counsel, you have also known when to be quiet and just kind of absorb what is being said.
3.         Knowledge: I’ve appreciated your knowledge of scripture and application when discussing our common struggle.
4.          Perseverance: As someone who has dealt with one of the same struggles you have, I’m thankful to know that perseverance does pay off. You keep getting back in the fight and it is inspiring.
5.          Encouragement: More than any of my support system, I’ve felt encouraged by what you have said, when you have chosen to speak into my life.

Spiritual Gift Tests

This week in Seminary, we read an article by Dr. Ken Schenck’s entitled The Bible and Spiritual Gifts Tests. He opens the article with the 3 well-known passages on Spiritual Gifts (1Corinthians 12:4-8, Romans 12:4-8, and Ephesians 4:11-13); they have been used to develop Spiritual Gift tests.

Dr. Schenck writes, “spiritual gift tests feed a sense that God has given us a clear cut destiny, purpose, and meaning in this world.”[1] While these tests may point us further in a direction, I think the downside of these tests is actually to minimize God’s purpose for the Christian; they seem to point towards more being a minister in the Church for the Church, which I am defining as in using the spiritual gifts during times when Christians gather together. “So, it would seem that spiritual gift tests sometimes mistake the scope of these passages. It treats the lists as exhaustive, when we have no reason to think Paul intended the that way.”[2]

1 Corinthians 12:4 is a basis for many spiritual gift tests: “To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”[3] It is presupposed that everyone has been given a gift for the benefit of the Church. Perhaps we miss something by not considering the context: that Paul was writing to a church that was disorderly in worship, particularly through the gift of tongues.[4] He encouraged unity and ordered use of spiritual gifts for the benefit of the whole Corinthian Church. He was, thus, addressing the Corinthian Church on very specific issues which were disruptive to unity.

This not to say that spiritual gift lists in the Bible are incorrect. Spiritual gifts will look and be manifest differently as the Spirit gives grace… to each believer and… to each church. I agree with Dr. Schneck’s statement that, “the lists of spiritual gifts are probably much more general and impressionistic than timeless or exhaustive.”[5] Spiritual gift tests can be an invaluable tool to help initially identify gifts. However, over time, I think spiritual gifts are both self-evident and evidenced by fruit.

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[1] Dr, Ken Schenck, The Bible and Spiritual Gift Tests, 2.

[2] Dr, Ken Schenck, The Bible and Spiritual Gift Tests, 3.

[3] Dr, Ken Schenck, The Bible and Spiritual Gift Tests, 2.

[4] Dr, Ken Schenck, The Bible and Spiritual Gift Tests, 2.

[5] Dr, Ken Schenck, The Bible and Spiritual Gift Tests, 3.