Jesus Expressions: 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.
Adversity strategy concept making it work business idea as a square peg forced into a round hole as a success and determination metaphor as a 3D illustration.

Adversity strategy concept making it work business idea as a square peg forced into a round hole as a success and determination metaphor as a 3D illustration.

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]
Red prism wooden block standing out among wooden cylinders. 3D illustration.

Red prism wooden block standing out among wooden cylinders. 3D illustration.

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.
square peg round hole

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.
Apple, Red, Red Apple, Apple Orchard, Branch, Delicious