Spiritual Gifts

“There are different kinds of gifts…” (1 Corinthians 12:4)

“So, Bob, what are your spiritual gifts?”  A well-meaning question but one for which I don’t have a ready answer.  Can you say “deer in the headlights” look?  I’m paralyzed.  What do I say?  How do I respond?  Do I have any?  In my mind, I lamely say, “Well, I fix things.”  Somehow that just doesn’t seem to cut it.

I go over the list in 1 Corinthians chapter 12: wisdom (strike one), knowledge (strike two), faith (close but no cigar), healing (foul ball, still strike two), miraculous powers (strike three).  Next at bat: prophecy (strike one), distinguishing between spirits (strike two; I don’t even know what that means), speaking in tongues (Yes!  Base hit.  I can speak Spanish!).  But after review by the umpires the play was called back.  Apparently, it has to be a tongue I don’t already know.  Same with interpretation of tongues.  So, I walk back downheartedly toward the spiritual dugout.

Later, in the chapter, Paul summarizes the gifts, acknowledging that no one has them all and that all are necessary.  Apostles, prophets, teachers (I can do that!), miracles, healing, helping (I can do that, too!), guidance, tongues.  Now things are looking up.  I do have some gifts.  I walk to first base.

Ephesians 4:11 talks about Christ providing apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.  This is a little easier to understand except that Paul threw in the “e” word.  Evangelism.  I struggle with that a lot.  I am not a natural evangelist like some.  While I try to walk the walk and talk the talk, I do not wear my faith on my sleeve.  There are those who talk about their faith in Jesus effortlessly.  They cannot visit with someone, go shopping or vacation without speaking from the heart of their love for our Savior.  I truly envy individuals with this gift and their almost easy way of sharing the Gospel with others.  Matthew 28:19 tells us to “go and make disciples of all nations…”  This doesn’t sound optional.  It appears to be a universal command to all believers to evangelize.  I have tried many, many times, and still I struggle.

Last year I was speaking with the wife of a pastor we know in Palm Springs.  She stands outside the door of their church and greets each person as they enter.  If there is someone new, she makes a point of talking to them and introducing them to the pastor.  She leads women’s groups, organizes church events, and works in the church office.  As we shared, I mentioned to her that evangelism was not my spiritual gift.  She said that she felt the same way.  I was very surprised.  She just seemed to radiate a faith and love of Christ.  She seemed like a natural evangelist.  But no.  She said she struggled with that.  Her happy place was in her office, with the door closed, working on spreadsheets and schedules.  I could really identify with that.

Then she paused and looked down at her paperwork.  She said, “You know, I’m wrong.  I often get calls from people outside the church who are sick or going through a divorce or some other ordeal.  They need help.  I want to help them.  Yet I know that in order to do that, we have to put first things first.  I ask them, ‘Do you have Jesus in your life?’  Because I know that without putting our faith in Him and letting Him direct our life, we cannot begin to help them.  They need Jesus in their life.  They need to accept Him as their Savior.  So, I guess evangelism is one of my spiritual gifts.”

I was very impressed and walked away with a better understanding of evangelism.  It isn’t necessarily about altar calls or converting thousands; or preaching from a soap box or pulpit.  It is often about a one-on-one experience with a person in need and we humbly direct them to Jesus.  He is the source of any strength I might have, and I hope I am willing to share that with others.  If that is the gift of evangelism, then I guess I got a base hit.