December 2

Spiritual Gifts and Silent Women

Once upon a time all the animals on the farm decided to form a school. The well rounded curriculum included swimming, running, climbing, and flying. Now to make it easier to monitor the program all the animals took all the courses. The duck was excellent at swimming in fact better than instructor, but only passing grades in climbing, and very slow in running, he had to stay after school to be tutored. This caused his web feet to become so worn he became only average in swimming. The rabbit was top of her class in running, but she developed a twitch in her leg from all the time she spent trying to swim. The squirrel was a peak performer in climbing, but was a complete failure in flying class. His body became so badly worn from the landings in flying class, he could only get a C in climbing and a D in running. The eagle was a continual problem student. She was labeled a non-conformist. In climbing class, she always beat everyone to the top of the tree but she insisted on using her own way to get there. In running class she beat everyone to the finish but she didn't play by the rules. She used her wings and no one had a chance. Finally, the eagle was kicked out of school because she didn't do things the traditional way.

We who are followers of Jesus have been given gifts too. And discovering this spiritual gift is one of the most significant steps to becoming a difference maker. Through this gift we make our unique contribution to the eternal kingdom of God. So discovering this gift should be our highest priority in 2010. The Corinthian believers were living in ignorance of their gifts.
It seems clear from other scriptures that God will ask us how we used the gifts that he gave us. (Matthew 25)
A survey taken among born again adults in the USA revealed that 50% of them do not know what their spiritual gifts are. 25% do not believe they have one. This leaves 25% of the team to do the work. We need everyone in the game if we intend to win.
One word of caution, there is a tremendous danger of using our giftedness apart from love. That is why chapter 13 is placed right in the middle of this whole discussion.

When people ask me how to discover their giftedness, I give them these action steps:

1. BE INFORMED - overcome ignorance, study, pray, read, talk to people.
2. BE OPEN - don't ignore any gift, but investigate each one, don't put God in a box, or yourself. 3. BE AVAILABLE - volunteer for different ministries, experiment, make time, take a chance, God finds it easier to steer a moving car.
4. BE SENSITIVE - note your passions. What do you care about deeply? What was the most significant ministry you ever participated in? If you would become independently wealthy, what would you invest the rest of your life doing? What do you do that you do well?

If your heart is with the Lord's, and you are open to his leading, you will find your gift. When you discover it, develop it and make an impact for his kingdom.

The second issue for today: Women and silence

Does this mean absolute silence? No speaking, no praying, no prophesying, no mentoring, no singing, no preaching, no leading, no small talk at coffee hour? I think this is an unlikely position because of other passages of scripture that contradict “absolute silence.”
-Women were expected to pray and prophesy (foretelling and forth telling) in the church. 1 Cor 11:5
-Women were given gifts by the Spirit. 12-14
-Older women are to teach younger women Titus 2
-Priscilla taught Apollos the great apologist Acts 18
-Women held positions of responsibility in the church. Phoebe worked in the church (Romans 16:1). Mary, Tryphena, and Tryphosa were the Lord’s workers (Romans 16:6, 12); Euodia and Syntyche were leaders in the church (Phil. 4:2).
-Women were in the room when Pentecost occurred and fulfilled the prophecy of Joel that both men and women would have the Spirit poured out on them and, as a result, they would prophesy. (Acts 2:16)

It is hard to believe that Paul would contradict himself so boldly by saying women can’t speak anything in church, yet expect them to pray and prophesy.

There is no need to go anywhere else than this chapter to understand this silence. In verse 29 it says, “Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.” In the church, the role of an elder was to evaluate and carefully weigh the teaching in the church. This is what Paul is dealing with, the evaluation of the teaching in the church. Because of the design of God, he has set up mirrors of the Trinity in all human relationships (church, family, government and labor). The very fabric of our society is determined by these roles. Here in these verses we have the order that God wants in our church. Remember that God is not a God of disorder, but of peace. (1 Cor 14:33). The specific application is that after a prophetic teaching, women were not to shout out their thoughts on it.
There are a host of other passages that speak to the roles of men and women. I believe these roles are distinct and unique. But here I think it is essential that we realize that this teaching was not limiting women to sitting in the pews with duct tape on their mouths, this passage was actually opening the door to incredible opportunities in a culture that had a very low view of women. Women should pray, prophesy, preach, teach, lead, mentor, disciple, train others and last but not least they should support the elders of the church with the heavy responsibility of preserving sound doctrine. May God give us strength to preserve the unity of his church.

Here is the note on this passage from the Life Application Bible:

14:34-35 Does this mean that women should not speak in church services today? It is clear from 1 Cor. 11:5 that women prayed and prophesied in public worship. It is also clear in 1 Cor. 12-14 that women are given spiritual gifts and are encouraged to exercise them in the body of Christ. Women have much to contribute and can participate in worship services.
In the Corinthian culture, women were not allowed to confront men in public. Apparently some of the women who had become Christians thought that their Christian freedom gave them the right to question the men in public worship. This was causing division in the church. In addition, women of that day did not receive formal religious education as did the men. Women may have been raising questions in the worship services that could have been answered at home without disrupting the services. Paul was asking the women not to flaunt their Christian freedom during worship. The purpose of Paul’s words was to promote unity, not to teach about women’s role in the church.