True measure of spiritual life

Resolving Personal & Spiritual Conflicts
with
Pastor Mairos

1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
There is a growing confusion among people today concerning the right way of determining true spirituality. Some people stress the manifestation of spiritual gifts as the best indicator of spiritual maturity.  The Bible lists nine supernatural gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11: word of wisdom, word of knowledge, faith, gifts of healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, divers kinds of tongues, and interpretation of tongues. 
According to the proponents of this gift test, any believer who manifests the gifts of the Spirit in a greater measure than others is the one who is more spiritually mature. As such he or she is celebrated, emulated and thronged as a role model of believers or spiritual leaders. It is the crowd-pulling characteristic of spiritual gifts that cause many people to “big up” the manifestation of these gifts.
 Therefore those believers who show little manifestation or no manifestation at all of supernatural gifts are regarded as spiritual babies. This is thought to be so notwithstanding the spiritual fruit they show forth because maturity of a Christian is measured only in terms of spiritual power.
Then there are those who emphasise the manifestation of spiritual fruit as the best determinant of one’s spiritual maturity. The nine elements of this spiritual fruit test are listed in Galatians 5:22 as love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance.
Those who subscribe to this fruit test argue that any believer who ranks high in manifesting the fruit is a better Christian than others and is therefore worthy emulating and following as a good example and a good spiritual leader. The believers who manifest more of the works of the flesh as listed in Galatians 5:19-21 than the fruit of the Spirit are considered less spiritual. This is thought to be the case regardless of their spiritual gifts as the measure is godly character only.   
Now the source of confusion among believers becomes apparent: both spiritual gifts and spiritual fruit have the emphasis of Scripture and both have one source- the Holy Spirit. If supernatural gifts equip a believer with spiritual power for the work of the ministry, are they not more important or at least equally important? If spiritual fruit shape the character of a believer, is it not more important or at least equally important?
 This is exactly where the confusion sets in. Which then is the true measure of spiritual life? Gifts or fruit? Power or character? Let us search the scriptures for an answer.
The Bible has no errors or contradictions, for God is not the author of confusion. Apostle Paul who taught us about both gifts and fruit was clear on the fact that he did not want us to remain ignorant of spiritual gifts. He also challenged us to desire spiritual gifts. This means he regarded the manifestation of gifts in the believers as important.
He revealed that the chief purpose God gave spiritual gifts is to testify to Christ and to equip individuals to serve others and build up the church. Is it not wonderful to cast out devils, heal the sick and raise the dead through the manifestation of these gifts? On the other hand, the same Apostle Paul, after listing the desirable spiritual gifts, he concluded the same chapter by saying, “But now let me show you a way of life that is best of all.” He then followed up the chapter on spiritual gifts with a whole chapter on the pre-eminence of love over spiritual gifts (1Corinthians 13). In very plain words he concluded the love chapter with these words, “Three things will last forever – faith, hope and love – and the greatest of these is love.” And he began chapter 14 with these words, “Let love be your highest goal!” The same sentiments of the pre-eminence of love are echoed in the opening verse above. Paul’s thought is that character is the true measure of a Christian’s life.
Jesus left us a new commandment of loving one another. He also stressed that love is the greatest commandment and the fulfilling of the whole law. Christ clearly said that we shall know the real believers from the counterfeit ones by their fruit. Thus Christ elevated character above charisma.
By and large the church is gifted to accomplish the goal, the end, or the purpose of growing in love, hope, faith and truth. Neil Anderson said, “Gifts are only a means to an end, never an end in themselves; when they become an end in themselves they are a counterfeit, or else they become the basis for spiritual pride. Godly character is our goal, and it must take precedence over the gifts.”  So the fact that a man is a gifted preacher, healer or administrator, is no proof of the measure of his spiritual life because gifts are foreordained and they can be counterfeited.
 Spiritual fruit or godly character is a mark of our growth in grace and is a product of a life of holiness that can never be imitated. Should we forsake gifts? No. Desire them but grow in godly character more!

– Call 0772 889 766 or e-mail: mairos78@yahoo.co.uk