Why Aren’t We All Raising Our Hands?
Author: Shirley Giles Davis
In Gordon MacKenzie’s book, Orbiting The Giant Hairball, he tells the story of doing sculpting demonstrations at local elementary schools. He noted that the youngest classes were full of children who thought they were unique and creative—they would all raise their hands when asked. As he got to the upper grades, very few would self-identify as original, different, or imaginative . It appeared that, over time, their creativity had been labeled and compared right out of them.
Sometimes I think the same thing has happened in the church. We no longer eagerly raise our hands for lots of reasons. We don’t think we have gifts—or, if we do, we don’t think they’re unique and essential. Or, we’ve kept our gifts under wraps. We’ve left that box on the shelf because we feel pressure to “blend in” or we are tentative in our service or our gifts have gone unnoticed/unused/underground for too long. We misunderstand how the church is to operate…and have settled for something FAR LESS than what God intended. We’ve gone to the party…but left the best gift unopened.
Eugene Peterson’s translation The Message states in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31:
“You are Christ’s body—that’s who you are! You must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does your “part” mean anything. You’re familiar with some of the parts that God has formed in his church, which is his “body”: apostles prophets teachers miracle workers healers helpers organizers those who pray in tongues. But it’s obvious by now, isn’t it, that Christ’s church is a complete Body and not a gigantic, unidimensional Part? It’s not all Apostle, not all Prophet, not all Miracle Worker, not all Healer, not all Prayer in Tongues, not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts. But now I want to lay out a far better way for you.” [emphasis mine]
You have been given specific, special spirit-empowered gifts by God to accomplish something unique. It’s been said, “God doesn’t call the qualified…he qualifies the called.” If you are a follower of Jesus, one of the real evidences of the Spirit in your life is your unique spiritual gifts. If you are unclear about your gift-mix, take the quick free online assessment here.
One of the very real evidences of the Spirit in action in our lives and in the life of the church is spiritual gifts. To learn more, explore GodGiftsYou.
Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and law enforcement leadership for over 30 years. She has worked with leaders and organizations in 47 of the United States as well as having clients outside the U.S. Contact Shirley.]