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Abuse of Spiritual Gifts in the Church

The abuse of spiritual gifts within the church is a topic that has generated diverse interpretations and concerns across Christian traditions. While there is broad agreement that spiritual gifts are divinely bestowed for the edification of the church [3, 8], the nature of these gifts, their duration, and the specific ways they can be misused are subjects of ongoing discussion.

One perspective, often found in Reformed and some Baptist traditions, emphasizes that spiritual gifts, particularly the extraordinary or miraculous ones like speaking in tongues, healing, and prophecy, were primarily for the early church to confirm the gospel message [3]. This view suggests that these specific gifts largely ceased after the apostolic age, or at least became less common, as the New Testament canon was completed and the church became established [3]. Therefore, abuse in this context might involve the feigning of such gifts or an overemphasis on them to the detriment of more ordinary means of grace. John Gill, a Baptist commentator, notes that while there are many members in the body of Christ, each with different uses and services, all make up one church, implying a focus on the collective body rather than individual, potentially disruptive, displays of gifts [6]. Matthew Henry, a Nonconformist, similarly states that extraordinary offices and powers were bestowed for the conviction of unbelievers and propagation of the gospel in the first ages [10].

In contrast, other traditions, including many Pentecostal and Charismatic denominations, believe that all spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament, including the miraculous ones, continue to be active and available to believers today [2]. From this viewpoint, abuse is not about the existence of the gifts themselves, but rather their improper exercise. This can manifest as using gifts for personal gain or attention, rather than for the common good and edification of the church [1 Corinthians 12:7]. The Apostle Paul's extensive discussion in 1 Corinthians 12-14, which addresses the proper use and ordering of spiritual gifts, is central to this understanding. The Jamieson, Fausset & Brown commentary, representing a Presbyterian viewpoint, highlights that Paul's discussion in 1 Corinthians 12 addresses "the use and the abuse of spiritual gifts, especially prophesying and tongues" [9]. The gifts are seen as signs of the Spirit's continued presence, meant to perfect the body of Christ through love and reciprocal complementation [9].

A common thread across traditions is the understanding that spiritual gifts are dispensed according to God's sovereign will [2]. The body of Christ, the church, is composed of many members, each with different functions, as determined by God [5, 7]. Abuse can occur when individuals fail to recognize this divine ordering, leading to pride, envy, or disorder within the community. For instance, the Bible warns against grieving or quenching the Holy Spirit, and undervaluing His gifts [4]. The concept of "gifting" can be perverted, as Proverbs 17:23 states, "A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment" [1]. While this proverb refers to bribery, it illustrates the broader principle that gifts, even good ones, can be misused for corrupt purposes.

The patristic tradition, as seen in Augustine's writings, also touches on the concept of gifts and their proper use. Augustine interprets the altar spiritually as faith itself, and any offering presented to God, whether prophecy, teaching, prayer, or a hymn, cannot be acceptable if there is unresolved conflict with a brother [11]. This emphasizes that the spiritual state of the giver and the relational context are crucial for the proper reception of any spiritual gift or offering.

Sources

  1. Proverbs “Proverbs 17:23 (KJV) — A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.”
  2. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit — Foretold -- Isa 35:4-6; Joe 2:28,29. Of different kinds -- 1Co 12:4-6. Enumerated -- 1Co 12:8-10,28; 14:1. Christ was endued with -- Mt 12:28. Poured out on the day of Pentecost -- Ac 2:1-4. Communicated Upon the preaching of the gospel. -- Ac 10:44-46. By the laying on of the Apostles' hands. -- Ac 8:17,18; 19:6. For the confirmation of the gospel. -- Mr 16:20; Ac 14:3; Ro 15:19; Heb 2:4. For the edification of the Church. -- 1Co 12:7; 14:12,13. Dispensed according to his sovereign will -- 1Co 12:11. Were to be sought after -- 1”
  3. Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Gifts, spiritual — (Gr. charismata), gifts supernaturally bestowed on the early Christians, each having his own proper gift or gifts for the edification of the body of Christ. These were the result of the extraordinary operation of the Spirit, as on the day of Pentecost. They were the gifts of speaking with tongues, casting out devils, healing, etc. (Mark 16:17, 18), usually communicated by the medium of the laying on of the hands of the apostles (Acts 8:17; 19:6; 1 Tim. 4:14). These charismata were enjoyed only for a time. They could not continue always in the Churc”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Offences Against the Holy Spirit — Exhortations against -- Eph 4:30; 1Th 5:19. Exhibited in Tempting him. -- Ac 5:9. Vexing him. -- Isa 63:10. Grieving him. -- Eph 4:30. Quenching him. -- 1Th 5:19. Lying to him. -- Ac 5:3,4. Resisting him. -- Ac 7:51. Undervaluing His gifts. -- Ac 8:19,20. Danger of trifling with the Holy Spirit. -- Heb 6:4-6. Doing despite to him. -- Heb 10:29. Disregarding His testimony. -- Ne 9:30. Blasphemy against him, unpardonable -- Mt 12:31,32; 1Jo 5:16.”
  5. 1 Corinthians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 1 Corinthians 12:12: 12:12-31 The church is like a body (see 12:27) composed of many different parts, each with its own function as determined by God (see 12:11, 18, 28; Rom 12:4-5).”
  6. 1 Corinthians (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 Corinthians 12:20: But now are they many members,.... Of different make and shape, in different parts and places, and of different use and service: yet but one body; all are united together, and make up one complete body, and which without each of them would not be perfect: so there are many members in the body of Christ, the church; some are teachers, others are hearers; some give, and others receive; but all make up but one church, of which Christ is the head; nor can anyone of them be spared; was anyone wanting, even the meanest, there would be a deficiency, and the church ”
  7. 1 Corinthians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Corinthians 12:14: For the body is not one member - The mystical body, the Church, as well as the natural body, is composed of many members.”
  8. CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 98: 5:9 5:9 5:10 5:10 5:12 5:12-21 5:12-21 5:16 5:16 5:17 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:18 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:19 5:21 6:1-8 6:1-23 6:1-23 6:3 6:3 6:3 6:4-10 6:5 6:8 6:14 6:14 6:14 6:14 7:1 7:1 7:1-6 7:1-25 7:2 7:2 7:3 7:3 7:4 7:4 7:4 7:4-6 7:4-6 7:6 7:7 7:7 7:7 7:7 7:7-25 7:7-25 7:12 7:14 7:24 7:33 7:34 8:1-39 8:3 8:9-11 8:9-11 8:10 8:11 8:12 8:16 8:16 8:17 8:17 8:19-21 8:19-23 8:21 8:25 8:30 8:33 8:34 8:34 9:1-33 9:4 9:4 9:4 9:8 9:8 10:3 10:3 10:4 10:8 10:9 10:9 10:10 10:10 10:10 10:11-15 10:14 10:14 10:15 11:1-36 11:6 11:11 11:11 ”
  9. 1 Corinthians (Presbyterian) “Jamieson, Fausset & Brown on 1 Corinthians 12 (introduction): THE USE AND THE ABUSE OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS, ESPECIALLY PROPHESYING AND TONGUES. (1Co. 12:1-31) spiritual gifts--the signs of the Spirit's continued efficacious presence in the Church, which is Christ's body, the complement of His incarnation, as the body is the complement of the head. By the love which pervades the whole, the gifts of the several members, forming reciprocal complements to each other, tend to the one object of perfecting the body of Christ. The ordinary and permanent gifts are comprehended together with the extraordin”
  10. 1 Corinthians (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on 1 Corinthians 12:1: The apostle comes now to treat of spiritual gifts, which abounded in the church of Corinth, but were greatly abused. What these gifts were is at large told us in the body of the chapter; namely, extraordinary offices and powers, bestowed on ministers and Christians in the first ages, for conviction of unbelievers, and propagation of the gospel. Gifts and graces, charismata and charis, greatly differ. Both indeed were freely given of God. But where grace is given it is for the salvation of those who have it. Gifts are bestowed for the advantage and salvation”
  11. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 6: Augustine — Homilies on the Gospels — CHAP. X.--26. Next there follows here: "Therefore, if thou hast brought[4] thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; leave there thy gift before the altar, (part 1): 27. And so we may interpret the altar spiritually, as being faith itself in the inner temple of God, whose emblem is the visible altar. For whatever offering we present to God, whether prophecy, or teaching, or prayer, or a psalm, or a hymn, and whatever other such like spiritual gift occurs to the mind, it cannot be acceptable to God, ”
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