ListenDaily - 09 February 2009; Who are you?
Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.
....to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,
and to still another the interpretation of tongues.
From 1 Corinthians 12 (find these or any other passages at www.Biblegateway.org)
Last Friday, I asked for prayer to help me decide whether or not to delve further into the subject of speaking in, and the interpretation of, tongues. I thank you for the prayers, and the emails, 100% of which requested that we go on. As if I needed further affirmation, as I sat down to write, I received an email from the Barna Group (barna.org) entitled: "Spiritual Gifts that Christians Say They Have". George Barna is a noted expert in church statistics and trends.
As we move into this topic, there is some really important information he provides that we should consider. For example, the geographical location in which you live has a direct relationship to your beliefs about Spiritual gifts:
"Awareness of spiritual gifts was most common among self-described Christians who live in the South (75%) and West (71%),
and least common among those living in the Midwest (63%) and Northeast (58%)." *
Another determination is the 'what-kind-of-a-Christian-are-you' factor. This does not refer to denomination, but rather some specific beliefs. I usually avoid labels, but sometimes they do lend understanding:
"Born again Christians" were defined as people who said they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that was still important in their life today and who also indicated they believed that when they die they will go to Heaven because they had confessed their sins and had accepted Jesus Christ as their savior. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "born again."
"Evangelicals" meet the born again criteria (described above) plus seven other conditions. Those include saying their faith is very important in their life today; believing they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs about Christ with non-Christians; believing that Satan exists; believing that eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works; believing that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth; asserting that the Bible is accurate in all that it teaches; and describing God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today. Being classified as an evangelical is not dependent upon church attendance or the denominational affiliation of the church attended. Respondents were not asked to describe themselves as "evangelical."
"Nominal Christians" were defined as individuals who described themselves as Christian but did not meet the born again criteria (outlined above)." *
Among these 'types' of believers (I really hate saying that!) Barna says there are these types of differences, in reference to Spiritual gifts:
"99% of evangelicals have heard of spiritual gifts...74% among non-evangelical born again Christians and 58% among notional Christians.
Similarly, there was a large gap between Protestants (75%) and Catholics (54%) in awareness. Even within the Protestant community there was a noteworthy gap between those who attend a mainline church (68% awareness) and those who attend a Protestant congregation not associated with a mainline denomination (78%)." *
I will say it again...I REALLY DO NOT LIKE LABELS.
But...I would ask you to look over the descriptions of "Born Again", "Evangelical", and "Notional" and see where you find yourself, in a category or somewhere between. I will continue to eschew labelling myself, for I believe they are only self-describing. However, so that you may know the perspective from which this is always written, I personally adhere to these of Barna's statements:
I have made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important.
When I die I will go to Heaven because I have confessed my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior
Faith is very important in my life today.
I have a personal responsibility to share Christ with non-Christians.
Satan exists.
Eternal salvation is possible only through grace, not works. (But I would add that works are a responsibility of the saved.)
Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth.
The Bible is accurate in all that it teaches.
God as the all-knowing, all-powerful, perfect deity who created the universe and still rules it today.
You should ask yourself what you believe. You should ask your Sunday School teacher, Bible study leader, and pastor what they believe as well. There is room for discussion, but you should know from what perspective your teacher is teaching!
* Quotes are from: http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrowPreview&BarnaUpdateID=326
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Questions:
1. What thoughts or feelings does this reading raise?
2. Have you ever examined your own beliefs?
3. Do you know your pastor's perspective? If not, will you ask?
INTERESTING THOUGHTS:
"We are the Bibles the world is reading;
We are the creeds the world is needing;
We are the sermons the world is heeding."
Billy Graham
"Our semiaries today are turning out dead men."
Leonard Ravenhill
"Courage is contagious.
When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened."
Billy Graham
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