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NASB | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 12:1 Now about the spiritual gifts [the special endowments given by the Holy Spirit], brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. |
Subject: Am I ignorant |
Bible Note: Brother Tim, thank you for your thoughts. In the past, I spent several years in a charismatic church (actually 2 different ones). The thing that always bothered both me and my wife was the “speaking in tongues” business. First of all, it didn’t seem real to me (the lady to my left would be nearly perfectly imitating the guy in front of her, for example) and even if it was, it was not practiced biblically. Very often no interpretation and every service involved multiple people doing it at the same time. I have never spoken in tongues and neither has my wife (though I did pray for it sincerely for more than a couple of years because I was wrongly told that it was intended for every believer). We eventually left the first church after the pastor refused to correct publicly, to the congregation, some nonsense that a guest speaker had brought to the pulpit. Briefly, it had to do with a clearly unbiblical practice and although the pastor agreed, he would not address the church regarding it. Turns out that the speaker was on the staff of Kenneth Copeland’s “ministry” and through it all I found Kenneth Copeland was on our church board and an advisor so the pastor. Of course it was time to go. I agree that it does seem that the Church, in large part, has forgotten about the Holy Spirit. I also agree that it is the wrong approach to adopt and hold so tightly to any doctrine that is not biblically supported. I will revisit the biblical references you have pointed to; thanks for your feedback. I think of the patient who never misses a single appointment with me, always showing up on time but always with the same complaints. The one that doesn't take the medication as prescribed and doesn't apply the treatment plan. Jeff |