12:1
Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to
be ignorant: 2 You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to
these dumb idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to
you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one
can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
4 There are
diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of
ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of
activities, but it is the same God who works all in all.
Let's quickly define some terms here before we get off on the
wrong foot. Typically we use the word ignorant in a negative and often derogatory
sense. Paul does not. He uses the term properly. An alternative word in this
context would be unaware. Another word used here that we often misuse today is
dumb. Typically we use dumb as a synonym for stupid. The word actually means
mute - unable to speak. Paul is referring to the fact the idols they used to
serve were inanimate objects.
You will remember that chapter 11 ended with Paul stating he
would deal with the other issues when he came in person. That means for this
letter he is done sorting out the issues they were divided over and has moved
on to some teaching. That teaching begins with the topic of spiritual gifts.
How Paul begins is subtle and if we aren't paying attention
we could easily miss it. Idols can't talk or move so how can they lead? They
can't. So if the idol isn't leading who is? We are. The whole reason why
idolatry was so popular (and still is in a different form) was because we are
the god. We call the shots.
Now Paul said they were lead and carried all over the place
by these dumb idols. Why such a scattered picture? Why do we get the impression
there was no consistency? Why were they off in all kinds of directions? Because
there was no Leader. When your God is yourself in the guise of an idol truth
and wisdom changes like the wind. Mood affects it. Changing circumstances
affect it. New desires and interests affect it. There is no foundation. There
is no objective anchor apart from ourselves. Idolatry is appealing because we
are in control but it is chaotic because we are out of control.
Paul offers an alternative - the Spirit of God. With Him
there is no inconsistency. No one who is lead by the Spirit can curse Jesus and
no one can confess Him as Lord apart from the Spirit.
It's a simple lesson today but with profound implications. We
are either lead by the Spirit or we are our own god. Take for example the
recent declaration by the World Health Organization that pork and processed
meats are more unhealthy than smoking is. Well there was a time when smoking
was considered beneficial and pork has been a regular part of our diet for a
long time. When we are our own god we are literally fumbling in the dark to
know what is what. On the flip side the Bible separated clean meat from unclean
meats from the beginning. Had we been following God we wouldn't have been
eating pork to begin with. That's just one simple example of the difference
between the unchanging foundation of being lead by God and the shifting sands
of human wisdom, even if that wisdom is a statue named Zeus.
See you tomorrow :)
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