The gifts, or charisms, of the Holy Spirit are central for Pentecostal ministry. Similarly, Spirit-empowered gifted leaders are essential for the effective functioning of our churches. Leaders inspire people with vision and propel them towards common objectives. Leaders are not only gifted but usually also demonstrate a level of ‘charisma’.
In the Greco-Roman world, gods were worshipped to improve one’s own status and used to seek self-advancement. Within the Corinthian community, the showy demonstration of spiritual gifts improved one’s status. The more spiritual and charismatic a Corinthian looked the more honour they would receive. But Paul smashes this wrong thinking. There is no basis for ambition or boasting in our giftedness.
Paul emphasises both the diversity of the gifts of the Spirit and the origins of the gifts in 1 Corinthians 12:1-7. The gifts are given and distributed by the Spirit (12:4). Yet, too often we can think of these as ‘my’ gifts. Too often we can consider our personal charisma as personally achieved. Instead, they are gifts from God. They do not belong to us, nor are they generated by us. They are given generously and graciously by God for the common good (12:7) and for the glory of God.
The charisms are a gift so that we can serve the church, not ourselves. Yet it is our personal responsibility to generously and graciously administer the gifts given to us. We are each one little part in the body of Christ, not the big deal (12:15-26). This is why, in the next chapter of Corinthians, Paul emphasises the virtue of love.
Charisma may open the door to ministry, but it is character that sustains us. Paul describes love as the essential virtue (or character trait) we must cultivate in our lives and churches. So, it is not really charisma versus character. Instead, Paul calls us to nurture charisma and character.
Love is the very essence and nature of God (1 John 4:8b), demonstrated to us in the self-sacrificial life of Christ (1 John 3:16). Love is superior to the spiritual gifts as it will outlast them all (13:8-10). Love does not envy, boast, nor is it proud (13:4).
Love is the antidote to our potential ambitious and self-promoting selves. I know that I have to remind myself of this regularly. This is because in pursuing the virtue of love, we are pursuing Christ. We become like Christ. The Orthodox community call this ‘theosis‘: becoming God. That is, we don’t become divine, but we become so Christ-like that we are changed into His same image; the image of the Son (2 Cor 3:18). Now that’s an ambition to pursue!
We become Christ-like as we choose, in our daily habits, to act out of love. This includes using our gifts, talents, and God-given charisma. So, as we eagerly desire the spiritual gifts (1 Cor 12:31), lets also eagerly nurture the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) who gives us these gifts.
