Spiritual gifts are given for the common good even if the
Corinthians, puffed up with pride, can’t see the common good for the gifts.
Focused on the cult of self they elevate tongues of angels above the language
of love and miss the point completely. The whole body is weakened when one part
claims to be more important than the rest.
Variety is the spice of life and the strength of the church, when we
recognize it, is the Spirit who allots to each the gifts that serve the common
good. In the same way that grace is freely given so God gives not based on
merit but on need which means the proper response to being gifted is to say
“thank you” not “look at me!” That being said, and at risk of contradicting the
apostle Paul, the spiritual gift that best serves the Lutheran common good is
whoever makes the coffee on Sunday morning.
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