Sorry I'm so late in responding. I was out of state and not wired up to get on JU. I hope it's not too late to respond.
| Do you believe God would only bless "Christians" with special talents and abilities? I don't quite get why you always come off so smug and antagonistic. I'm sure you don't mean to, but you certainly come off that way. |
No, what I'm saying is there is a difference between natural talents and spiritual gifts. One is for the natural world and one is not. Natural talents are not powered by the Holy Spirit and used for the edification of the church.
I'm not sure what you mean about smugness? Is it because I asked a question? I did so for clarification so that I wouldn't assume as I did earlier on this subject. I do tend to be blunt not with as much tact as I should have I admit. I'm not one for flowery flattering words. I don't like to be on the receiving end of it so I don't give it as well. Sorry TW if I offended you in any way. Thanks for the links.
| Again, to whom are you attributing our gifts and abilities? If they don't have any thing to do with God, where do they come from? |
Basically I'm saying is that spiritual gifts work in the spiritual realm and natural talents in the natural realm. Since all Christians are humans they have natural talents as well as spiritual gifts. For instance a Christian may have a natural talent for public speaking but not necessarily have the spiritual gift of teaching. But not all humans are Christians, and do not have the HS, therefore they do not possess spiritual gifts but do have natural abilities.
We were talking earlier about tongues right? Well Rosy my girlfriend like I said above has a gift for languages. Now I use that term loosly. She studied many,many many hours in the study of these languages to be proficient in them. I would say she has the tenacity and a hard work ethic that came from inside her or was developed by her environment maybe discipline learned from her parents to get where she's at now. This is different than the "gift of tongues" Paul was talking about and what we observe in scripture. These uneducated men spoke a language they never knew or studied before for the benefit of the hearers. That was supernatural; a "gift" from God. Not something of their own doing. I do find it interesting that we have no record of Paul speaking in tongues. I'm thinking maybe because he was proficient in many languages to begin with having been a student of the great Gamaliel. I was just reading that Paul was learned in at least Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic and as he said was a Pharisee of Pharisees.
| ALL humans are made in the image of God. That in and of itself is a gift, isn't it? He also sends the rain on the just and the unjust. |
| May understanding is that every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. |
Yes, I agree with you. Everything on earth is his. He created it all. I have a quote for you; it also serves as a warning.
"The lesson is clear. Don't try to use your natural talents to accomplish the work of God, for talents cannot operate in that sphere. But use them as channels or vehicles for spiritual gifts, and you will find that they dovetail beautifully. You might expect that they would do this since they both come from the same God." Ray Stedman
Natural abilities (talents)benefit the whole creation. Spiritual gifts, however are largely limited to the church although the presence of the church in the world is generally a benefit to mankind as well.
Does this make sense?
