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*For a more in-depth discussion about the gift of tongues specifically, as well my personal experience with it, read this blog.

Not all Christians share the same views about the Bible’s teaching on the miraculous gifts of the Spirit. I want to share with you some thoughts from Scripture as to what’s helped me believe these gifts are still active today.

We touched on this in Part 1, but now let’s get into the details. Even if we don’t agree, I hope we can learn something together and grow in understanding each other better.

Are the spiritual gifts in the Bible active today?

A common question surrounding this topic is, “didn’t the spiritual gifts end with the time of the apostles?” Let’s look into where I think this belief comes from, based on conversations I’ve been a part of and my study of Scripture.

1. Misunderstanding a few Scriptures

1 Corinthians 13:8-10 is a passage commonly cited by Christians (whom I deeply respect) who believe that the supernatural spiritual gifts are not active today.

The apostle Paul states in these verses that prophecies and speaking in tongues will cease when the perfect comes, and some believers take that to mean that the gifts would cease in operation with the completion of the canon of Scripture. Here’s how I’ve processed this passage.

I remember learning an important interpretive principle for understanding the Bible when I read How To Read The Bible For All It’s Worth by Gordon Fee: a biblical text cannot mean to us today something that it could not have meant to the original author an audience.

There doesn’t seem to be anything in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 that indicates Paul had any foreknowledge of a completed New Testament as we have it today, so where would we draw that conclusion from the text?

Paul knew that he was speaking authoritatively for God and teaching people according to the Old Testament Scriptures and the teachings of Christ when he preached and wrote his letters to the various churches, but he was not envisioning a printed and bound completed Bible as we have today.

Secondly, in other places when Scripture refers to the perfect or seeing all things clearly etc., it’s speaking of the return of Jesus and the final restoration of all things. (Romans 8 // 1 Corinthians 15 // 1 John 3:1-3)

Comparing Scripture with Scripture (which is another key interpretive principle), it makes the most sense to me that 1 Corinthians 13 is saying the need for spiritual gifts will pass away when Jesus has come back and restored all things in the earth, not that they will pass away with the completed Bible.

Another common view is that the supernatural gifts ceased with the death of the apostles, or that the only reason the gifts were given in biblical times was to confirm the apostles’ message about Jesus as truth and now their purpose is unnecessary. A few points from Scripture come to mind when I hear that view.

1) Scripture doesn’t say anywhere that the spiritual gifts would cease with the death of the apostles, which leads me to question what grounds we would have to draw that conclusion if Scripture itself doesn’t?

Some may reference Ephesians 2:20, which says that the Church is built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, to support that idea. The context of that verse, however, is talking about God’s plan of salvation and unity in the Church amongst Jewish and Gentile followers of Jesus, not spiritual gifts.

2) Jesus said supernatural signs and gifts would follow those who believe, not just the apostles. (Mark 16:15-20)

2. Witnessing abuses and excesses in the practice of the spiritual gifts

Some Christians come to the conclusion that the gifts are no longer active today because some people have misused them. It’s right that misuse of spiritual gifts should bother us.

As what some may label a “charismatic Christian,” it pains me even more because I treasure how valuable the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to the Church and what they have meant in my own life. It disappoints me to know that some would take a gift that God intended to help others and use it in a way that causes pain or is unhelpful.

You know what? Misuse of spiritual gifts isn’t a new problem. Paul wrote 1 Corinthians 12-14 to believers in Corinth who were flourishing in spiritual gifts, but also misusing those gifts. Paul’s solution to their misuse and excess was to give them proper instruction about the source and motivation of the gifts, as well as practical instruction how to exercise them.

Paul’s solution was not that they should distance themselves from the gifts, forbid their practice, or embrace theology saying that the gifts have ceased or are demonically influenced as opposed to coming from the Holy Spirit. I once heard a leader at my church say it this way: the solution to misuse is right use, not no use.

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and don’t forbid speaking in tongues. But be sure that everything is done properly and in order.” (1 Corinthians 14:39-40)

Paul outrightly tells them not to forbid the practice of spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 14:39) Paul also outrightly tells them to eagerly desire spiritual gifts. (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1) We are to desire them, ask God to manifest them through us, and make space for their practice in our lives and in our gatherings. That’s the exhortation and the example of Scripture.

1 Corinthians 12:7 teaches us that God gives His people spiritual gifts so that we can help each other. When God works through us in spiritual gifts, He uses us and uses those supernatural manifestations of the Holy Spirit’s work to encourage others, to minister to needs in their lives, and to bring people who don’t know God yet into knowledge of who He is.

That’s amazing! If that’s the purpose of spiritual gifts, why would you and I not want that?

One Gift Isn’t Better Than Another

I’ve heard it said that certain spiritual gifts are more helpful or desirable than others so we should desire the “better” ones instead. I believe this idea misses Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 and 1 Corinthians 14:5. He wasn’t trying to imply a hierarchy of which gifts are better. He spent three chapters in 1 Corinthians 12-14 teaching the believers not to do that.

All of the gifts and ways of serving in the Kingdom are good works of God through us. Prophecy isn’t better than tongues. Evangelism isn’t better than healing. The motivation gifts aren’t better than the miraculous gifts. Or vice versa.

The most helpful spiritual gift is the one that’s most needed to minister in the moment. The best gifts for you to have are the ones God chooses to give and manifest through you.

We don’t have to compare. We can celebrate all the incredible ways God gifts us and uses us for service in His work.

Resources:

• Caitlyn Lutz’s blogs on tongues: Part 1 and Part 2
• Message series and book :The God I Never Knew by Robert Morris
• The Holy Spirit: An Introduction by John Bevere
• Receiving The Holy Spirit and His Gifts by Terry Virgo and Phil Rogers

Let’s Talk: After reading this blog, how do you sense God encouraging you or challenging you in your understanding of the role of supernatural spiritual gifts today? Discuss this post in the comments below.

–> Part 3: How to Experience the Supernatural Gifts of the Holy Spirit