Healing, Miracles, and Tongues
Introduction
Have you ever dreaded doing something? Have you ever dreaded doing something you know needs to be done, but which is something you really don’t want to do?
Well, unfortunately, the topic of this article is one of those times for me. In fact, the subject of this study is the reason I didn’t really want to write about spiritual gifts in the first place. Even though I knew God wanted me to write on the topic-I prayed about it continually and that’s what He kept prompting me to do-I still didn’t want to do it.
And why? Because I knew that I would have to write the final article on what I believe the Bible says about the spiritual gifts of healing, miracles, tongues and interpretation of tongues. And that would mean lots of research and potentially offending some readers because of what I’m going to say.
I want you to know right up front that I’ve prayed about this study a lot and my only motive is to tell you what I believe the Bible teaches about these four gifts and how that relates to their use here in the 21st century. In part because we’ve discussed the gifts of miracles and healing in other articles, the focus of this study is going to be on the spiritual gifts of speaking in tongues and the interpretation of tongues, but especially the former.
If at the end of this article you disagree with my conclusions, please don’t take it out on your spouse or the next person that you come in contact with. I’d encourage you to vent at me via an e-mail or a phone call. I’m more than happy to serve as target practice.
If I thought everyone would be interested in reading in-depth studies on this topic, I could easily write three or four articles on it. Realistically, though, most of you want something more concise. Thus, this article is it, so we have a lot of ground to cover.
The Categories Of Speaking Gifts And Serving Gifts
Now that I’ve picqued your interest, let’s get started by looking at a passage in 1 Peter 4:10-11.
Before we do, let’s review what we’ve already learned. All Christians have one or more spiritual gifts. As we found out, there are 15 total gifts found in Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12. And the Bible tells us that these gifts are for ministering to one another so that the body of Christ, the Church, grows and matures.
Each of us is uniquely equipped to do certain things, things that no one else can do as effectively as we can. If I don’t use my gifts, then somebody else has to try and take up the slack and do something that they may not be equipped by God to do. Or, somebody has to do double duty. I depend on you to be involved in ministry, and you depend on me to be involved in ministry.
In verses 7-9 Peter says, in essence, “Hey guys, time’s precious so be ‘clear minded,’ ‘self-controlled,’ ‘love each other’ and ‘offer hospitality to one another.’” And then he mentions spiritual gifts in verses 10 and 11.
1Pet. 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.
1Pet. 4:11 If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
In verse 11, Peter mentions two broad categories of spiritual gifts: speaking and serving.
1Pet. 4:11 If anyone SPEAKS, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone SERVES, he should do it with the strength God provides…
Speaking gifts and serving gifts. It seems as if Peter says that all the gifts fit into one of those categories. All of the gifts, of course, involve speaking or serving to some extent. I mean, how can anybody do anything and not speak or serve in some way?
Having said that, these verses do seem to indicate that all the gifts can be put into one of these two broad and very general categories. Since the Bible doesn’t tell us which of the 15 gifts that we’ve discussed fit into which category, I’m not even going to try and guess what goes where. But there do seem to be two categories.
A Third Category: Sign Gifts
I believe there’s a third category, however. Or rather, there was a third category. It’s passed away. We’ll need to look at 2 Corinthians 12:12 to see what it is.
As we’ll see, this third category of spiritual gifts is a very special category. A category of gifts that was for a specific people, a specific reason and a specific time.
This is the apostle Paul talking here, and he’s in the middle of defending himself as a “true” apostle vs. false apostles who are misleading and stirring up the Corinthian church. Paul says something very interesting and very important in regards to spiritual gifts here in verse 12.
2Cor. 12:12 The things that mark an apostle -signs, wonders and miracles -were done among you with great perseverance.
I believe a third category of spiritual gifts is “sign” gifts.
The three words-”signs, wonders and miracles”-actually are referring to the same things: miraculous powers of some kind. Instead of using the word “miracles,” your Bible may translate it as “powers” or “mighty deeds.”
Here’s what Frank Gaebelein, in The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, says:
“Signs, wonders and miracles (dynameis, “mighty deeds”) do not describe three types of miracles but miracles in general considered from three aspects-their ability to authenticate the message (“signs”), evoke awe (“wonders”) and display divine power (“mighty deeds”).”
Homer Kent Jr. says the same thing, just a little bit differently.
“The phrase ‘signs and wonders and miracles’ describes miraculous acts from various standpoints-as credentials or proofs, as awe-inspiring deeds, and as displays of divine power.”
So, how could someone during New Testament times tell if somebody was really an apostle? How could they tell if what was being said was true? How could they tell if somebody was really speaking on behalf of God?
Simple. God empowered the speakers-that is, the apostles and a handful of others, namely prophets-to do miraculous things, amazing things, awe-inspiring things.
And why? So that people would know that the apostles were speaking on behalf of God. And these “sign” gifts were extremely important during New Testament times. After all, the apostles were running around telling people that a guy had risen from the dead. Not only that, but the dead guy was really God. And not only that, but the dead guy will save them from eternal damnation if they trust Him with their souls.
Let’s be honest, here. That must have been a shocking message to the Jewish people. And why would they believe it? Because God supernaturally gave the apostles the ability to do miraculous things, things that got people’s attention. Things that made their jaws drop in amazement. Things that verified that what was being said by the apostles was true and really from God.
We won’t take the time to look at it in-depth, but here’s what Hebrews 2:3-4 says:
Hebr. 2:3 how shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation? This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.
Hebr. 2:4 God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
The salvation was first announced by Jesus Himself and the apostles were the ones who told everyone about it. Verse four says that God “testified to” this salvation. In other words, God verified that what was being said was true and really from His lips, not the apostles’. And that was accomplished by empowering the apostles with “signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.”
The third category of spiritual gifts, then, is-or rather, was-”sign” gifts, gifts that were for a specific people, a specific purpose and a specific time.
A Sign Gift In Action
Want to see a “sign” gift in action-specifically, the “sign” gift of speaking of tongues? Acts 2 is a great place to look. This is the Day of Pentecost. You know the story. At the end of chapter one, the 11 apostles cast lots to see whom God wants to replace Judas with. Judas, of course, betrayed Jesus and then hung himself. The lot falls to Matthias and “he was added to the eleven apostles.”
And then we come to chapter two, the Day of Pentecost. This is the day that the Church of Jesus Christ begins, when the new covenant kicks in.
Acts 2:1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.
The “they” are the 12 apostles.
Acts 2:2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Acts 2:3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.
Acts 2:4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Acts 2:5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven.
Acts 2:6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.
Notice something very important, here. Verse four says that the apostles speak “in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.” The word for “tongues” is the same word used when referring to the gift of tongues that we saw back in 1 Corinthians 12:10. It’s referring to real languages. In fact, verse six says that people in the crowd–many of whom are God-fearing Jews who live in other countries and speak different languages-hear the apostles each “speaking in his own language.”
Again-this is a very important point-the true Spiritual gift of languages or tongues is speaking in a real language. And notice that it’s in languages that people within hearing range understand. The apostles are speaking in the peoples’ native languages.
Acts 2:7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?
Acts 2:8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?
Acts 2:9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,
Acts 2:10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome
Acts 2:11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs -we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”
Again, notice that the fact that the apostles are speaking in real languages is abundantly clear. “Each of us hears them in his own native language.” Verse seven. And then verse 11: “We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Another pertinent thing for us to notice is that verses 7 and 8 show us that the people can’t believe that these Galileans -unschooled and unlearned men-are speaking in different languages. In other words, these Galileans -the apostles-have never learned the languages that they’re speaking now!
This is the true gift of languages or tongues: the Spirit-given ability to speak in a real language that has never been learned by the speaker.
Notice something else. Verse 7 says that the people are “utterly amazed” and verse 12 says that they are “amazed and perplexed.” This is eye-popping stuff, isn’t it? You bet it is! God makes sure that everyone pays attention to the apostles and their message. And how does He do that? He supernaturally gives the apostles the ability to speak in languages that they don’t know and that people nearby understand.
This is a wonderful example of a “sign” gift in action, one of the marks of an apostle.
A Secondary Purpose For The Gift Of Tongues
But the spiritual sign gift of speaking in tongues has another purpose. We’ll find that in 1 Corinthians 14. As we’ll see, verses 21 and 22 in that passage say something very dramatic about the gift of tongues. And what it says has enormous ramifications on the tongues that we see in the church today.
For those of you who have never studied this chapter, the apostle Paul’s really taking the Corinthian church to task for its misuse of the gift of tongues. The church is really messed up. In fact, it’s so messed up that verse three of chapter 12 says that the Corinthians are actually standing up in church and cursing Jesus, saying, in essence, “Jesus be damned.”
And then, in chapter 14, Paul spanks the believers there repeatedly for abusing the true gift of tongues in part by speaking in gibberish. Historians agree that the pagan religions of that time–including the pagan religion in Corinth at that time-spoke in what were referred to as ecstasies. These pagan ecstasies were wildly emotional displays that included babbling and gibberish which were believed to be some kind of heavenly languages. The reality was, however, that these so-called languages weren’t real languages at all and were just nonsense being spoken to false gods.
Regardless, that’s the setting for verses 21 and 22 of 1 Corinthians 14. As you’ll see, the ramifications of these verses is far-reaching. Let’s read them.
1Cor. 14:21 In the Law it is written: “Through men of strange tongues and through the lips of foreigners I will speak to this people, but even then they will not listen to me,” says the Lord.
1Cor. 14:22 Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers; prophecy, however, is for believers, not for unbelievers.
The apostle Paul begins by quoting rather freely from Isaiah 28:11-12.
Isa. 28:11 Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues God will speak to this people,
Isa. 28:12 to whom he said, This is the resting place, let the weary rest”; and, “This is the place of repose”- but they would not listen.
We won’t take the time to look at those verses in detail, but it’s critical that we understand what they mean. Here’s the setting that Paul refers to in the Old Testament book of Isaiah. The nation of Israel’s divided into two nations at the time: the Southern Kingdom and the Northern Kingdom. The Northern Kingdom is invaded and its people taken captive by the Assyrians in 722 BC.
God then prompts Isaiah to warn the Southern Kingdom that unless it repents and turns back to God that it, too, is going to be judged. In Isaiah 28:11-12 the prophet says, in effect, that “Ok, since you won’t listen to my constant warnings to repent in order to avoid judgment, you will, indeed, be judged.
“And the judgment’s going to arrive in the form of a bunch of foreigners speaking different languages. Just as you haven’t listened to my prophet Isaiah, you’re not going to listen to them when they arrive, either.”
The judgment that God speaks of comes at the end of verse 13 of Isaiah 28:
Isa. 28:13 …so that they will go and fall backward, be injured and snared and captured.
In other words, Isaiah tells the leaders of the Southern Kingdom in chapter 28 of Isaiah that they and their apostate country’s going to be judged in the form of an invasion from a foreign army, an army of people that speaks a language that the Jews won’t understand.
And you know what eventually happens to the Southern Kingdom? The Babylonians conquers them in 588 B.C. and carry the majority of the people away. The Jews were conquered by a people who spoke a language that they didn’t understand.
What does all of this mean? Look again at what the apostle Paul says about the purpose of tongues in verse 22 of 1 Corinthians 14. “Tongues, then, are a sign, not for believers but for unbelievers.”
If you’re not following what all of this means, let me try and make it clear: Just as tongues or foreign languages were a sign of coming judgment to unbelieving Jews in the Southern Kingdom in Old Testament times, tongues are still a sign of judgment and cursing to unbelieving Jews here in New Testament times.
A secondary purpose of the “sign” gift of tongues, then, is as a sign of cursing or coming judgment for unbelieving Jews in Israel.
Now think about what we just read about Pentecost. The apostles spoke in foreign languages. Paul says that one of the purposes of speaking in tongues is as a sign to unbelieving Jews that judgment’s coming.
And do you know what happens to the unbelieving Jews in Israel in 70 AD? The Roman army overruns them and utterly destroy Jerusalem. So the tongues of Pentecost were, indeed, a sign of cursing or judgment to non-believers in Israel. The apostate and sinful unbelieving Jews had actually crucified their Savior, and God judged them for it.
God warned Old Testament Jews that when they heard people speaking in foreign languages that they would know that God’s judgment was near. And now, here in 1 Corinthians 14, Paul says that tongues are still a sign for unbelieving Jews. And that judgment comes when Jersusalem’s leveled in 70 AD.
I realize I may be belaboring this point, but it’s an extremely important point. Not only is the purpose of speaking in tongues for confirming the message of the speakers as from God Himself, but tongues are also a sign of coming judgment for unbelieving Jews.
Tongues, Like All Sign Gifts, Are No Longer Around
For those of you who may be overwhelmed, let me try and draw some conclusions, then, regarding the “sign” gifts of tongues, interpretation of tongues, miracles and healing. I’ve obviously concentrated on the gifts of tongues because I suspect that while most Christians agree that the gifts of healing and miracles aren’t still around, they’re not so sure about tongues. That’s because tongues a common occurrence in many Christian churches.
Based on what we’ve just found out, let’s ask ourselves three questions.
1. Since these “sign” gifts were the marks of an apostle and the apostles are no longer alive, what does that say about their continued existence today?
2. Since the purpose of “sign” gifts, confirming new revelation from God by presenting it in a miraculous way is no longer needed because the Bible’s already complete, what does that say about their existence today?
3. Since the secondary purpose of the gift of tongues was as a “sign” of cursing on unbelieving Jews, and since unbelieving New Testament Jews have already been judged when Jerusalem was overrun and destroyed in 70 AD, what does that say about its existence today?
Driving on a highway recently I saw several signs for a particular city, but once I passed that city the signs stopped. Why? Because I was past the city and there wasn’t anymore need for signs. I appreciated the signs because they pointed to what was coming up, but once I passed the city, there was no more need for them. The signs did their jobs and did them well, but they became totally useless to me. They weren’t needed anymore.
In the same way, I believe that the “sign” gifts of healing, miracles, speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues-the marks of an apostle-are over and done with. Despite what we may see or hear-or think we see or hear-I believe these four spiritual gifts have passed away. And why? Because the purpose for their use is done and over with. They’re totally unnecessary.
The great theologian Benjamin Warfield said this:
“These miraculous gifts were part of the credentials of the apostles as the authoritative agents of God in founding the church. Their function thus confirmed them distinctly in the apostolic church, and they necessarily passed away with it.”
I confess that I’ve resisted reaching this conclusion with every ounce of my being for a long time. Even though I’ve always had doubts that tongues were really still around, I know too many people-mature Christians who I respect-who speak in tongues.
Even though I know that my observations don’t really matter, that only the Bible matters, I just didn’t want to face the facts.
And then I studied the topic more than ever before and the clincher was when I finally realized what 1 Corinthians 14:21-22 means. I had successfully ignored the fact that tongues were given to apostles and prophets who were now long dead, but then I had to face the fact that tongues was also a sign of coming judgment for Israel. And Israel was judged.
No matter how much I wanted to be able to say to you today that tongues are still around, I can’t. I just can’t ignore what I believe is compelling evidence to the contrary. It doesn’t matter that I personally know people who speak in tongues-or at least think they do. Only God’s Word matters and I can’t reach any other conclusion. In my eyes, the evidence and logic is compelling.
Speaking in tongues is not the baptism of the Holy Spirit or indicative of a different class of Christian
Those of you who believe that these gifts are still around–especially the gift of tongues-may argue that they have to be still around because that’s the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
But is that true?
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 it says “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
How many were baptized with the Spirit? All. “We were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
And yet, in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 it says this:
1Cor. 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
1Cor. 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?
The questions are obviously rhetorical. The answer, of course, is “No, not all Christians have ‘gifts of healing’” and “No, not all Christians ‘speak in tongues.’” So, all Christians do have the Holy Spirit, but not all Christians speak in tongues.
Besides, when 3,000 people became believers on the Day of Pentecost, the Bible doesn’t say anything about them speaking in tongues. Not only that, in Acts 4:31 it says that some believers were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Did they speak in tongues? No. There are several other instances in the Bible where people place their faith in Jesus and become Christians but didn’t speak in tongues.
And let’s not forget that nowhere in Scripture is there any command or method for believers to seek or to receive the baptism of the Spirit. As one commentator put it, “You don’t seek or ask for that which you already possess.”
It’s my conviction that the baptism of the Spirit doesn’t mean that one speaks in tongues, nor is a sign of a different level of Christian maturity or commitment.
Speaking In Tongues Is Not The Baptism Of The Holy Spirit, Or Indicative Of Another “Class” Of Christian
Those of you who believe that these gifts are still around–especially the gift of tongues-may argue that they have to be still around because that’s the baptism of the Holy Spirit.
But is that true?
In 1 Corinthians 12:13 it says “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body -whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free -and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
How many were baptized with the Spirit? All. “We were all given the one Spirit to drink.”
And yet, in 1 Corinthians 12:29-30 it says this:
1Cor. 12:29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles?
1Cor. 12:30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues ? Do all interpret?
The questions are obviously rhetorical. The answer, of course, is “No, not all Christians have ‘gifts of healing’” and “No, not all Christians ‘speak in tongues.’” So, all Christians do have the Holy Spirit, but not all Christians speak in tongues.
Besides, when 3,000 people became believers on the Day of Pentecost, the Bible doesn’t say anything about them speaking in tongues. Not only that, in Acts 4:31 it says that some believers were “filled with the Holy Spirit.” Did they speak in tongues? No. There are several other instances in the Bible where people place their faith in Jesus and become Christians but didn’t speak in tongues.
And let’s not forget that nowhere in Scripture is there any command or method for believers to seek or to receive the baptism of the Spirit. As one commentator put it, “You don’t seek or ask for that which you already possess.”
It’s my conviction that the baptism of the Spirit doesn’t mean that one speaks in tongues, nor is a sign of a different level of Christian maturity or commitment.
Speaking In Tongues Is Not To Be Used As A Private Prayer To God
But what about the argument that tongues are supposed to be used as a private prayer to God? First of all, let’s remember that spiritual gifts are for the purpose of building each other up. Praying to God in a tongue doesn’t build anybody else up because it’s private time between you and God. Second, Jesus tells us how to pray in Matthew 6 and nowhere does He say to pray in tongues.
Matt. 6:9 “This, then, is how you should pray: ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
Matt. 6:10 your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Matt. 6:11 Give us today our daily bread.
Matt. 6:12 Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
Matt. 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ‘
Third, when Jesus prays to the Father in John 17, He doesn’t speak in tongues. I don’t know about you, but whatever Jesus says about prayer and however Jesus prays is how I want to pray.
Speaking In Tongues Is Not A Special Way To Praise God
But what about the argument that speaking in tongues is a great way in which to praise God? If that’s true, then why does 1 Corinthians 13:8 say that tongues will “be stilled” or go away? Everybody knows that heaven will be the greatest time of praise for us, but if that’s so, then why does the Bible say that tongues will stop? Saying that tongues are a great way to praise God doesn’t make any sense, nor is it Biblical.
Speaking In Tongues Is Not For Evangelism
How about the argument that speaking in tongues is for evangelism? That can’t be supported Biblically, either. On the Day of Pentecost, for instance, the apostles, speaking in tongues, get everyone’s attention by “declaring the wonders of God.” But the evangelistic part of Pentecost–the sermon by Peter about faith in Jesus is not in tongues-it was apparently spoken in Aramaic because everyone in the crowd hears it. So tongues serving as an evangelistic tool doesn’t really pan out either, because it can’t be supported Biblically. While there’s no question that speaking in tongues has the potential to used in an evangelistic way on the mission field, but again, there’s no Biblical support for that use. Besides, we’ve already discussed the only two purposes of the gift of speaking in tongues, and evangelism isn’t one of them.
A Few Guesses As To What Might Be Going On In Some Churches Today
The $64 million question, of course, is then what’s going on today? If tongues aren’t still around, then what are they doing at all of these churches and on TV?
In the interest of brevity, let me just say two things. First of all, they could be Satanic or demonic.
1Tim. 4:1 The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.
As we’ve already noted, ecstatic speech-that is, so-called heavenly languages that was really gibberish and complete nonsense-was a common occurrence in pagan religions.
Another possible explanation–and probably the most likely and prevalent explanation–is that tongues is a learned behavior. However, nowhere-I repeat, nowhere-in Scripture is there an example of people being taught how to speak in tongues. You either do, or you don’t. God either supernaturally equips you to do it-that is, if you were an apostle or a handful of prophets-or He doesn’t equip you to do it. Learning tongues, practicing tongues or waiting for the ability to speak in tongues to come is not Biblical.
John MacArthur makes some interesting observations:
“History records that tongues did cease. Again, it is significant that tongues are mentioned only in the earliest books of the New Testament. Paul wrote at least 12 epistles after 1 Corinthians and never mentioned tongues again. Peter never mentioned tongues; James never mentioned tongues; John never mentioned tongues; neither did Jude. Tongues appeared only briefly in Acts and 1 Corinthians as the new message of the gospel was being spread. But once the church was established, tongues were gone. They stopped. The later books of the New Testament do not mention tongues again. Nor did anyone in the post-apostolic age. Cleon Rogers wrote, ‘It is significant that the gift of tongues is nowhere alluded to, hinted at or even found in the Apostolic Fathers.’”
MacArthur goes on to say this: Chrysostom and Augustine-the greatest theologians of the eastern and western churches-considered tongues obsolete. Chrysostom stated categorically that tongues had ceased by his time. Writing in the fourth century he described tongues as an obscure practice, admitting that he was not even certain about the characteristics of the gift.”
In fact, history tells us that during the first 500 years of the church, the only people who claimed to speak in tongues were followers of what the church largely considered a heretic.
Conclusion
For those of you who may be frustrated at my arguments that “sign” gifts are dead and gone, please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Of course God may enable someone on the missionary field to speak in a foreign language. Of course God may decide to heal someone just as a so-called faith healer lays his hands on him. And of course God still performs miracles.
But are the spiritual gifts of healing, miracles, tongues and interpretation of tongues still around? I don’t believe they are. Can people do these things at will the way they did during New Testament times? I don’t believe they can.
If the purpose of “sign” gifts–including that of tongues–has been fulfilled, there’s no reason for us to believe that they’re still around. “Sign” gifts were temporary, for a specific purpose, a specific people and a specific time. If you disagree, please keep in mind what Chuck Swindoll says:
“You may not see eye to eye with a friend or relative concerning these gifts, but still you are both members of Christ’s body, brothers and sisters in the faith.”
Editors Note: Find out what your spiritual gifts are and start using them! A good place to start (if you haven’t done so already) is the KRCConline Spiritual Gifts Inventory.