Giftings in the Church

In my reading this morning I read the following passage: "Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil." (1 Thes. 5:19-22)

The notes below the passage in my study Bible said: "By warning us not to stifle the Holy Spirit," Paul means that we should not ignore or toss aside the gifts the Holy Spirit gives. Here, he mentions prophecy (5:20; in 1 Corinthians 14:39, he mentions speaking in tongues. Sometimes spiritual gifts are controversial, and they may cause division in a church. Rather than trying to solve the problems, some Christians prefer to smother the gifts. This impoverishes the church. We should not stifle the Holy Spirit's work in any one's life but encourage the full expression of these gifts to benefit the whole body of Christ. We shouldn't make fun of those who are called to speak for God ("scoff at prophecies"), but we should always "test everything that is said," checking their words against the Bible. We are on dangerous ground if we laugh at a person who speaks the truth. Instead, we should carefully check out what people say, accepting what is true and rejecting what is false."

All kinds of thoughts and examples filled my head when I read the passage and notes. From one extreme to the other, I imagined a church that doesn't allow the expression of these gifts to a church who's whole purpose is wrapped up in one constant expression of just one gift. As I journaled this morning I prayed for balance in the church. Just as God balances the gifts within the church, the exercising of all gifts should be balanced in the church as well. I was saddened by the sentence 'This impoverishes the church'. How much more effective could churches be if the fear of controversy took a back seat to living as the Holy Spirit directs? What would happen? How would the body of Christ be built up? Happy Thursday!