Variety is the spice of life ( and a gift from God )

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

              It's pretty obvious that there is a whole array of the religious right, Pentecostal, born again and Roman Catholic alike who have nothing much better than to say it is our way or the highway. Whatever doctrine, rule or rubric, theirs is the truth and the only truth.

               You won't get to hear me say it often but there are perhaps a few things I might agree with when the utter their dictums, although it certainly wouldn't be enough for me to be put in their good graces. I am sure I am far down the slippery slope according to some. On these very pages I have expounded the virtues of not being worldly and materialistic. I have spoken of the joys of sex (especially gay sex) while at the same time speaking of morality, avoiding promiscuity and respecting others. This passage does speak about being lead astray and being uninformed. I would agree although the religious right might not see it exactly the same way I do.

               This passage speaks about a variety of gifts. Most people would think of the gift of tongues, the gift of prophecy, the gift to preach, the gift of teaching or any of the many gifts delineated in this passage.  But while all of that may be true, we have learned a great deal of truths since the time of Jesus, revealed truths, truths guided by the Spirit and also scientific and social truths. All men (and women) being created equal is one. Slavery being wrong would be another.

               So what I am perhaps especially happy to embrace is that of the variety of sexualities exhibited in God's creation and in humanity. We are all created by one God, all loved, all with the same mission in life but the gift of our sexuality is one that is particularly joyful. This is a means by which we get a glimpse of the joys God feels. This is a means by which we find a unique closeness to other human beings. This is a way of sharing and revealing truths about ourselves that cannot be adequately expressed any other way. And it is all a gift from God. It is all a gift from the Spirit of God who guides our love and our entire lives.

               Embrace the sexuality God has given you, fulfill the glory of God and become a human being fully alive. 

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says ‘Let Jesus be cursed!’ and no one can say ‘Jesus is Lord’ except by the Holy Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the discernment of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.