Robert Munson's Page

I heard about a house church possibly starting in your neck of the woods, thought you might want to check it out http://www.meetup.com/Peace-Keepers-God-Seekers/

Hi, Robert. The "spiritual gifts test" intrigues me. I've done several of these personally in the past, and have also led others through them. Had questions about them in the past, and still do.

1) Is there any principle in scripture that you can think of which urges a self-reflective inventory as a way of discovering a spiritual gift?

2) Is there any teaching or precedent in scripture that you can think of that urges that we "discover our spiritual gifts"?

Thanks, Robert, for your kindness in supplying links to discussion of my questions about whether there is any biblical support for searching out what our spiritual gifts are. If I understand what Zaspel is saying in the article that you linked, the answer is that there are no biblical precedents or rationale for doing so. That has been my view as well. That's why I wonder why we do the profiles! His counsel is to just serve. Good for him!

Thanks, again, Robert. I did look at a couple of the chapter topics of the book that you linked. My reading of his methodology is that he is starting with a cessationist doctrinal position about a number of spiritual gifts and healing, etc, and finds that he can support his assumptions by skeptical interpretations, insertions into the context, and appeal to current fakery and abuses as supposed support for the notion that this and that activity of God has been suspended by God. By that way of dealing with scripture, we can shape almost any doctrine that we have a mind to create, can't we? It's interesting that the writer claims that he is basing his understanding of spiritual gifts only upon scripture and discredits anyone else who is attempting to do the same!  It suggests that somewhere in the discussion, there is more than scripture shaping the view, doesn't it?

Robert, there is no need to do any extra work on my behalf. I understand how you came to send those links. You were just trying to supply something that you thought would address my questions. Please relax about the articles. I am fully acquainted with all those approaches and the denominational histories of their development.

I notice that this website is announcing that today is your birthday! May you be blessed as you review the privilege that God has given you to know Him and to live within His grace.