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哥林多前书：14:6-12: 6弟兄们，我到你们那里去，若只说方言，不用启示、或知识、或预言、或教训，给你们讲解，我与你们有甚么益处呢？7就是那有声无气的物，或箫、或琴，若发出来的声音、没有分别，怎能知道所吹、所弹的是什么呢？8若吹无定的号声，谁能预备打仗呢？9你们也是如此，舌头若不说容易明白的话，怎能知道所说的是什么呢？这就是向空说话了。10世上的声音或者甚多，却没有一样是无意思的。11我若不明白那声音的意思，这说话的人必以我为化外之人，我也以他为化外之人。12你们也是如此，既是切慕属灵的恩赐，就当求多得造就教会的恩赐。

       “灵恩派运动”曾经几乎影响了每个宗派，但近几年逐渐消亡，尽管有些教会仍然推崇说方言的恩赐，并把它作为最重要的属灵恩赐之一。有些教会甚至宣扬“神圣的笑声”（灵恩派教会中使用的一个术语，指的是人们在教堂聚会时自发地大笑），并将其作为属灵的恩赐进行提倡。我没有权力判断这些恩赐是真还是假。然而，我们应该做的是，检查教会的教导，以确保它和圣经是一致的。如果他们的教导和圣经不一致，圣灵还会将他的恩赐浇灌到那些不教导真理的人身上吗？

       保罗再次强调，属灵的恩赐不应该用在各人自私的利益，而是应该用来造就教会。保罗在《以弗所书》2章中说：教会是建造在使徒和先知（就是上帝的话语）的根基上，有耶稣基督自己作为房角石。我有一个服事的朋友，他以前常说：“重要的事情应该永远是重要的事情。”在上帝的教会里，重要的事情是上帝的话语。祷告：主耶稣，请赐给我们一颗这样一颗心，使我们坐在你的脚前聆听你的话语。请赐给我们智慧，让我们在家里和教会里教导你的话语。愿你的教会的使命永远清晰，使我们在教会和我们的社区中宣扬你的话语。阿们。

1 Corinthians 14: 6 Brothers, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what good will I do you, unless I communicate to you a revelation, or some knowledge, or a prophecy, or some teaching? 7 Even lifeless instruments that produce sound, such as a flute or a harp, if they do not make the notes distinct from one another, how will anyone know what is being played on the flute or harp? 8 If the trumpet makes an uncertain sound, who will get ready for battle? 9 So also with you: Unless you use your tongue to produce intelligible speech, how will anyone know what is being spoken? To be sure, you will be speaking only into the air. 10 There are perhaps ever so many kinds of languages in the world, and not one of them is without meaning. 11 Accordingly, if I do not understand the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker, and he will be a foreigner to me. 12 So also with you: Since you are eager for spiritual gifts, seek to use them abundantly in a way that will build up the church. (EHV)

The “charismatic movement” that infected almost every denomination has died down in recent years, though there are still churches which promote the speaking of tongues as one of the most important spiritual gifts. There are some churches which even promote “holy laughter” as a spiritual gift. It is not for me to judge if such gifts are genuine or not. What we should do, though, is examine the teachings of the church to make sure that they line up with Scripture. If they do not, would the Spirit be pouring out his gifts on people who are not teaching the truth?

Paul once again makes the point that spiritual gifts should not be used for personal promotion or gain, but should be used to build up the church. Paul said in Ephesians 2 that the church is built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets (i.e., the Word of God), with Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone. I had a friend in ministry who used to say, “The main thing should be the main thing.” The main thing in God’s Church is the Word of God.

Prayer:   Lord Jesus, give us hearts to sit at your feet and listen to your Word. Give us the wisdom to teach it in our homes and in our churches. Let the mission of your Church be always clear, that we proclaim your Word both in our churches and in our communities.  Amen.