One of the definitions for “dysfunctional” in the Encarta World English Dictionary is “affected by disease or impairment.”  In this post we will look at the effect of a dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts on the health of the Body.  Previous posts have considered its effect on interpersonal relationships and performance. 

Dysfunction Defined in Regard to the Health of the Body:

Think of the metaphor of the Body of Christ being like a human body.  When a human body is not functioning as it should, there will be issues that affect its well-being and growth.  So it is in the Church.

When a limb of the body isn’t used, atrophy sets in.  The limb gets weak and it become harder and harder to use.  Compare this to a disuse of our spiritual gifts.

When the there is some kind of blockage and messages do not get from the head to other parts of the body, we can do abnormal things.  Compare this to a lack of fellowship with the Lord, who is our Head, blocking the power flow and our reception of directions from Him.

When we are sick or have some sort of disease or infection, our human bodies don’t function up to par.  Compare this to sin in our lives and the effect that has on how we serve.

When we try to use a part of the body in ways for which it was not designed to be used, we must compensate in certain ways and often are not as effective.  Compare this to the misuse of our gifts, being in ministry for which we are not gifted.

Effects of Dysfunction Due to Poor Health:

Think of your own tendencies when you physically do not feel well.  These same effects can be experienced in the Body of Christ.

• affects the morale … more likely to get frustrated, perhaps even despondent
• affects the energy level … easier to do the minimal of what is needed just to get by
• affects the perceptions and reactions  … tend to be quicker to misinterpret things, get irritated or defensive, ensuing in conflict
• affects the quality … harder to put a wholehearted effort into what you are doing

Dysfunction Broken:

Truth

The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. (Ps. 145:18)  Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Ps. 139:23-24)

Be honest about your condition.  Remember Achan.  His sin affected the whole camp.  Remember Ananias and Sapphira.  They were judged not so much for what they did but for lying about it.  “Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. … But everything exposed by the light becomes visible.”  (Eph. 5:8-13)

Grace

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 Jn. 1:9)  “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ” (Eph. 1:7-8)

If we have done something to cause our spiritual unhealthiness, God’s grace is the answer.  He might not rid us of the consequences of our sin but He will forgive and bring healing to our souls.  If our condition was the result of someone else’s wrongdoing or something God allowed to happen to us out of our control, still, His grace is sufficient.  His power is made perfect in our weakness (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

Power

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.  (Eph. 3:16-21)

Sometimes when we are sick it is hard to imagine ever being well again.  Don’t despair or give up hope.  God can strengthen you through His Spirit and do far more in and through you than you can ever imagine.  Why would He do that, particularly if the problems were your own fault?  Through it He is glorified as His power is made known.

One of the definitions for dysfunctional in the Encarta World English Dictionary is “not performing as expected.”  In addition to affecting interpersonal relationships and health, a dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts affects our performance.

Dysfunction Defined in Regard to Performance:

That we were commanded to use our gifts in certain ways, lets us know it is possible to use our gifts with the wrong approach, attitudes, or motivations.

If we are commanded to faithfully use our gifts (1 Pet. 4:10), then it must be possible to use our gifts inconsistently or not to the level we could.

If those with the gift of giving are commanded to give generously (Rom. 12:8), then it must be possible for them to be stingy in using this gift.

If leaders are commanded to lead with diligence (Rom. 12:8), then it must be possible for leaders to get lazy.

If people with the gift of mercy are to show mercy cheerfully (Rom. 12:8), then it must be possible for them to do so begrudgingly or with hesitation.

God expects that in whatever we do, we give it our all, doing our best, for His glory (1 Cor. 10:31; Col. 3:17; 2 Tim. 2:15).  Anything short of using our gifts in this way is dysfunctional because we are “not performing as expected.”

To what should we be lining up in the use of our spiritual gifts?

• the character of God which is always true and always good and therefore an absolute standard (1 Cor. 14:33, 40)
• the purpose of spiritual gifts which is to serve others for the good of the whole, the building up of the Body (1 Cor. 12:7; Eph. 4:12; 1 Pet. 4:10)
• the essence/nature of spiritual gifts which is the administration of God’s grace in its various forms (1 Pet. 4:10)

Effects of Dysfunction from Not Performing as Expected:

When we are not performing in accordance with God’s standards, we do not experience the fullness of the His life in and through us.  God must remain true to Himself.

We might sense a measure of success but how much more could have been accomplished if done for the right reasons and in the right ways?  God will sometimes use us despite ourselves so just because He is choosing to work through us doesn’t mean everything is right with us.

Dysfunction Broken:

Truth

But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. (2 Cor. 11:3)

Usually when we do not fully line up with God, we are believing some kind of lies … like it doesn’t matter how well I do something as long as I love the Lord, like somehow it is dependent on me, like there should be something in it for me when I serve, etc.  When we go into serving with faulty premises, it is bound to affect our performance as our attitudes and motivations make a difference.  We must recognize those lies, taking the thoughts captive (2 Cor. 10:5) and tell ourselves the truth as found in God’s Word.

Grace

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:8)

Only by God’s grace will we be able to do anything.  We must constantly pull on His strength, as a branch gets its sustenance from the vine, so we can bear fruit, not just get by in serving.  We must always remember Jesus’ words, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn. 15:5).  His grace will always be sufficient but we must grab hold of it.

Power

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22-23)

These Christ-like characteristics must govern even how we use our spiritual gifts.  Any time we do not serve according to His expectations, we are letting self get in the way.  The antidote? — “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Gal. 5:16)

As communicated in a previous post, the Encarta World English Dictionary provides three definitions for the word dysfunctional:

1.  relating badly
2.  not performing as expected
3.  affected by disease or impairment

In this post we will consider the first definition to see how a dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts ties into interpersonal relationships.

Dysfunction Defined in Regard to Interpersonal Relationships:

Look at the key passages on spiritual gifts you will find reference to love in each one:

We learn much about spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14.  Sandwiched between those two chapters is an entire chapter about love.  Chapter 14 begins, “Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts.”

Ephesians 4:16, dealing with spiritual gifting, notes how the Body “grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.”

Immediately following a list of some of the gifts, Romans 12:9 says, “Love must be sincere.”

1 Pet. 4:8 says, “Above all, love each other deeply” and two verse later we read about using our gifts.

A dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts, then, would be using our gifts devoid of love.

Effects of Dysfunction on Relationships:

The absence of love strips our service of its eternal merit.

If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. (1 Cor. 13:1-3)

The absence of love removes safeguards in relationships, opening doors to abuses, neglect, apathy, manipulation, betrayal, and other selfish pursuits.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

The absence of love prevents growth in relationships.

From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (Eph. 4:16)

The absence of love brings imbalance to communication, leading to greater potential for conflict.

Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:15)

Dysfunction Broken:

Truth

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.” (2 Pet. 1:3)

Notice the connection between His power and knowledge of Him.  What truth do we know about God? — God is love.  “And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.” (1 Jn. 4:16)

Grace

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.   We love because he first loved us.” (1 Jn. 4:18-19) 

When we understand the grace of God in extending unconditional love to us … the kind He demonstrated “while we were still sinners ” (Rom. 5:8) … we will be more prone to reach out to others in love.

Power

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love.” (Gal. 5:22).

The Holy Spirit will build this quality within us as we submit to His control and leading in situations where we find it hard to love those we serve.

A question was posed about the dysfunctional use of spiritual gifts.  I hesitate with this because by definition, spiritual gifts are special divine empowerments.  For me to say that spiritual gifts can be used dysfunctionally feels like an affront to God, like He can make a mistake, like His ways are not perfect, like His power is not sufficient.   When spiritual gifts are truly used, they accomplish what they are supposed to according to His power at work in and through us.  Maybe we should ask if dysfunction is present because spiritual gifts are not really being used.  Or, perhaps the dysfunction is in the person and not in the use of the gift.  Maybe it is our approach to spiritual gifts that is dysfunctional.

Dysfunction Defined:

The Encarta World English Dictionary provides three definitions for the word dysfunctional:

1.  relating badly
2.  not performing as expected
3.  affected by disease or impairment

When something is dysfunctional, then, it is not functioning as it should.  In what ways might our approach to spiritual gifts be dysfunctional?  The next three posts will attempt to answer that question.  (Subscribe to receive e-mail notice of new posts.)

Effects of Dysfunction:

Dysfunction affects interpersonal relationships, performance, and even our health.  The effects spill over onto other people.  So, in the Body of Christ, we will begin to see disunity, ineffectiveness, and a lack of growth because of a dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts.

The effects of dysfunction are the opposite of God’s desires for the Church.

It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Eph. 4:11-15)

Hence, a dysfunctional approach to spiritual gifts does not glorify God.

Dysfunction Broken:

As with any kind of dysfunction, we can change when we apply the following to our situation:

Truth

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. (Jn. 8:32)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.  (2 Cor. 10:5)

Grace

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.  (Titus 2:11-12)

Power

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  (2 Pet. 1:3)