I'm very curious whether there are some gifts that are more "looked down upon" than others?--Spiritual Gifts FAQs

Question:

I'm very curious, given your broad experience working with lots of people/congregations, whether there are some gifts that are more "looked down upon" than others. Someone mentioned "Administration" getting a bad rep. What about the gift of "Helps"? I ask because I wonder if, as the broader body, we can redefine some of those gifts so we don't accidentally make it demeaning (or whatever) when we praise someone for having those particular gifts.

Response:

In the Apostle Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, chapters 12 through 14 are focused on their misunderstanding and misuse of spiritual gifts—including the problem to which you refer:

1 Corinthians 12 says:

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

…

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

…

18 But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19 If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many parts, but one body.

21 The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23 and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24 while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has put the body together, giving greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25 so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.

Paul makes it clear that there is no place for any gifts to have a bad rep. or to be intentionally or inadvertently demeaned. That’s why it’s so important to begin with Scripture for an understanding of and definitions of spiritual gifts—instead of simply what comes to mind when we hear the word.

For example, the word “Administration” might initially feel vaguely “secretarial”—however, by the work of the Holy Spirit, it’s a special ability given by God to bring efficiency and order out of chaos, helping people and organizations carry out their mission/vision effectively. For some, the word “Hospitality” has overtones of baking and cooking—whereas, by the work of the Spirit, it is a divine ability—beyond a natural talent or interest or hobby—to make people feel welcome, seen, accepted, and included. This can happen anywhere—in a home, at work, in a public place, at church, etc.

To your point about Helps—this might be one of the few where we truly take these people and their gifts for granted. They are, by definition of this gift—sometimes called the gift of Service—so willing and able to help behind the scenes with anything needed to further a ministry or effort that we sometimes do not appreciate their essential and supportive contribution. This is a failing not only of a congregation but also of its leaders. Leaders are visible—and should use that platform to “honor” those who are less visible, but no less important. Those with Helps gifts will often say they do not want nor need “thanks”—but, Scripture berates us with constant reminders to “encourage one another” “build each other up”. And, quite frankly, I know of no leader who can do her/his job without others with gifts of Helps, Administration, Hospitality.

It is also worth pointing out the fact that some church traditions would put some gifts—wrongly—into male and female categories, and I believe that this is one reason that we have denigrated some of the “support” gifts as “less-than” and elevated the more “visible” ones as “more important.” In my experience, I’ve encountered women with strong Leadership and Teaching and Prophecy gifts and men with strong Hospitality and Intercession and Helps gifts.  

[Other gifts that can tend to be less noticed—but no less valuable to the Body of Christ/His Church: Craftsmanship, Discernment, Faith, Intercession, and Giving.]

Paul’s letter (1 Corinthians) uses a lot of oneness/unity/same but different language. He is determined to correct that church (and us!) to a place of honoring everyone and every gift and every gift expression equally…and bending over backwards to do so in places and with people we have consistently overlooked and taken for granted.

I encourage you to help perform such a role at your church. I also exhort you and your cohort to become so familiar with the broader Spirit-infused definitions of the gifts so that you can not only call those out in others but also help them see the elevated role they do play by expanding their spiritual imagination.

Shirley Giles Davis, author of the God. Gifts. You. Your Unique Calling and Design workbook, Your Unique Design Class Guide, Your Unique Design Facilitator Guide, DIOS. DONES. TÚ.: Tu llamado y diseño único (Spanish Edition), and Gifts-Calling-Purpose blog, is a consultant, coach, facilitator who has worked with hundreds of faith-based organizations, nonprofit agencies, and executive leaders in a diversity of fields for four decades. She currently serves as Catalyst for Equipping at her church.

Photo © Shirley Giles Davis. 

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