Kevin, you are missing the point entirely. I didn’t post your whole comment, but enough to show the general direction of your remarks, all of which have nothing to do with the topic. Not suggesting that musicians don’t work hard, are not involved, etc. The point of the article is that musical talent is a physical, not a spiritual, gift. It should not prevent you from serving in spiritual ways in the church as needed or as opportunities arise. Yes, many musicians do that, but some do not, as per the example I cited. That is my point.

You would do better to get off the victim mentality and read with comprehension. You would find yourself less offended.

BTW, I am not looking for a debate, so I won’t be posting your reply to this (if any). If you wish to discuss the actual point of the article, I am willing to talk about that.

Regards,
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

It seems to me that people love to pick on singers and musicians in the church…..

And the whole essence of your initial article targeted musicians, even suggesting that they are lazy (e.g. the pianist who wants to sit around till she can be “first string”? Come on. Don’t you see how insulting that is?)…

I have noticed this negative “tone” toward church musicians for many years now, and I have started speaking up about it. We work hard. Y….

Note: edited for length and for off topic

Hello Cristina,
Thanks for stopping by. It’s been a long time since I wrote that article, it seems that you get what I was saying, and you are right, that is my point. Musical talents are useful to the church, but are NOT spiritual gifts.

I have great intentions of writing more on this blog, but other responsibilities constantly slow me down. One of these days…

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Hello Paul

Thank you for the comment. I had to go back and read through what I wrote and all the comments to understand your question! It’s been a while.

The Spiritual Gift of teaching would, it seems to me, have to do with ability to communicate spiritual truths – those things which the natural mind cannot truly comprehend. It is not simply the ability to communicate or impart knowledge, but the ability to move people forward in discipleship.

That is, at least, my attempt at making a distinction. And I am making that distinction without taking a lot of time to think about it, so please feel free to critique.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

Lots of excellent teachers out there, too. So, how does that fit?

Thank you for the comment.

I would say that the spiritual gift that would be stirring in you is probably not “music” as such, but something like Service (Rm 12.7) or Leading (Rm 12.8).

In other words your desire to help in this ministry is something that comes from the work of the Spirit in your life, it isn’t something you naturally would turn to, but it is something you perhaps are being enabled to do as a spiritual leader, though you do not have the physical gifts of music as such.

Hope that helps.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3

I came across this post in search of some understanding. I have been a believer for about 4 years and never musically gifted. At the request of a friend 3 years ago, I started helping with our church’s preschool choir. I looked at my role as crowd control and snack leader. This year I have felt called to take on leadership, the current leader is happily stepping down and I have a desire to really improve the relational component of our choir group. I am also feeling very strongly pulled to learn and understand music and even a strong desire to start learning instruments. To me this desire feels like a spiritual gift, as I am not currently talented but I feel like God is giving me the desire and the opportunity. Is this a spiritual gift of music? A different spiritual gift? Or something I haven’t thought of yet?

Interesting to see a comment after so long a time.

Interesting also that I was discussing a similar topic with a friend this week. We were talking about athletes and gifted people in general. Because of his family connections, he knows several professional athletes personally and remarked on how ordinary they were as people. He also made an observation that the athletes, musicians, etc. are not really special because of their talent and it was strange that we should idolize them.

I’m not quoting him exactly, but the way he said it struck a thought in me: When we admire gifted people, we do it in the wrong way. We do it as if the person had something to do with the gift. What we are really admiring is the image of God in men, the glory of God on display. Man in his fallenness worships the creature rather than the creator, so they adulate the athlete or the musician. What we should be doing is remarking about the glory of God who enables men to have such talent.

Now I’ve used the terms gifted and talented here interchangeably. I think it is obvious that all abilities come from God, and God should get the glory when men use their abilities in a wholesome way. I don’t expect non-Christians to always do that, and, in sports especially, but in all areas where men excel, you can also see their fallen condition – they do it for self, there is brutality involved in many sports, there are sensual uses of God-given talent, etc.

But my point with the article is not that God isn’t involved in giving men talents, but these talents are physical gifts, not spiritual gifts. In particular, we should not elevate physical gifts to the same level as spiritual gifts in our understanding.

Hope that helps some.

Maranatha!
Don Johnson
Jer 33.3