Gifts and Spirituality
The theological concepts of ministry in daily life take seriously the notion
that giftedness is more desirable and widespread than neediness and that the
church's mission is built more on the former than the latter. Thus a
ministry-oriented understanding of "work" or "daily living" begins with an
appreciation of the spiritual nature of each individual's assets. Hence the term
"gifts" or "blessings" is used to denote the spiritual nature of assets and
their utility in God's plan for the world.
Asset-based Thinking
First used as the stable foundation for overseas community development in Third
or Fourth World countries, asset-based thinking (and planning) has found its way
into a philosophical position that undergirds community planning and corporate
development in the United States and the rest of the First World. The
propositions are simple: The glass is half-full, not half-empty, and you have
enough (assets, tools, abilities, knowledge, etc) right here to do what you
propose to do.
In ministry in daily life theology, giftedness is presumed as the underground
spring from which any sense of ministry is fed. "You are capable of doing God's
will in your life; go out and do it!" Instead of replying on the definitions of
"ministry" that spring from the programs and structures of the church as the
sole source of identity or life purpose, Christians assay their God-given assets
— their gifts — and from that prayerful, appreciative inquiry into their talents
they construct the forms and functions of ministry that best fit their
capabilities and sense of life purpose. Thus daily life ministry is always
springing from a sense of well-being, or positive energy, of gratitude and of
possibility.
In this mode of thinking, God's gifts are graced evidence of God's will for
Christians' lives, the condemnation of the Law is a past-tense matter and the
future is always hopeful. Christians who minister in Christ's name do so with
the assurance that, by God's surprising grace, they have what it takes to bring
about God's purposes for the world. They are powerful, effective and loved. They
are people with mission and purpose. They cannot be stopped.
Spiritual Gifts
Because work is a spiritual matter, "giftedness" is NOT confined to so-called
"spiritual gifts" only. Although these gifts of the Holy Spirit (e.g., meekness,
gentleness, kindness, etc.) are part of God's total package of giftedness for
ministry, they are not the only gifts God hands out to God's people. In this way
of thinking, it is limiting and short-sighted to assay or survey "spiritual
gifts" if they do not also include all the giftedness that God offers. Thus it
is not right to name "singing in the choir" as a spiritual gift and to overlook
"teaching children in my classroom to sing with delight." It is not correct to
think as "spiritual" the capacity to volunteer in a blood bank operated by the
local congregation and ignore volunteering — or working! — in a blood bank
operated by a local charity or health organization.
When congregations survey or audit the complete giftedness of their lives — or
offer opportunity for their members to do the same — they are offering a
truly-spiritual service to their members, and can consider themselves truly
thankful for all of God's blessings.