Purpose Driven Life

[kayre]

Summary: The other three ways we’re shaped for ministry. 3) Natural abilities. “The only difference [between natural abilities and spiritual gifts] is that you were given them at birth.” All abilities can be used for God. 4) Personality. Even people with the same gifts will work differently with them, because of their unique personalities. 5) Experiences. All you have experienced has prepared you for ministry-- especially the painful experiences.

My thoughts: So, apparently Warren does think ‘spiritual gifts’ are only those which are granted after one becomes a believer. I don’t agree-- but I’m not sure it matters, as he believes both spiritual gifts and natural abilities are to be used in service. I know amazingly few believers who would claim to have received some new spiritual gift when they became believers-- and even in those cases, it generally turns out to be something they had never attempted until that time.

“God intentionally allows you to go through painful experiences to equip you for ministry to others.” No. Certainly God may use those experiences, but to say God intentionally allows them makes God responsible... I can’t buy into that, especially since he mentions situations like abuse. That makes God an accessory to human evil. No way.