The work of the Holy Spirit - pagina 222

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

i82 "I light the

fire to

warm

not the room, but the stove"

and

;

to

be

jealous of the charismata given to others in the Church would be just as foolish as for the table to

gets

all

the

be jealous of the stove because

it

fire.

The charismata must therefore be considered in an economical The Church is a large household with many wants an institution to be made efficient by the means of many things. They sense.

;

are to the Church

what

light

and

fuel are to the household; not

existing for themselves, but for the family, and to be laid aside

when

the days are long and warm.

charismata,

many

This applies directly to the

of which, given to the apostolic Church, are not

Church of the present day. These charismata have undoubtedly more or less an official character. God has instituted offices in the Church not in a mechanical way, or depending upon robe or gown; such unspiritual conception is foreign to the Scripture. But as there is division of of service to the

;

labor in the

army

or in the

human body,

so there is in the Church.

must be protected against injury; blood must be carried to muscles and nerves venous blood must be converted into arterial; the lungs must inhale fresh air, etc. All these activities are laid upon the various members of the body. Eye and ear keep watch the heart propels the blood the lungs supply the oxygen, etc. And this can not be changed arbitrarily. The lungs can not watch the eye can not supply oxygen the skin can not propel the blood. Hence this division of labor is neither arbitrary, by mutual consent, nor a matter of pleasure; but it is divinely ordained, and this ordinance must not be ignored. Hence the eye has the office and gift of watching over the body the heart Take,

e.g.,

the body.

It

;

;

;

;

;

;

of circulating the blood

;

the lungs of supplying fresh

air, etc.

And this applies to the Church in every respect. That great body requires the doing of many and various things for the common weal. There is need of guidance, of prophesying, of heroism; mercy must be exercised, the sick must be healed, etc. And this great, mutual task the Lord has divided among many members. He has given to His body, the Church, eyes, ears, hands, and feet; and to each of these organic members a peculiar task, calling, and office.

simply means to be charged by You have done some work. Jesus, the King, with a definite task. Very well, but how? From impulse, or in obedience to the

Hence

to be called to

an

office

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