Misguided "Christian" Targets That Undermine the Ways of Jesus (part 3)

Part 3: The Talent Factor

Originally published December 2022

The third misguided target that Christians often promote is much less political. It is talent. We mistakenly steer children and youth to seek and pursue gifts and talents as the point of their spiritual journey. As much as we give lip service to humbly following Jesus as the priority over achieving fame and fortune, what we really want is both. Thus, we still tend to use financial gain and social status as evidence that God has blessed one’s life for faithful Christian living.

When I was a pastor, spiritual gift inventories were all the rage in churches. We went to ministry and leadership conferences where we learned about tools and resources to help people identify their spiritual gifts. We wanted to help young believers find out if they were meant to be singers, teachers, or administrators for the glory of God. We were there with surveys and instruments that could tell a person if they were inclined to serve or advise or speak publicly right there in black and white. A person could get a score just like any other personality profile and know what they were supposed to do for the rest of their life. Meaning and purpose were built into the formula. The difference with us doing it in the church was that it was, of course, endorsed by God. What better way to tell someone God’s will for their life? How comforting to know that! Right?

In my book, You Don’t Have To Do That, I wrote about how this is a problem for us in how we guide the next generation.

We have failed our children by focusing more on pursuing dreams of fortune and fame than visions of goodness and faithfulness. We have failed our children by pushing an idea of God’s will as a single path. If the sentence starts with, “It is God’s will for you to be…,” then the end of it should not be “a singer” or “pastor” or “counselor” or “engineer.” If the sentence starts with, “It is God’s will for you to be…,” then the rest of it should read “loving, joyful, peaceful, gracious, patient, kind, good, gentle.” regardless of what role you have in an institutional church or how you make your living in society.

Our job as parents and caregivers and church leaders is not to have our children’s future all worked out but to help them display fruit in their lives presently. “While there is mention of spiritual gifts in the New Testament, the overwhelming emphasis is on fruit. Qualifications for service were based on character, not talent.”¹ Character is best taught in present struggles rather than future dreams.

I have heard many people assess another person’s faith by their ability. “She speaks so well publicly. Maybe God is calling her to be a preacher.” “He is such a good singer. What a devout Christian!”

Let us be clear. Jesus never did this. He was explicit that anyone who was a true follower of His way would be known by their fruit, by their love. That is the whole point of this series. It is not about being tough on a particular issue. It is not about being politically aligned for or against an individual. It is not about talent development. It is, and always has been, about how we treat people. All people. Those who agree with us and those who don’t. Those who can offer you something and those who can’t. Those who are older, younger, same or different race, same or different religion, and even those who like cats.

1. SCOTT, MARC. You Don't Have to Do That: Moving Past What Is Wrong with Religion to Embrace What Is Right... with Jesus. S.l.: OUTSKIRTS PRESS, 2021.