All posts by Johnna

I am a Christian educator and writer.I have worked in churches, denominational offices, and seminaries. I have a PhD in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, with a focus on Practical Theology and educating in faith. In 2010, my book, "How the Other Half Lives: the challenges facing clergy spouses and partners," was published by Pilgrim Press. I believe that words can build doorways that lead to encounters with God through the Spirit.
Biblical Reflection, Meditation

Wisdom and Knowledge

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Now there are varieties of gifts but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. To one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit…

ICorinthians 12:4-9, NRSV

Knowledge: knowing that a tomato is a fruit.

Wisdom: knowing not to put it in a fruit salad…

It’s easy to mistake knowledge for wisdom, to mistake someone who knows a great deal with someone who has the ability to foster life and love in daily living. Knowledge, even and perhaps especially Biblical or theological knowledge, can be applied in ways that bring the peace of God closer; it can also be used to inflict damage and incite hatred. Acts of terror, even genocide, have been committed in the name of faith, with perpetrators justifying their actions with Biblical quotes and theological justifications.

Wisdom is a perspective, an understanding; it is knowing that all good things are rooted in love – love for God, love for self, and love for neighbor. When wisdom guides knowledge, amazing and beautiful things come to pass.

Listen to those whose knowledge is vast; let them add depth to your understanding. But don’t forget that knowledge requires wisdom to keep it from harming God’s beloved creation and creatures.

Biblical Reflection, Meditation

For the Common Good

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To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. I Corinthians 12:7, NRSV

There are any number of ways to use the gifts we have, numerous contexts for their growth. At times, it feels like there is only one place for our gifts; at others, the options are so many that it’s almost paralyzing. So how do we choose the right context? How do we know where and how to invest our time and effort growing our gifts?

When we remember that our gifts come from the Spirit, we know that they are precious and unique – and should be treated as such.

When we remember that our gifts aren’t for ourselves alone, that they manifest in us for the common good, we can avoid wasting them on self-centered pursuits that will benefit no one beyond ourselves.

In memoriam

In Memoriam: Jim Stanne

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He had a genuine hospitality that seemed as natural as breathing. He and his wife Lynn welcomed us into their home and graced ours with their warmth and laughter many times; I treasure that gift.

Jim could tell a story. I remember him talking of a friend – someone most of the people gathered also knew, even though many of them did not know each other. By the end of the telling, Jim had coaxed tales of this friend out of others – a living connection that hadn’t been known before. The end of the story was in a bar halfway around the world, patrons all singing a John Denver song.

There are many ways to live a good life, to offer love and service to this blessed, broken world. Jim’s had a way of gladdening the heart. And I am profoundly grateful.

Biblical Reflection

Activities

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Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray by idols that could not speak. Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says, “Let Jesus be cursed!” and on one can say “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Spirit.

Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. I Corinthians 12:1-6, NRSV

On the to-do list for today: cleaning the floors, picking up the mail, getting a few groceries, writing this blog piece, taking care of pets and plants. I have no work or church responsibilities today, and nothing particularly important that needs my attention. It’s the kind of day that I’ll live in one of two ways: 1. sleepwalking through everything, as none of it asks much of me; 2. approaching each activity as a means to be drawn closer to God.

In the end, how I do one activity is how I do all things. It is a privilege to do the many tasks that sustain daily life, and a blessing to be sustained by the work of so many others (the grocery store shelves didn’t stock themselves, and the mail didn’t magically appear in my box).

If I take Paul’s words to heart, then I will glimpse in my activities the movement of the Spirit. Better still, I just might recognize and value the God-given gifts of others in their activities. Easily recognizable as ministry or not, gifts in action are a sight to see.

Biblical Reflection, Meditation

Services

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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. ICorinthians 12:4-6, NRSV

Gifts, services, activities – what we have to offer the world, the medium we choose to offer our gifts, and the actions we take to show our love for God, self, and neighbor. It’s the adventure of a lifetime to discern, pick, and work in ways unique to us – no one can offer what we can, and we cannot offer what someone else can. We shouldn’t waste our days worrying about whether we have gifts, or whether our gifts are worthy: we do, and they are.

So find your place, your service, where your gifts are needed. Put your heart into it. Accept the praise of others with thanks, and a grain of salt. Don’t mistake your worth with how others value or do not value you. Serve.

Remember, you are a delight to God. That’s why you are here, beloved child of the Creator.

Biblical Reflection, Meditation

Gifted

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Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone. ICorinthians 12:4-6, NRSV

All of us are born with gifts unique to us. The combination of who we are, where we live, and the community that surrounds us affects how our gifts are recognized and fostered – or whether they are recognized and fostered at all. It’s why mentors are so important: they see in others something precious, and they offer their time, patience, and wisdom to help it grow.

But recognizing and investing aren’t enough – a mentor has to do this without trying to determine or definitively define the purpose for which the gift was given. That is up to the Spirit. But it takes trust in God and others to do this.

A mentor can’t co-opt another’s gift or path for recognition or benefit – it’s time to foster the accomplishments of others rather than add more accomplishments to one’s own list. Generosity and maturity are required to do this.

Sometimes, it’s not about the ones whose gifts we see so readily. Sometimes, it’s about taking the time to look deeply at those whose gifts aren’t visible – whose value has been overlooked or questioned. The gifts are there, no doubt.

Are we willing and able to see them?

Biblical Reflection, Meditation, observation

Spirit Speak

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Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking by the Spirit of God ever says “Let Jesus be cursed!,” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except by the Holy Spirit. I Corinthians 12:3, NRSV

In some of the occult films, werewolves can’t touch silver and vampires are kept at bay by garlic and crosses. In the same kinds of movies, the demons disguised as humans can’t touch crosses or holy water without harm, and can’t say the words God or Jesus. While such things make for interesting plot points, Paul isn’t writing about them. The power of words and speech isn’t that simple.

Paul has already mentioned idols that cannot speak, the ones people have left behind when the Spirit led them to follow Jesus. But what about idols that can speak, living people who entice with words? Just because someone is a gifted orator, or seems to be hijacked by the Spirit to speak in tongues, does not mean that the words are the Word of God (another name for Jesus). So how to tell the difference?

Look beyond the delivery to the content of what is being said.

Are the words honoring Jesus and his commandment to love God, self, and neighbor? Do the words point the way to an ever expanding inner life and an increasing generosity toward others? Then those words say Jesus is Lord.

Do the words shrivel the inner life, diminishing rather than deepening? Do the words demand devotion to someone or some ideal other than God and the coming reign of love? Does the speech vilify neighbor and justify harming self and others? Then they are a curse rather than a blessing.

In this age of so many loud voices and a cacophony of words, it’s a good idea to put them to the test before trusting their sources…

La Paloma, DeGrazia
Biblical Reflection, Meditation, Theology

Led Astray

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You know that when you were pagans, you were enticed and led astray to idols that could not speak. ICorinthians 12:2, NRSV

In the ’90’s, looking through the paper, I saw the comic strip Nancy; in it, she was playing with her virtual pets – feeding the cat, tossing a ball to the dog, making sure they were happy. In the last panel, the perspective widens out from Nancy at her computer to show the living, breathing pets she was ignoring.

Idols come in different shapes and sizes, and they are rarely villainous. What makes them idols is the power I give them.

Biblical Reflection, Meditation, Theology

Now Concerning…

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What are the spiritual gifts, and how do you identify who has which one? Are they a measure of our worth, a means of comparing spirituality and godliness? Paul had quite a bit to say about such questions.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll take a look at his words. Who knows where they might lead us…such as:

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed. 1Corinthians 12:1, NRSV

Words have power – something Paul knew well. What is said or written can sway opinions, leading listeners and readers into greater understanding or leading them astray. Deceit can have tragic consequences, just as honesty can be life-giving. Whenever we offer words about the spiritual life, we would do well to take seriously the effect they could have on others.

To the best of his ability, Paul used his words to inform and uplift – to offer a nudge toward a deeper connection with God and neighbor, and a better sense of self. He writes, I do not want you to be uninformed because he wanted good things for others. That is a worthy goal, and a good indication that what follows this opening sentence in chapter twelve will be well worth reading…

art, Meditation

A Worthy Life

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Some days, it’s easy to mistake the life I’ve been given for something of little value or consequence. In the grand scheme of things, I’m here for a very short period of time, I interact with an absurdly limited number of people and places, and I’m too easily distracted and stymied by life’s inconveniences. I’ll be forgotten soon after I’ve returned to the ashes and dust that formed me. There won’t be any statues of me, or any lasting work of art that I’ll leave behind, no permanent evidence of my existence at all beyond records of my birth, marriage, and death tucked into a file cabinet or digital storage.

But if that’s how I see life, I’ve missed the point. Its goal is not to leave behind a marker to prove I lived or proclaim my worth. The point is to live the sacred time I’ve been given, and to honor the sanctity of all life around me. I’m meant to be a light that illuminates the path for others as they live out their own precious time – and as others have done for me.

Isn’t that more than enough?

Thank you, Martin Luther King, Jr., for lighting the way. And grateful thanks for all the others who have done the same.