Another great week of responses and questions.  Here are some answers to questions that arose and couldn’t be answered in a 160 characters.  It’s encouraging to see people asking questions about what we believe as a denomination, so, in some answers, I have selected (italics) points from a document about speaking in tongues, produced by the CTCR (Commission on Theology and Church Relations) which is a component of the LCMS church to help us understand and clearly state what we as a synod confess and believe. 

What is our church's (or LCMS) views on these gifts present day, specifically speaking in tongues and prophecy?

Below is the concluding points from the document, followed by a summary of the points that I took away.  
The Holy Scriptures Teach:

1. That we are justified alone by the atoning work of Jesus Christ.

2. That the forgiveness of our sins on account of Christ, promised and offered in the Gospel, is our righteousness before God.

3. That it is by faith alone that we accept God’s promised offer of forgiveness and are justified.

4. That the faith by which we accept God’s forgiveness on account of Christ is the work of God’s Spirit through the external means of grace, namely, the preaching (teaching) of the Gospel, Holy Baptism, Holy Absolution, and the Lord’s Supper. Through these external means the Holy Spirit works faith in the heart when and where it pleases God. Through these external means of grace the Holy Spirit, together with all that is necessary for life and salvation, is given to those who believe.

5. That faith, which is the work of God’s Spirit, is the confident assurance that for Christ’s sake we are forgiven and accepted by God as righteous. Through this confident faith in the promise of God the accusing voice of conscience is quieted and the troubled heart finds rest. 

It Is Contrary to the Holy Scriptures, and Therefore Dangerous to the Salvation of Men, to Teach:

1. That God desires every Christian, following Baptism, to have a “second experience” such as the “baptism with the Spirit.”

2. That the so-called “gifts of the Spirit” are external signs by which we can assure ourselves that we have faith, are living in God’s grace, or have the Spirit of God.

3. That God promises every Christian such gifts as speaking in tongues, healing, discerning of spirits, and prophesy and that God has given such a promise as a part of the “full” or “complete Gospel.”

4. That a “conversion experience,” “baptism with the Spirit,” or other inner religious experience is necessary for, or should be urged upon, Christians in order that they may be certain either of having faith and salvation or of the indwelling of God’s Spirit.

5. That a Christian who has not had such an experience either has an incomplete faith, is unconverted and is still living under the rule of sin or has only accepted Christ as his Savior but not as his Lord.

6. That the sanctification of a Christian is incomplete unless he possesses the gift of speaking in tongues.

7. That God promises healing and health to every Christian in this life and that, if such healing does not occur, it is due to a lack of faith.

8. That God gives guidance and leadership to the church today through visions and dreams or direct prophecy.

Clearly our church’s focus in regard to “speaking in tongues” is not whether it happens or not, but what we believe is the result of “speaking in tongues”.  If we think we must “speak in tongues” to be assured of faith, that is not biblical.  If someone states that while they were speaking in tongues or given a prophecy and it does not align with the teaching of scripture, it is clear that it is not truly from God.  If someone speaks in tongues and it is not beneficial (think back to last week’s focus) then there is danger to leading others astray.  If the focus of a worship service, or an experience, is on the ability to speak in tongues or feel the Holy Spirit, then that is not biblical.   If you are actively seeking to “speak in tongues” in order to experience faith, or be certain you have received the Holy Spirit, that is not biblical.

Certainty of Salvation by Grace through Faith Alone in Christ is found in the Word and the Sacraments, that is what is biblical.  The other gifts listed in Corinthians were influential for the apostolic age and would certainly be welcome in this age, if they build up the church and reinforce what scripture teaches, not if they are the prerequisite to assurance of faith.  

Many people are often discouraged because they see others participating in “speaking in tongues”, describe feeling the Holy Spirit, state that they can perceive in others what is harming them or hurting them, or some other faith experience.  Any one who insists that a Christian must have a faith experience beyond baptism (which is not a faith experience, rather it is God giving to the person, not the person feeling or doing anything) or must feel the Holy Spirit is not speaking or teaching from scripture. 

So to make a long post, short (too late) don’t be so quick to condemn or look down or fear someone who says they speak in tongues or feel’s the Holy Spirit.  Don’t also think that you are less of a disciple of Jesus if you have never spoken in tongues or felt the Holy Spirit.  What the apostle Paul and the rest of scripture says matters is “Faith Expressing itself in Love”.  You’re saved by Jesus, not your feeling of Jesus, You love because he first loved you, not because you feel like loving. 

How do we approach the process to reconcile any strife or discord if we as members of the body of Christ must strive to be obedient servants and as Paul emphasizes in Chapter 13 use love as the most excellent way to enhance our spiritual gifts?

If I could answer this, I’d write a book and retire

Reconciling strife and discord either individually or corporately is never easy.  This is a tough question but not a new one.  Peter asked Jesus a very similar question in Matthew 18, regarding forgiveness, and the amount of times we should forgive.  We also see in Matthew 18 that speaking the truth in love and going directly to the person you have strife or discord with is a good biblical practice, followed by bringing others, and then the church.  There’s also An interesting case study in reconciling strife and discord in the 2 letters to Corinthians we’re reading regarding the person who was sleeping with his father’s wife (See 1 Co 5 & 2 Co 2).   

But the bottom line is, what’s the balance between forgiving and loving and being taken advantage of.  I don’t remember where, but I heard once that if a Christian were to really believe the bible, that if someone walked up and asked them for their coat, they need to immediately give it and if they asked them for their home and all their processions they’d have to do that too.  I’m not too sure that’s exactly what Jesus meant when he was talking about on the sermon on the mount.

What I am sure about is that Jesus cared an awful lot about where your heart was in regard to forgiveness and love.  Memorizing the most excellent way to love and having a heart that is looking to forgive and heal from strife and discord is the place where Jesus wants us to start.   

When Love (a love that comes from and is built on Christ) is in whatever your spiritual gift is, demonstrates itself in your gift, it is certainly amazing to watch how Christ heals us and our relationships.