The Plumbline

Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter - all are celebratory times in the Christian faith. In a world as diverse as ours, we see all kinds of "customs" and "ways" of doing or celebrating things or seasons that are somewhat different from those we may have been raised to observe ourselves. The passage of time even affects the customs and ways of various people's celebrations. Just look at the tendency to all eat dinner as a family in the 50's being replaced with the "catch as catch can" type of family gatherings we see today. Or consider the 'old way' of setting up a room so it was good for conversation vs. today's custom of setting it up so it is good for TV viewing or playing games on the game system! Yet, when a people holds to a custom, there are always going to be others who will find some fault with it. Haman then spoke with King Xerxes: "There is an odd set of people scattered through the provinces of your kingdom who don't...

Different carries the idea of being dissimilar in some way - to some, it even carries the connotation of something being inferior to another.  For example, when you can buy the name brand or the generic, some feel there is a clear difference between the two - one is inferior to the other.  While I sometimes agree with this when it comes to buying "the real deal" or the "knock-off", I don't think this applies to the gifts God bestows in our lives.  None of the gifts from God are "inferior" to another.  If they are "different", it simply means one stands as unique to the other.  They are distinct, not ordinary, and they vary.  In some respects, we may all possess the "same" gift, but we manifest it in a variety of ways - each unique to our personality, circle of influence, etc.  Spiritual gifts are never "inferior" or "superior" to one another - they are designed to be used by the one who possesses them in a manne...