John Ortberg Live
John C. Ortberg, Jr.
October 1, 1994
When LEADERSHIP was founded nearly fifteen years ago, it included something unusual for clerical publications of the time: humor. The editors thought then (and continue to believe) that the ability to laugh about the tensions of ministry is healthy. In that vein, we inaugurate this column from pastor John Ortberg.
Over the past 25 years or so, there has been a proliferation of materials on spiritual gifts. It turns out that the main reason it has been so hard to get people to volunteer for church work all these years is that people have been trying to work "outside their area of giftedness" (as if, for example, Michael Jordan should try to be a baseball player).
So, diagnosing your ministry potential has become a cottage industry. It started with a few simple inventories. Then the process got finessed and nuanced until today a small battery of trained consultants, theologians, and licensed mental health practitioners are required to help you identify your spiritual gift(s), personality temperament, passion, charismatic/non-charismatic tendencies, primary dysfunction in family of origin, and most flattering colors (winter, spring, summer, or fall) before you can sign up to serve donuts at the coffee hour. It requires more time and study than acquiring a D.Min. degree (although that places it in a broad and fertile category that would include getting a driver's license, getting a fishing license, and skimming the "Humor in Uniform" section in Reader's Digest).
Generally, I believe this emphasis on spiritual gift inventories to be a positive development. Just imagine what Augustine or Luther or St. Vitus ("creative communication") could have done if they'd have known their ministry profile.
But there are a few bugs that still need ...
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