Receiving a gift of the Holy Spirit as significant as, say, speaking in
tongues or healing seems to me to be proof of one’s piety and method of
worship. To me, such gifts signify that a person is “on the right
track.” So, what if the person who received that kind of “validation
from God” isn’t a member of the Catholic Church? If God wanted that
person to be Catholic, wouldn’t the “tongues” (or at least the heart) be
telling him that? It makes me wonder.
Thanks,
Tari
Dear Tari
Peace in Christ! A gift from God is simply that: a gift. God does not
necessarily disperse gifts on the basis of a person’s spiritual life and
maturity, method of worship, or goodness. So, if God gives a person
outside the Catholic Church a gift, whatever else He may be doing in His
goodness, He is not “validating” that person. He is giving a
gift, which is what our Father does. God our Father, as Creator of all
humanity, even gives gifts to the non-baptized. This is why the presence
of a gift should not be considered as a “validation” of the person’s
ministry, maturity, or worship. Jesus worked miracles and performed
signs and wonders as a validation of His Messianic anointing. From this,
it does not follow that gifts are always and only for the purpose of
validation. Is it not interesting that Paul’s writings to the
Corinthians (1 Cor. 3:1-3) have much to say about the presence and
active use of spiritual gifts, yet the Corinthians were still babes in
Christ who spent a lot of time in jealousy and division?
Charismatic gifts and the charismatic renewal in general have been
recognized by the Church as a sign of vitality and good for the Church.
Anyone, however, who has had any experience with charismatics, Catholics
or otherwise, knows that such gifts are easy to abuse or misuse. One
common abuse and error is to suppose that a gift of the Spirit endows
one with authority over another or in some way validates their worship.
In other words, “validates” the person who has the gift. Yet, gifts that
give one authority are gifts that proceed from Christ’s ascension to His
throne at the right hand of God, where all authority in Heaven and earth
was given to Him.
What one might call “ascension gifts” are gifts of authority. Paul
refers to these gifts and their purpose in Ephesians 4:8-16. The
ministry of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers is
carried on through apostolic succession in the bishops and, thereby, in
the ordained ministry of priests and deacons. Their job is to preserve
and teach the Deposit of Faith as handed down from Christ and the
apostles—that is to say, the objective teaching of Christ taught by
those endowed with authority through Him and the apostolic succession.
This is what “validates” authority in the Church, not the presence of a
gift. In fact, gifts themselves must be judged and discerned by
legitimate authority (cf. 1 Cor. 14:37-40).
The gifts that were given when the Holy Spirit descended, one might call
“descension gifts.” Though the Holy Spirit is a consubstantial member of
the Trinity—that is to say, He is God—His role in the “economy” of
salvation, i.e., its administration—is subservient to Christ. The Spirit
is sent to the Church by the Father in Christ’s name (Jn. 14:26). And
when He comes, Jesus said, He will not speak on His own authority, but
that which He hears, and He will glorify Christ (Jn. 16:12-15). Because
the role of the Holy Spirit is not one of authority with regard to
carrying out the work of the Kingdom, His gifts are not gifts that endow
one with authority, but are for the purpose of day-to-day work in the
Church. These gifts must be used properly by those who have them and
always under the authority of the Church.
In conclusion, the presence of gifts outside the Catholic Church does
not validate the person’s religious life or affiliation. The disciples
forbade a man they found casting out demons in Jesus’ name because the
man was not among them (Mk. 9:38-41). Jesus said not to forbid the man,
implicitly acknowledging the legitimacy of the man’s power to cast out
demons. Nonetheless, it was upon the company of apostles alone that
Christ built His Church, with Peter as the head of the apostolic
college. The authority of Christ in the Church is only acknowledged by
union with the successors of the apostles (the bishops) in union with
the successor of St. Peter.
I hope this answers your question. If you have further questions on this
or would like more information about Catholics United for the Faith,
please contact us at 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484). Please keep us in your
prayers as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of
the teaching Church.”
United in the Faith,
David E. Utsler
Information Specialist
Catholics United for
the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
