Saint Paul and I have lots in common:
- He was a writer—I am a writer!
- He wrote books—I have written books!
- His books are in the New Testament—I have read his books in the New Testament!
(As you can see, Paul and I are tight!)
Paul listed nine spiritual gifts in I Corinthians 12. New Testament scholars and others have identified 28 spiritual gifts in all, including Paul’s nine.
Because Paul and I are tight, I felt free to add two additional spiritual gifts:
My No. 10 is “spiritual charisma.” (Mother Theresa had spiritual charisma—“the ability to attract a following.”) Her Church canonized her, a Saint.
My No. 11 is “spiritual humor.” Spiritual humor is available to all of us and to our churches. By telling you, that makes it official!
All kidding aside, humor is profoundly spiritual! One cannot be humorous when angry, depressed, when filled with anxiety, frightened, or disgusted. These are “anti-spiritual” conditions, and they destroy humor.
Moreover, humor can help impart spiritual revelation about the character of God, and reveal God’s loving-kindness towards us. (What if God had made the world without humor? (Think about it—if you have enough courage.) Humor is a spiritual thing; a spiritual GIFT, given to all of us, and—especially, to churches!
