No. 59 Okay. In what sense is a spiritual gift �spiritual�? Should spiritual gifts be distinguished from other kinds of gifts, such as God-given talents, abilities, and skills? When might it be desirable to make such a distinction and when might it be undesirable to do so? Can Luther�s teaching on vocation be helpful here? >>DR. LEOPALDO SANCHEZ M.: Joshua, some time ago I spoke of the Spirit's works as having a bodily and a social character to them. Now, as to the bodily dimension of the Spirit's works, I said that the Spirit works through creaturely means and sanctifies them to carry out God's purposes. As to the social dimension of the Spirit's works, I mentioned that the Spirit works to bring separate individuals, even strangers, into a relationship with one another. Now, think about this: If we pay seriously the bodily aspect of the Spirit's work, then we cannot say that a spiritual gift is spiritual in the sense that it is completely separated from so-called natural created gifts. For this reason I do not tend to make an absolute clear-cut distinction between gifts of the Spirit and God given talents or between spiritual gifts and God-given abilities and skills. If we also take seriously the social aspect of the Spirit's work, then we cannot say that a spiritual gift has nothing or little to do with our vocations in life through which we serve the neighbor. The CTCR document on spiritual gifts I mentioned before actually invites us to think of spiritual gifts in relationship to and within the larger framework of first article gifts and vocation. In light of our considerations on the bodily and relational character of the Spirit's works, this invitation is theologically justifiable. It makes sense theologically. Within this broader perspective, we may say, for example, that the gifts of the Spirit do not necessarily replace but rather mold or even redirect God-given talents, abilities and vocations so that in all our works God might be glorified and the neighbor served. Think for example of the guitar player in church. God has given him the ability, the skills, to play the guitar. In that sense it is a created gift. But the Spirit can sanctify that. He can sanctify those skills. He can sanctify those God given abilities so that he may help the church come together to worship her Lord. In that sense the gift of music is also placed within the context of vocation. It is what that guitar player does in the context of the congregation to serve the neighbor. You see, the Spirit can work through creaturely means and God-given talents to bring this to carry out God's purposes in this or that context of vocation.