Red Gift
Canvas: 20” x 24”
Cost: $1,500
Date: July 14, 2019
Artist Statement
Christ’s church is a complete Body…not all Apostle…not all Interpreter of Tongues. And yet some of you keep competing for so-called “important” parts. But now I want to lay out a far better way for you. If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.—1 Corinthians 12:27 - 13:1 (The Message Version)
My friend and pastor, Doug Glynn, focused his sermon on a contentious issue among Christians—the gift of speaking in tongues—and how his own seminary required him to sign a statement verifying he had spoken in tongues to receive his minister’s license! Doug emphasized the need to base our understanding of the gifts of the Holy Spirit on Biblical text; warned against making the gifts a status symbol; encouraged everyone to invite the Holy Spirit to move freely in them; and reiterated that the heart of Christ’s ministry is love.
I, like Doug, have experienced negative things in regard to Christianity’s handling of the Gifts, which seems to cause more division than unity; so I almost said ‘No’ to painting on this theme. Then, early that Sunday morning, I re-read 1 Corinthians, Chapter 12, and was shocked by The Message version… “you keep competing for so called ‘important’ parts (gifts).” But this made perfect sense in the context of what immediately follows, “...now I want to lay out a far better way…love.” So, the gifts are worthless without love! Then, this image came to me. A Wild-Spirit-Wind flows from Mother (Holy Spirit) to Older Daughter (Believer), to Younger Daughter (New Believer). Older Daughter gives a gift (interpreting tongues, prophecy, etc.) in humble service and wrapped in red—Christ’s precious, saving blood! The point of the gift is knowing Christ! Younger Daughter joyfully accepts it as her two rowdy Older Brothers miss out on the moment fighting for a bigger and better gift. But, Mother is not worried, she knows that eventually they will tire out and come around. For now, she just delights in seeing her little children grow up strong together in LOVE!!