Spiritual Gifts--abused, diminished, forgotten???

"Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."  (1 Corinthians 12:4-7)

Circa 1985--The Lord had brought me through all manner of denominational/ecclesiastical structures. I began in Christian Science, moved to Catholicism, then to Plymouth Brethren, an excursion into Presbyterianism (the biblical variety, OPC), on to a "home church" (a rare biblical one), onward to the Charismatic movement and Pentecostal expressions right into "deliverance" ministry and finally, settling into traditional/contemporary non-denominational fellowships. It needs to be noted, I was not "searching" in the sense of one looking for enlightenment, or spirituality (whatever that is), nor was I picking and choosing snippets from each iteration of faith creating my own "truth." Geographical moves necessitated looking for a place to worship communally in a biblical expression of church. It must be noted that this doesn't mean I did not find any--or at least solid portions of one--among the examples mentioned. Suffice it to say, I have been around the theological block more than most.

The spiritual gifts are confusing to many and candidly, even after my vast pilgrimages, they are to me as well.  But not everything pertaining to the gifts of the Spirit are confusing.  Strangely enough, in my experience, of the clearest aspects of the gifts seem to be the most widely abused.

Circa 1987--I am at a conference sponsored by a burgeoning, charismatic ministry wherein at the end an invitation for prayer was given. I rose to volunteer as a pray-er not to be prayed for. A man approached our little cluster and asked for prayer.  The man was a pastor who was terribly discouraged so we began to pray. (I was at this conference as a learner, not an expert.) The prayers of the group (there were maybe 5 of us) somehow turned quickly to imposing the gift of speaking in tongues on this beleaguered pastor. Over the course of the next half hour this poor man was subjected to a haranguing by the pray-ers to receive the gift of tongues. "Do you want this gift?" He was asked. He responded affirmatively. Praying commenced increasing in pitch, fervor and volume with the pray-ers becoming more aggressive and insisting the pastor was being resistant, wasn't believing, wasn't open to receiving etc. After 20 minuets he was in tears pleading for the gift insisting he wasn't resistant with the pray-ers insisting he didn't have the faith... I was witnessing and by my presence, part of, a spiritual rape of a dear man being savaged by well-meaning but theologically inept people compelled to make excuses for God's "not showing up."

Since that day I have seen or heard of many other iterations of this spiritual brutality many, many times. It is reprehensible for 4 verses later in Paul's letter to the Corinthians God's counsel is exceedingly clear.  Referring to the gifts, the inspired, infallible, inerrant, authoritative Word of God explains--

                                    "All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit,

                        who apportions to each one individually as He wills."
                                                      (1 Corinthians 12:11)

It isn't rocket science...