I know what you mean - in a way. However, somehow it doesn't make sense to me. If mercy and love and hospitality and teaching were traits only Christians had, then you have a point. But people have such traits regardless of faith or lack of faith. It may still be a "gift" in the sense that some people are better at some things than others, but specifically Christian? Only in the sense that we are made in God's image which is the reason why we possess these qualities to begin with - believer and non-believer alike. But they are always there. They may deepen as a result of loving God, and having a conscious knowledge of God.

But since I believe - know - that God exists - and believe that all life comes from God, God's existence - His goodness - His mercy is not dependent on whether anyone at all believes in Him and the qualities that He passed on, when He made man in His image, exist in humanity regardless of belief. To me, all goodness in the world is a reflection of what Paul said to the Galatians about how they, in their ignorance, and imperfectly,
already worshipped God the Father and the Son, when they worshipped the Unknown God.

I see the whole thing in a much broader way, in a societal sense. Like we need the garbage man and the business owner. The food store and the flower shop. The mechanic and the doctor. And everything works together to make life better for all of us.

However, I also think that if love of God is part of a person, the way it ought to be part of a person, that person isn't thinking in terms of gifts, or in terms of being specifically Christian - it is in the air that they breathe. To me, the other way, implies consciously thinking of doing good which isn't a bad thing by any means, particularly if the other choice is doing bad things, but if doing good is a part of your nature, it wouldn't require thought, would it? If doing what is good and right is "natural", it doesn't involve thinking consciously about those things.

I don't know. I just can't seem to think like that. I'd rather just do.

Layla