The Holy Spirit gives each of His children at least one of nine gifts, listed in I Corinthians 12:7-11:
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
Let’s discuss the most controversial ones: Healing, tongues, and prophecy, the so-called “sign” gifts. We’ll focus on tongues and prophecy the most. When the charismatic wave hit the U.S. in the early 1980s, much ink was spilled in controversy. You could say I’m 35 years too late on this, but the subject was raised in an excellent book I’m reading: The Supernatural Worldview, by Cris Putnam. So let’s have a go at it.
The biggest outcry against the use of the sign gifts was by conservative, supposedly Bible-believing churches. At the time, I broke away from my Baptist roots and joined a charismatic church. My former pastor didn’t have a kind word for me after that, saying that what I was hearing in a tongues-speaking was from the devil. I must say, though, I learned much in the new setting—particularly in small groups, where we were encouraged to be accountable, and to listen to what people were saying to us, who on occasion were hearing from the Lord. I learned about my weaknesses, my strengths, my gifts--and found mine. Used it a couple times, and was respected. The educational emphasis was unexpected, since the charismatic churches have been accused of emphasizing emotion instead of intellect. But from what I observed, tongues were followed by interpretation, prophecies were judged to be Scriptural; it seemed to be an orderly setting.
The theology that the non-believers in sign-gifts came up with to support their view was called “cessationism.” They maintained that (1) the Holy Spirit’s purpose for the sign gifts was finished in the first century; (2) the sign gifts were given exclusively to the twelve apostles; and (3) the gift of apostleship no longer exists. One of their favorite proof texts is I Corinthians 13:8-11:
Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
The cessationists believe tongues and prophecy are ways “progressive” churches want to hear “new” doctrines from the Lord, but then become open to deception and manipulation. My personal experience wasn’t that way—although it’s possible it did happen elsewhere that way. (They also loved to say, the tongues they heard about are “gibberish” and we need to “put away childish things.”) But getting down to it, their real Scriptural “proof” is insisting the word “perfect” in the above verse refers to the arrival of the New Testament canon. Once that happened, they say, all these sign gifts “vanished away,” and what happens now is not from the Holy Spirit, since there is no new “hearing from the Lord.” They say the Lord is heard from in Scripture, period—not through tongues or prophecy, they say.
But these verses are not saying what they want them to say. Let’s hear from John Piper, conservative theologian and author, speaking about the word “perfect” in verse 12:
“It says ‘Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.’ Is it more likely that Paul is saying, ‘Now before the New Testament is written, we see in a mirror dimly; but then when the New Testament is written, we shall see face to face’? Or is it more likely he is saying, ‘Now in this age we see in a mirror dimly; but then when the Lord returns, we shall see (Him) face-to-face’?”
The latter version, as he implies, is much more likely correct--especially since there are several references in the Old Testament, and at least two in the New (Revelation 22:4, I John 3:2), that our desire is to see Jesus face to face. Thus, cessationists have lost their main "proof" verse. Perhaps all the gifts are still active, still Spirit-inspired, until Jesus has His second advent. Then they will vanish away.
The non-believers give this further argument: The arrival of New Testament canon, and its wonderful general guidance, meant “hearing from the Lord” on some specific issue is not necessary--so we “don’t need” the sign gifts; we should just read Scripture to get general guidance, and rely on feelings from the Holy Spirit for specifics. They’re assuming that charismatics are easily deluded in swallowing an anti-Christian idea that might creep up as a deception. Well, it's possible, there are probably tongue-speaking charlatans trying to delude. On the other hand, think about this, though: if indeed the devil is busy making sign-gift counterfeits, could that mean that his focus on smearing these gifts mean he is worried about this being the real thing, and its impact on converting people to the Lord?
Well, what do you do about the possibility of charlatans? The answer is, the most spiritual men should do increased discernment. This is better than doing a sweeping dismissal of the entire gift. Throwing out all of it—baby and bath water—is the lazy choice, and not the best one. Paul is concerned about charlatans: he talks about performing intervention if possible deception like that goes on (I Corinthians 14:32,33).
Now let’s talk about counter arguments. Those who believe in sign gifts argue that the “power” in Mark 16:17 refers to a Holy Spirit gifting:
And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;
But this power is for the purpose of globalizing the gospel to “the end of the earth," right (Acts 1:8)? Well, that goal hasn’t quite happened yet. So, we still need the gift. To argue that the purpose of sign gifts expired in the first century's apostles (or in the fourth century, when the canon was completed) is bogus.
Plus, the argument that it was limited to the apostles doesn’t hold water. Stephen had it, Acts 6:8, and so did Philip, Acts 8:13, and neither one was an apostle:
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people
Then Simon himself also believed; and when he was baptized he continued with Philip, and was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done.
And then there are Paul’s detailed instructions on these gifts. In I Corinthians, three chapters are devoted off-and-on to this difficult subject—three chapters means it’s important, but pastors still stay away from this rather than figuring it all out. In all those chapters, he says nothing about these gifts ceasing.
Read his words in I Corinthians 1:7:
so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ
That clearly indicates that he wants to see everyone possessing all the gifts, all the way up to the last days, “the revelation of our Lord.” So he was teaching the opposite of cessation. Consider, too, what he "bragged" in I Corinthians 14:18:
I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all
Well, that speaks a good word for tongues, does it not? Now in all honesty, Paul has restrictions on tongues—and he figures another gift, prophecy, is more important. He wants an interpretation to each tongue, because otherwise no one could understand it (I Cor. 14:2). By the way, this by itself dismisses a frequent cessationist argument that tongues, if they operate, should all be like Acts 2, in a known language—so someone gets usefulness out of it. But here Paul is flat-out saying, if you don’t have an interpreter, no one will understand your tongue. So he’s definitely saying that it’s an unknown tongue to everyone. But with an interpretation, it becomes useful. That idea is further confirmed in I Corinthians 14:15:
What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.
To give this contrasting statement “I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding,” suggests they sang or prayed in an unknown tongue (which was without understanding, unless there was an interpreter; in a private prayer, you wouldn't have an interpreter). Having a gift of tongues, even operated quietly by oneself, is still a spiritual uplift to the person.
Pastors nowadays hang on to cessationism, I fear, because all this “gibberish” in public would turn people off. But in those days, the church still grew using these gifts. Are people that much different today? I say, no--if it's genuine, and lives of those giving utterances have indeed changed.
A couple serious words of warning: Do not try to force yourself to speak in tongues through an altered state of consciousness, brought on by chanting, breathing irregularly, “emptying your mind,” drugs, or any other way. There is no Scripture backing you up, and you may indeed be inviting demons to come in for residence. I must confess, though I am in favor of all gifts, from Scripture, I have never spoken in tongues. The other word of warning is, don't expect to increase your church's population by pushing tongues. On the other hand, if everyone possesses the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22ff), you'll grow lots.
Paul also said that tongues in a church service were for the unbelievers; i.e., to have them see that God is at work in this service. I Corinthians 14:22:
tongues are for a sign, not to those who believe but to unbelievers
But don’t get the idea that tongues have to be limited to a Billy Graham crusade tent in Africa. We showed their further usefulness above. And here’s a short testimony by a noted church father, Irenaeus, in 202 AD. “…we do also hear many brethren in the Church, who possess prophetic gifts, and who through the Spirit speak all kinds of languages, and bring to light for the general benefit the hidden things of men, and declare the mysteries of God…they being spiritual because they partake of the Spirit.” This says, first of all, that tongues and prophecies didn’t die with the apostles—since Irenaeus was 100 years later. (Augustine, a great (but controversial) theologian in the fifth century, had kept a record of a long list of miracles in his day as well tied to gifts). Secondly, this implies that tongues, when interpreted, are also useful in church in revealing a sin that became a convicting rebuke to some unbelievers. (Rebuking unbelievers in their sin: there’s a concept.))
Finally, Paul writes, not just for the church at Corinth, but for everybody, I Corinthians 14:39:
Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues.
The second half of the verse is exactly what many “Bible-believing” pastors are doing, forbidding it, breaking this command from God.
Speaking of miracles: Miracles go on today, but hardly ever in the U.S. There are constant mission reports of many miracles in South America, India, Asia, and Africa. Many involve healing. Where demonic activity is visible, God steps up the supernatural and makes Himself more visible. But not much of this happens in the U.S. My suspicion? Satan can see that the U.S. churches are weak because they can’t overcome people’s materialism. We are lukewarm. (Are we the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-18?) So why should he “rock the boat” that is swinging us to sleep? The author, Cris Putnam, quotes a Barna poll that indicates that 59% of the U.S. “Christians” do NOT believe there is a real Satan! Satan is fine with this; he hopes we all lull ourselves into hell. Shades of C.S. Lewis’s Screwtape Letters! We must remember that Jesus would not work miracles when faced with stubborn unbelief (Matthew 13:58). We cannot let this lack of miracles be a self-fulfilling prophecy—in other words, if the lack of miracles increases our cynicism—this would lead to even fewer miracles yet.
It’s possible people are using gifts without knowing in advance about them. There is a story about the great preacher Charles Spurgeon—a Calvinist and likely cessationist, by the way, who stumbled into miracles of his own. In his autobiography he tells how he interrupted a sermon to point at a young man in the audience, telling him that the gloves he was wearing were stolen from his employer! (A bold move). Later in his office, the dumbfounded and convicted young man confessed his sin. Spurgeon further wrote, “I could tell as many as a dozen similar cases in which I pointed at somebody in the hall without having the slightest knowledge of the person .…except I believed I was moved by the Spirit to say it.” Whether he knew it or not, that’s the gift of knowledge in operation. We’re often ignorant of our gift, or don’t want to use it, or afraid to use it. Mr. Spurgeon’s faith door must have been opened a little more after that supernatural event.
And this gets to the reason for the author Mr. Putnam mentioning this subject. His book is about the supernatural. But cessationism is a refusal to believe in certain kinds of supernatural. Putnam calls this doctrine a “sanctified form of unbelief,” and believes we are discounting the supernatural in American churches. Sermons are not exposing or attacking Satan, or educating people on demons, for instance. They are also dismissing the power of the Holy Spirit by marginalizing three of His nine divine gifts--that is not a good thing. Mr. Putnam calls it “demythologizing the Holy Spirit.” Since the Holy Spirit is God, denying His power may lead to His judgment on the cessationalist.
According to Joel 2:28-31:
“And it shall come to pass afterward That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your old men shall dream dreams, Your young men shall see visions. 29 And also on My menservants and on My maidservants will pour out My Spirit in those days…And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
What if many churches, dismissing the supernatural, then dismisses these prophecies, visions, and dreams that may happen in their church in the end-time days? God wants to warn us of the upcoming End Times tribulation, and maybe provides these signs. If we react stone-faced to information God wants us to know, if He presented it to us in this "distasteful" way, and we ignore it, we won’t be ready for the antichrist—and could then be easily manipulated and even fall into apostasy. That temptation will be greatest among those who believe in a pre-tribulation rapture—when they see that that belief was wrong. (I have other blogs on that subject). Unfortunately, many of the “pre-trib” churches are also cessationists. A double-punch is coming to their faith. Not getting a rapture, then not believing the warnings, they will be blindsided by Satan. The resulting demoralization will mean they are not ready in the face of persecution. So it's possible to conclude that many people could fall into apostasy simply because they walled off God’s use of supernatural gifts (Matthew 24:24).
Finally, let’s read about the church in Acts 2:40-47:
And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly[a] received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. 46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[ daily those who were being saved.
Or, how about I Corinthians 14:26:
How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification
This was a church that had great power, so we should desire to copy it as much as possible, right? But I’ve never heard anybody express any desire to follow that simple “copy the best” idea. Our churches are lacking in many of the areas you read in those two verses above, are we not? The fact is, young people are abandoning their parent’s churches—perhaps because the services seem to be just “going through the motions.” Not much evidence that God is there. Young people see this as hypocrisy.
I want it alive like it was in the early church. Maybe we won’t get this feeling of participation and togetherness that they had until we get persecuted like they were. But cessationism won’t get us into those blessings, that’s for sure.
Acknowledgements: Cris Putnam, The Supernatural Worldview
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