In the early 1990's a commercial came out declaring that Pork was the other white meat. Although catchy, it was an untrue phrase that mislead people into thinking that it was healthy to eat pork. Today in the church, there is a similar campaign occurring by the promotion of a doctrine called, "Cessationism."
No doubt there has been great debate, discussion, and argument regarding if the gifts of the Spirit are truly in operation today or if they ceased after the death of the original Apostles or the canonization of the scriptures. Cessationism promotes the idea of the latter. I will discuss why I believe that view is untrue.
No scriptural basis
First off, I see no scriptural basis for such a view. Often Cessationists quote Paul in 1 Cor. 13:8-10 where he wrote that the gift of tongues, prophesy and knowledge would eventually cease or pass away. In verse 10 he says that these partial things - these gifts of the Spirit - would pass away when the perfect arrived. Many Cessationists argue that Paul was referring to the Bible when he wrote about the perfect arriving. They claim the Bible is perfect and therefore that is what Paul was referring to when he wrote 1 Cor. 13:10. However they fail to show that the Bible is what Paul meant when he said, "the perfect."
Besides being unable to show Paul meant the bible as being that perfect thing, they don't acknowledge that there remains many imperfect things in this life today, things which the Bible addresses them through the operation of the gifts of the Spirit. People are still sick. People are still in darkness needing direction for specific issues the Bible doesn't speak to. People still have communication barriers to overcome when presenting the gospel and when knowing what to pray. But these problems are often dismissed with flippant and shallow commands to "...just study the Bible more." instead of allowing the Spirit to address them directly through the supernatural gifts.
Cessationists also talk as if the Bible is all we need now. The Holy Spirit seems to be the unwanted, uninvited guest, replaced by our holy book. Cessationists seem to exalt the scriptures, to the point of ignoring the work of the Holy Spirit and almost to the point of Bibliolatry, which is the worship of the scriptures themselves. The way they talk, you'd think the Bible has replaced the Holy Spirit in the Godhead.
Some things have not changed. Didn't the Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus' day do the same? They rejected Christ and His work in favor of their Torah and their traditions made of men. Today we have pastors that reject the Holy Spirit and His work in favor of their man made doctrines. Doubtless, some will protest that statement as an unfair comparison but if the Holy Spirit is truly moving today in the gifts, then they are not merely rejecting the gifts, they are rejecting the Holy Spirit.
Apostles Promoted the Gifts
The early church had the Apostles who wrote the New Testament with them. These men had been with Jesus - closer than anyone else. They had witnessed His life and ministry up close and personal. They knew the scriptures thoroughly and even had the privilege of sitting directly under the teaching of Christ. The Word made flesh expounded on the word of God. He revealed its meaning and taught with authority. What an education! Talk about knowing the Bible! They knew the Bible! They knew the Living Bible Himself! And yet they themselves encouraged that the gifts of the Spirit be pursued and used in the churches. The operation of the gifts was normal for them. It was part of everyday church life and policy. If they, the writers of the New Testament, viewed the gifts as that important in those days, how much more should we? If they needed the gifts, how much more do we? There is no one on earth who witnessed the life of Christ more directly, except the Holy Spirit, and if we quench His work with our silly doctrines born of tradition then we will suffer for it.
But many today see no need for the gifts. We in the West, live in a culture that, for all intents and purposes, worships education, knowledge, and reason. We have great faith in science and medical science. Knowledge is often championed as the means to a better life, almost as a Savior that can create heaven on earth and get people out of the hell they've come from. The problem is there is some truth to that. Getting an education and obtaining the knowledge needed for decent paying careers to better oneself and one's station in life is important. Knowledge can change your life dramatically. But the downside of such a pursuit is that many are deceived into thinking that understanding and book knowledge is the primary means by which things are judged to be true. It's also seen as the primary solution to all of our problems. Bible study while essential to the Christian life can't meet all of our needs. We need God to move supernaturally in our lives if we are to be equipped to do all that He wants us to do and have all that He wants us to have.
Book knowledge is also seen as the primary method by which we experience God. This is not true. We were saved to be united to a Person, not to a book! We are spiritual creatures with supernatural needs. Cessationism in effect denies such needs or realities. Not only that, it waters down this glorious salvation and glorious gospel to mostly a mind focused faith. It emphasizes the importance of renewing our minds in Bible study while ignoring the other very important aspect of our faith. Is it any wonder that we do the opposite of what Paul told the Corinthian believers to do? He told them to "earnestly desire the higher gifts" in 1 Cor. 12:39. He also told them to "... earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues." But many churches today don't desire the gifts whatsoever and they forbid people to speak in tongues. wants us to experience Him fully in our bodies and souls not just with our minds.
Beyond and Chaotic
There is also a common belief in Cessationism circles that if God moves we will know it's God because we fully understand what's happening and we will be comfortable when He is moving.
While popular, this is untrue. People often fail to notice that the Bible reveals a God who does things that are beyond our understanding. He does things that
make His people uncomfortable. God does things that are beyond our understanding. Didn't He say, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8-9) ?
God has been known to do things that are chaotic. He does things that often look bizarre and strange. He does things that make us uncomfortable. Sure, He's a God of order but He's also been known to creates chaotic situations. Have you ever been in a hurricane or a blizzard? Have you ever seen a volcano erupt? Didn't the Psalmist write the God of glory thunders? (Ps. 29:3) Didn't He speak to Job out of a whirlwind? (Job 38:1)
When God came down on Mt. Sinai didn't the people tremble with fear and terror? What did they do when that happened? They told Moses, in so many words, "You talk to God. We don't want to talk to Him. He scares us!" What were they doing? They were quenching His Spirit. Why? Because they were afraid. They were no longer in control. They were no longer comfortable. This God of order, who ordered their steps and their religious practices, even their social laws right down to what to eat or what type of clothing to avoid wearing, was so overwhelming in His glory that they felt uncomfortable and thus rejected Him. They valued being in control more than experiencing a Glorious God who was much greater than what they had imagined Him to be. Times have not changed.
Wasn't Pentecost chaotic and strange? 12 men rushed out of the Upper room and were speaking in foreign languages to the crowds in Jerusalem. There were tongues of fire resting on them. It wasn't as orderly as a Baptist preacher would like to make it out. There was confusion in the event. Some truly believed that the Apostles were drunk. That fact alone dismisses the idea that if the Spirit of God moves everyone who witnesses it will automatically perceive it with accuracy and clarity thus understanding what is happening. Not so! Peter said that the prophets of old who spoke the word of God didn't know everything about that which they had prophesied. (1 Peter 1:9-11) They were moved by the Spirit to say and do things they didn't fully understand. Why should we expect to fully grasp all that God does these days? His ways and thoughts are so much higher than ours.
That is enough for now. I will continue on with this subject in future posts.
