The Gathering Place generally falls into the Christian sect known as Charismatic. In many circles, there is a negative stereotype about people who refer to themselves as Charismatic. Those stereotypes usually lump Charismatics, Pentecostals, and any other group that believes in the continual presence of supernatural gifts found in the Bible.
The groups that generally stereotype those who believe in the modern-day existence of supernatural gifts usually believe those gifts ceased to be in practice once the Bible was canonized at the Council of Carthage/Hippo around AD397. They believe that once the Bible was canonized, there was no longer any use for the spiritual gifts (except maybe in uncivilized areas where people didn’t have access to the Bible).
Such groups are known as Cessationists. The believe the supernatural gifts that were given to the Apostles were only given to start the early church. Today, the gifts have “Ceased” to be.
Those who believe in the supernatural gifts are generally assumed to be low-brow, uneducated, and ignorant. They are believed to be of the lower-class economy that depends on supernatural things to get them through the normal challenges of life. It could be said that many cessationists view Pentecostals and Charismatics much like Karl Marx viewed all religion. The belief in the supernatural gifts serve more as an “opiate of the masses,” than it does expanding the kingdom of heaven.
Standard Reasons for Cessationism
At the end of the day, when pressed to explain why they believe the gifts had ceased, there are three typical responses:
- When 1 Corinthians 13 says, “We know in part and we prophecy in part. But when full knowledge comes, prophecy will be done away with,” they take the fullness of knowledge to mean the canonization of the Bible, which happened in AD 397.
- There is a lack of personal interaction with the supernatural, therefore it must be a universal absence of the supernatural. Namely, the more educated and sophisticated we become, the less we need to rely on the supernatural. Also, since the church has been founded, it is now the role of the church, not the miracles that bring people to faith.
- Due to lack of legitimate methods for biblical interpretation to justify their position, many have adopted an “open but cautious” view to the gifts. This usually translates into practices as closed and not practicing in our community.
My Issue With Cessationist Reasons
I came from a non-religious upbringing. The void of spiritual vitality in my family and social circles led me into an interest magic. As a teenager, I practiced spells and transcendental mediation. I guided myself through books and experimentation. What I experienced in the spiritual realm was real. It was also shared by some of my peers. By the time I came to faith, I had some experience with the supernatural. Had I been exposed to a Cessationist form of Christianity, it would not have been enough to convince me of its validity.
In my post-conversion interactions with different groups of Christians, I quickly became aware of how lifeless many of the cessationists were in the spiritual arena. But that is not the reason I discount Cessationism. I do so because I am a voracious reader. As early as 17 years old, I read books related to theology, ecclesiology, Biblical interpretation, and even Christian martyrdom. Early on, I began to see a lack of legitimate premise for not believing in the modern day use of Biblical, supernatural gifts.
My Personal Journey of Critical Thought
As I mentioned earlier, the stereotype against Pentecostal & Charismatic groups was that they were uneducated, low-brow people. By the grace of God, I was afforded an opportunity to receive a Bacehlor’s degree as a double major: Classical Studies and History. It is in my undergrad studies that I learned to dismantle positions. I learned to question assumptions. I learned how to research and investigate. I learned the importance of Primary and Secondary sources. I learned basic trains of logic.
As a Christian, I put the scalpel of critical thinking against my own belief system (It would tought, but I wanted truth, not comfort). I tore apart my beliefs using logic, research (for and against my views), and proof. I also prayed deep soul prayers knowing the danger I could cause to myself. There were a lot of assumptions and attitudes I left on the cutting room floor. What I had remaining stood all my tests.
Graduate School
After I received my BA, I followed the guidance of the Holy Spirit to attend seminary. I moved to the other end of the state and attended one of the major Evangelical seminaries in the US. It was there I completed my Master of Divinity. Where my Bachelor degree taught me how to dismantle things with critical thinking, leaving the worthy things in tact, my Master’s level training taught me more precise methods of theological and biblical understanding. It was using these tools that I really began to question leaps of faith people had to make to get to a classic cessationist viewpoint.
In the end, it just wasn’t a credible interpretation. Lack of experience coupled with a dismissal of those who do experience it.
Responding to the 3 Cessationist Views
- There is no basis in 1 Corinthians 13 for saying the canonization of Scripture is what Paul is referring to. Paul believed Jesus would return anytime, like many of the other apostles. Some say the supernatural gifts were given to help establish the Church. That after the apostles faded, so did the gifts. Many try to say the gifts were only there for what they call the “Age of the Apostles.” Yet there is no biblical premise for that. The only other time you get a mention of the gifts ceasing is with John Chrysostom in the 4th century. And his statements were more based on a lack of personal experience. A contemporary of John Chystotom was Augustine of Hippo, who said speaking in tongues had “seemed” to stop, yet was replaced by “singing in tongues.” Keep in mind Augustine was also a man who toward the end of his life began to give weighty regard to prophetic dreams.
- The lack of personal interaction is hardly a legitimate basis for believing something isn’t there, especially since there are so many who have continued having the experiences. It seems the only gifts that are rejected are the ones that 1. Cannot be developed by conventional/controlled means: i.e. administration, teaching, giving. 2. That don’t fit in with distinguished individuals of higher education and class. Basically, those who can reason away the inconvenient and socially unacceptable gifts in favor of more distinguished ones.
- Open but Cautious. At least this group is intellectually honest in admitting they cannot prove scripturally that the gifts have ceased. However, they are very suspicious of anyone who practices them. So in the end, Open but Cautious still isn’t really willing to let the supernatural gifts be practiced in a Biblical manner (see 1 Corinthians 14). They just conveniently gear their congregations away from practicing them.
This is a very limited blog post about the difference between people who believe all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still relevant today and those who believe they have ceased. I personally cannot adopt a cessationist stance because I have seen the light and dark sides of the spiritual world. It is a part of who I am. I have encountered the demonic, the prophetic, the tongues, and the terrors of the spiritual world (to a limited degree). Scripture talks about the active role of the devil and demon in the New Covenant. It talks about how to deal with them as saints of the Most High.
In the end, I do not fit the stereotype. I am educated and trained with the same tools that any other qualified pastor is. I’ve taken a scalpel to my worldview and cut out that which is inconsistent and untrue. At the end of the day, I believe in the continuing power of the Holy Spirit, complete with supernatural gifts for believers. I do so due to a combination of the following:
–I do have personal experience with the spiritual
–My biblical training has led me to my stance as the most logical and right conclusion
–I see heavenly fruit in those I do ministry with. The power of the Holy Spirit is alive and well. From physical healings to restored marriages, the power has proved to be real for those who submit to the Lord.
These are my thoughts about the Holy Spirit. What are yours? Let me know in the comments below.