[...] from Patton, who previously authored a series of eight solo posts with a similar title (“Why I am not Charismatic“). In case we forgot to remind you, we authored a part-for-part response to his series, [...]

[...] of the subject of “spiritual gifts.” In a series of eight posts he explained “Why I am not  Charismatic.” Readers of To Be Continued will be familiar with it, as with our point by point [...]

[...] of the subject of “spiritual gifts.” In a series of eight posts he explained “Why I am not  Charismatic.” Readers of To Be Continued will be familiar with it, as with our point by point [...]

[...] Those who follow our blog at To Be Continued, you might remember that, back in the summer, Marv and I interacted with Michael Patton’s in depth series entitled, Why I Am Not A Charismatic. [...]

[...] about which position is right.  Much ink has been spilled in Michael’s comprehensive series here. My friends over at To Be Continued write extensively on this topic and have addressed some of there [...]

I consider myself a de facto cessationist although I have experienced a miraculous healing in my own body.

I was raised in a charismatic church and witnessed all of the “sign gifts” practiced regularly. While I do believe that most of the participants are true believers, I have always had my doubts regarding the authenticity of the “gifts”. My first indication that something was off was my own lack of a “gift”.

I have since come to the conclusion that prophesy is simply wishful thinking. I do believe that healings occur, as I myself have experienced this. However, while I recognize God’s ability to heal or not heal at His own pleasure, I also believe that many of the supposed healings are nothing more than psychosomatic responses to the believers expectation in a healing.

If you have ever experienced a charismatic worship service, you would understand how this is possible.

I feel that the same principle holds true for speaking in tongues.

I have often wondered if the whole “signs” philosophy functioned like a placebo on the adherents of it. I’ve also wondered if I knew that the Ibuprofen that I took to get rid of my headache was really a sugar pill, would I still take it. The answer is yes.

To those who are charismatics, if it enhances their walk with God, I say good for them.

With regard to historical evidence being on the side of the cessationists, I respectfully disagree.

I cursory look at the writings of the church fathers reveals the following:

1.Irenaeus: Against Heresies (Book V, Chapter 6)
“In like manner 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, whom also the apostle terms spiritual, they being spiritual because they partake of the Spirit, and not because their flesh has been stripped off and taken away, and because they have become purely spiritual.”

2.Justin Martyr: Dialogue with Trypho (Chapter 82)
“For the prophetical gifts remain with us, even to the present time. And hence you ought to understand that [the gifts] formerly among your nation have been transferred to us.”

3.Ambrose: On the Holy Spirit, Book II (Ch. 13 Para.150-152)

(150.) …

(151.) Lastly, God set apostles. Those whom God set in the Church, Christ chose and ordained to be apostles, and sent them into the world, saying: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. He that shall believe and be baptized shall be saved, but he that believes not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe. In My Name shall they cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall take up serpents, and if they shall drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.” You see the Father and Christ also set teachers in the Churches; and as the Father gives the gift of healings, so, too, does the Son give; as the Father gives the gift of tongues, so, too, has the Son also granted it.

(152.) In like manner we have heard also above concerning the Holy Spirit, that [He too grants the same kinds of graces.] For it is said: “To one is given through the Spirit the gift of healings, to another various kinds of tongues, to another prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 12:8-9 So, then, the Spirit gives the same gifts as the Father, and the Son also gives them. Let us now learn more expressly what we have touched upon above, that the Holy Spirit entrusts the same office as the Father and the Son, and appoints the same persons; since Paul said: “Take heed to yourselves, and to all the flock in the which the ” Holy Spirit has made you overseers to rule the Church of God.” Acts 20:28.

These examples are by no means exhaustive. Exorcisms for the believer were also done in regularity for a season in the early church (Tertullian).

Blessings,
Greg

I’m waiting for the next pdf, “Why God doesn’t answer the prayers of modern day Christians, the case against answered prayer.”

[...] my position bro ? scroll down this page you will come to a simple chart , my view is the same ; Parchment and Pen Why I am Not Charismatic (Complete) at least we agree on what revelatory gifts are supposed to be , as for the rest ………. Sola [...]

i have been excersizing the gift of prophecy for 12 years or so in an Episcopal church.the object of the gift is to build up the believer. listeners must judge what they hear and are free to reject it.Most of these “words of encouragement ” involve metaphors as to what the kingdom is like or what it is not like. My belief is that this gift is for those who “earnestly desire it ” If the Spirit makes an image or a sentence available to the speaker , the purpose seems to be for God to make a love action that only the hearer would know about. Many times there is a novel aspect about the word that provokes a response “I never thought about it that way.” Here is an example

do not say “take these broken wings and learn to fly any more. Jesus says I am giving you new wings. Do not say these wings are too big for me because your new wings are very large. The reason that these wings are large is so that the slightest wind will lift you up. And I will lift you up.

I can tell you without hesitation that this gift is for you if you want it but He will not love you more if you take it or less if you do not. The gift of prophecy is not difficult but it is frightening. You can make a mistake, so you need to have those who listen to you give you feedback. Your community is your protection.

Peace
Doug B.