Parchment & Pen Blog

Calvinism and glossolalia are rarely spoken of in the same breath, except perhaps to insist upon their incompatibility. Therefore, that I should be an advocate for both surprises many. But why would any self-respecting proponent of Reformed theology dare suggest that speaking in tongues should be embraced by the contemporary church? That is the issue [...]

Join C. Michael Patton, Tim Kimberley and Sam Storms as they discuss issues surrounding spiritual gifts

Why I Am/Am Not a Charismastic, Part 3 [ 35:26 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Join C. Michael Patton, Tim Kimberley and Sam Storms as they discuss issues surrounding spiritual gifts

Why I Am/Am Not a Charismastic Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

(Lisa Robinson) It is not long before this this topic comes when engaged in a conversation about continuationism vs. cessationism.   Some will insist that we still need miracles today.   One of the common misunderstandings that I have observed continuationists have concerning cessationists is the charge that cessationists believe that miracles are no longer needed.  While [...]

(by Lisa Robinson) It has been five years since my ‘conversion’ from being a somewhat radical charismatic to embrace a soft-cessationist position…I think.  The reason I say put that qualifier on there is because I have had to wrestle through not only some doctrinal dilemmas concerning the cessation of gifts, but also some more pragmatic [...]

(by Lisa Robinson) A while ago, I addressed in A Theology of More a mentality that has a continual quest for greater external manifestations that demonstrates that God is active in the lives of his people, both individually and corporately.  The quest is usually part and parcel of alignment with  Charismatic/Pentecostal theology and the belief [...]

Download PDF E-Book I used to walk through Christian book stores and choose my books based on whether or not the author was a charismatic. I would pick up a commentary and turn immediately to 1 Cor. 12 (the section on spiritual gifts). If the author believed that the spiritual gifts were for today, I [...]

Have you noticed the rise in psychic “hotlines” and TV shows nowadays? Five years ago, it would have been difficult to find even a psychic commercial on TV. Now, there are several half-hour infomercials, aired almost round the clock. Have you also noticed New Age music cropping up here and there, not to mention the [...]

I am not a charismatic.  It is hard for me to describe myself as a traditional cessationist either. I refer to myself as a “de facto” cessationist. What does this mean? Essentially, when it comes to the so-called supernatural sign gifts such as gifts of tongues, prophecy, workers of miracles, etc, I have never seen [...]

Ok, after the first seven parts of this series it should be almost clear where I stand on this issue. But I ended the last post by saying that I am neither a continuationist or cessationist. Let me clarify just what I am . . . I define a Charismatic as one who thinks that [...]

I have said that there is no compelling reason to say that the Bible teaches the so-called supernatural sign gifts have ceased. I have also said and demonstrated that the history of the church evidences a de facto cessation of the sign gifts. As well, I have said that, despite being open to the gifts, [...]

Regrettably, I must pause and submit another excursus. While it might seem to some to be a frustrated reaction having to reiterate an important issue, I am actually glad to have to do so since the issue of this post is so central to my argument. (So scratch my initial “regrettably”!) Just about every objection [...]