Pt 11 of 11
So why all the fuss? Does it really matter? YES!
It would seem that a lack of experience, and erroneous doctrinal issues, are the principle reasons Cessationism exists and is falsely perpetrated throughout Christendom. But what are the other, more subtle issues that lead to this disastrous end? I believe a large part of this mindset is the lack of concern for our brothers and sisters in Christ. We casually dismiss the very tools God has given us to birth us into corporate completion, and we also dismiss the spiritual gifts God has given us to edify, exhort and comfort our spiritual families.
Many people neglect spiritual gifts (or do not deem them necessary) simply because they do not possess a proper corporate mentality. This is a perilous mindset – a dangerous neglect! If we truly loved our neighbor, we would be more than willing to seek for his or her edification, exhortation, comfort, learning and profit. It seems that selfishness and self-consciousness are the primary reasons why we neglect such things.
Biblical Christianity, however, was never designed to possess an “every man for himself” approach. We are a family, and a true family is bound by love and concern for one another (1 Jn 4:11-12; 20-21). Even Paul’s admonishment concerning spiritual gifts was to be for the edification of the church (1 Cor 14:12). Love is to be our motivation: “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (1 Cor 13:1-2). Why wouldn’t we want out brethren to be edified? We should love them enough to bear the reproach of Christ! Sadly, this lack of respectful esteem (Heb 11:26), both towards God and our brother, will hinder the corporate perfection that is so readily upon us. This is why the apostle says, “And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (Col 3:14). What a danger to neglect such things!
This virtuous love is also our motivation to speak out against such blatant heresies, as Cessationism. We are concerned for our brothers and sisters because the foremost danger in clinging to Cessationism is not only in neglecting the gifts themselves, but in neglecting the Holy Spirit too: Men are mistaking if they assume they can actively pursue the Holy Ghost while simultaneously ignoring His gifts, ministries and manifestations. These gifts and ministries are His chosen mode of operation. This is why Paul says, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (1 Cor 14:40). Yes, they need to be done in an orderly manner, but let them be done! Let’s not allow the disorder that is so common keep us from Paul’s admonition: “Let all things be done…”
We cannot assume that a certain level of neglect will not birth a certain level of unknowing. It’s interesting that the five foolish virgins lacked “oil” in Matthew 25:8: “And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.” It’s not that the foolish virgins are bad people, or are willingly sinful. In fact, I believe these “virgins” are all Christians: “Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom” (Matt 25:1). The language could not be any clearer. They are not sinful unbelievers; rather, they are virgins: Christians who are simply delayed in acquiring more oil, and deceived as to understanding why this oil is so essential! The Bible reveals to us that oil is symbolic of the Holy Spirit: “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me…” (Isa 61:1). Repeatedly, oil is Scripturally tied to the anointing of the Holy Ghost (Ps 23:5; Acts 10:38; 1 Jn 2:20, 27; 2 Cor 1:21; etc). How is it then that we can be so casual in neglecting to obtain and cultivate this oil? “They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them” (Matt 25:3). And the calamitous result of such neglect is horrifying: “And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not” (Matt 25:10-12). Oh the horror of a shut door! Was this the door to heaven? No. This was the door to the marriage chamber! These foolish virgins lost their reward “in heaven”, not heaven itself (1 Pet 1:4). They did not apprehend that for which they were apprehended for (Phil 3:12). God did not “know” them, as a husband knows his bride, all because of neglected oil! For the ages to come, they will know the cost of such willful ignorance. All because they did not actively pursue the Holy Ghost, His gifts, and manifestations! What a dangerous doctrine!
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- Following is a bibliography for blogs part 1 through 11. These are given here to ensure the reader of the accuracy of the thoughts presented. Feel free to explore the beliefs of Cessationism on your own, and the rebuttal that has been presented.
All Scripture references were from the King James Version of the Holy Bible, unless otherwise noted.
Booker, George. (2006). The Agora Bible Commentary. Retrieved October 8, 2009, from the Agora Bible Commentary Website: http://christadelphianbooks.org/agora/index. html.
Carpenter, R., Giacumakis, G., & Welty, W. (2008). The International Standard Version of the Bible. Paramount, CA: The ISV Foundation.
Moffatt, James. (1922). The Bible: James Moffatt Translation (p. 205). San Francisco, CA: Harper Collins.
Ruthven, Jon. (1993). On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Postbiblical Miracles (Vol. 3, pp. 129-30). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press.
Jamieson, R., Fausset, A.R., & Brown, D. (2006). A Commentary on the Old and New Testaments. La Verne, CA: Old LandMark Publishing.
Houdmann, Micheal S. (2009). Got Questions Ministries. Retrieved August 2, 2009, from http://www.gotquestions.org/.
MacArthur, John. (1991). Are Experiences a Valid Source of Truth? Retrieved November 10, 2009, from http://www.biblebb.com/files/MAC/CHAOS1.HTM.
Zaspel, Fred. (1996). A Question of Authority: Scripture vs. Experience. Retrieved December 6, 2009, from the Word Of Life Baptist Church Web Site: http://www.biblicalstudies.com/bstudy/spiritualgifts/ch21.htm
Deere, Jack. (1993). Surprised by the Power of the Spirit (pp. 54, 99). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
MacArthur, John. (1986). Spiritual Gifts: The Counterfeit Background of Spiritual Gifts (pp. 1-5). Chicago: Moody Press.
Warfield, BB. (1918). Counterfeit Miracles. New York: Charles Scribners.
Ruthven, Jon. (1993). On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Postbiblical Miracles (Vol. 3, pp. 131-151). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press.
Houghton, Myron, J. (1996). A Reexamination of 1 Corinthians 13:8-13 (pp. 346-50). Schaumburg, IL: Regular Baptist Press.
Napier, John. (1991). Charismatic Challenge: Four Key Questions (pp. 17-18, 35-38).Homebush West, Australia: Lancer.
Rainy, Robert (2008). The Ancient Catholic Church From The Accession Of Trajan To The Fourth General Council (pp. 168-69). Whitefish, MT: Kessinger Publishing.
Ferguson, Everett (2002). Factors leading to the Selection and Closure of the New Testament Canon (p. 301). Edinburgh, Scotland: Hendrickson Publishers.
Lindberg, Carter (2006). A Brief History of Christianity (p.15). Chichester, England: Blackwell Publishing.
Bruce, F.F. (1988). The Canon of Scripture (p. 230). Downers Grove, IL: Intervarsity Press
Brecht, Martin. (1983). Martin Luther (p. 305). Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press.
Ackroyd, P.R., & Evans, C.F. (1970). The Cambridge History of the Bible (Vol. 1, p. 305) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Powell, Charles. (1997). Questions Cessationists Should Ask: A Biblical Examination of Cessationism.(pp. 13-14). Jackson, MS: Biblical Studies Press.
MacArthur, John. (1992). Charismatic Chaos. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Gill, John. (2006). John Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible. Paris, AR: Baptist Standard Bearer.
Gaebelein, Arno C. (1925). The Healing Question: An examination of the claims of Faith-Healing and Divine Healing systems in the light of the Scriptures and History. Retrieved December 3, 2009, from http://www.biblebelievers.net/Charismatic/kjcheal3. htm.
Bible Database Bible Forums. (2009). Cessation Continued. Retrieved November 1, 2009, from http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=185492
Thayer, Joseph H. (1996). Thayer's Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Strong, James. (2001). King James Concordance. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
MacArthur, John. (1983). Hebrews (p. 42). Chicago, IL: Moody Press.
Strong, James. (1890). Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Grudem, Wayne. (1996). Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? (p. 67). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Martin, Ralph P. (1986). 2 Corinthians (Vol. 40, pp. 434-438). Dallas, TX: Word Books.
Hughes, Philip E. (1962). The Second Epistle to the Corinthians (2nd ed., pp. 456-57). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans Publishing Company.
Storms, Samuel C. (1996). A Third Wave View: Are Miraculous Gifts for Today? (pp. 205-06). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Johnson, B.W. (2004). The People's New Testament Commentary. Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press.
Grudem, Wayne. (2000). The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and Today (pp. 51-54). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books.
Powell, Charles. (1997). Questions Cessationists Should Ask: A Biblical Examination of Cessationism (p. 8). Jackson, MS: Biblical Studies Press.
Pratte, David E. (2000). Tongue-Speaking and Miraculous Gifts of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2 (p. 1). Retrieved November 16, 2009, from http://www.gospelway.com/topics/ god/tongues_today.php
Napier, John. (1991). Charismatic Challenge: Four Key Questions (pp. 17-18). Homebush West, Australia: Lancer.
Edgar, Thomas R. (2001). Miraculous Gifts: Are they for Today? (p. 269). Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock Publishers.
Kistemaker, Simon J. (1984). Hebrews (p. 62). Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
Powell, Charles. (1997). Questions Cessationists Should Ask: A Biblical Examination of Cessationism (pp. 10-11). Jackson, MS: Biblical Studies Press.
Wallace, Daniel. (1996). Greek Grammar Beyond the Basics (p. 557). Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House.
Conner, K. & Malmin, K. (1975). New Testament Survey. Portland, OR: City Bible Publishing.
Ruthven, Jon. (1993). On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Postbiblical Miracles (Vol. 3, p. 104). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield Academic Press.
Reynolds, Marion H. (1997). The Charismatic Movement Is Dangerous ...Watch Out For It! (pp. 1-3). Fresno, CA: The Fundamental Evangelistic Association.
Bible Database Bible Forums. (2009). Types of Tongues. Retrieved October 12, 2009, from http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2153281#post2153281
Hyatt, Eddie L. (1996). 2000 years of Charismatic Christianity. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House.
Bible Database Bible Forums. (2009). When Does the Perfect Come? Retrieved November 22, 2009, from http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?t=193922& highlight=dark+ages&page=10
Simon, Edith (1966). Great Ages of Man: The Reformation (pp. 120-21). Des Moines, IA: Time-Life Books.
Cornwall, J. & Smith, S. (2003). The Exhaustive Dictionary of Bible Names (p. 158). Gainesville, FL: Bridge-Logos.
Warfield, BB. (1918). Counterfeit Miracles. New York: Charles Scribners.
Greene, Samuel N. (2006). O Worship the Lord (pp. 42-43). Jacksonville, FL: Narrow Way Ministries.
Hartin, Bryce. (1993). Today’s Tongues: Spiritual Renewal or Spiritism made Respectable (pp. 5-6). Retrieved November 11, 2009, from http://christianissues.googlepages.com/tongues
Strong, James. (1890). Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.
Bible Database Bible Forums. (2009). Types of Tongues. Retrieved October 1, 2009, from http://bibleforums.org/forum/showthread.php?p=2153281#post2153281
Hodges, Zane C. (1963). Symposium on the Tongues Movement-Part I: The Purpose of Tongues (pp. 228-31). Dallas, TX: Bibsac.
Greene, Samuel N. (2000). The Doctrine of Baptisms (pp. 182-191). Jacksonville. Fl: Narrow Way Ministries.
Fee, Gordon D. (1994). God's Empowering Presence: The Holy Spirit in the Letters of Paul (p. 890). Peabody, MA: Hendrickson Publishers.
Ruthven, Jon. (1993). On the Cessation of the Charismata: The Protestant Polemic on Post-biblical Miracles (Vol. 3). Sheffield, UK: Sheffield University Academic Press.
Wayne Grudem. (2000). The Gift of Prophecy in the New Testament and
Today (pp. 45-63). Westchester, Ill: Crossway Books.
Greene, Samuel N. (2001). Prophetic Utterance (pp. 9-11). Jacksonville, FL: Narrow Way Ministries.
Mayhue, Richard. (1994). The Healing Promise (pp. 112-13). Eugene, OR: Harvest House.
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