Cessationist Musings

Recently I read an article in which the author stated why he is a cessationist.  Cessationism is the doctrine certain spiritual gifts and the calling of an apostle ceased with the early church.  I suppose if labels must be used (and I try to avoid them personally) I would then be a "continuationist" - news to me.  This isn't a name I would use to classify my beliefs, but one others have made for me.  It is not surprising gifts have ceased if people do not believe they are in operation and do not ask for them according to scripture.

I do not want to lump all cessationists together as if they all agree theologically, for I am convinced there is a variety of beliefs represented by them.  I know there is also a wide breadth of beliefs, convictions, and practices between so-called "continuationists," and it is troubling to be lumped in with others who support and encourage unbiblical practices.  And this is the rub:  the cessationist view is always put forward as the biblical view - typically without much middle ground.  It is quite true there are some who wrongly appeal to personal experience in lieu or in violation of the Word of God, but there is much evidence in both the Old and New Testament of the miraculous.  Paul famously said in 1 Corinthians 13:8 a time for the cessation of gifts as revealed in scripture will occur, but the primary source of major disagreement between the camps is when and why they should end.  If prophecy and tongues have ceased, it follows knowledge must have ceased as well.  Wait, we still need knowledge... ;)

I will be absolutely blunt:  it is impossible for me to be a cessationist because according to scripture I desired spiritual gifts, prayed specifically that I might receive, and God graciously gifted me to speak in tongues (1 Cor. 14:1).  It wasn't weird, wild, crazy - or unbiblical - as the uninitiated may claim.  I do not deny there are people who violate scripture in their expression and beliefs concerning this gift in particular.  Those who have been hottest in opposition about this burning subject with me were interestingly often those who felt scorned by others for their inability to speak in tongues - as if it was the only real evidence of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  The book of Acts tells a very different story.  As different parts of the Body of Christ we have unique talents and spiritual gifts.   Militant cessationists could be likened to the woman brought before Solomon who would not agree to give the child back to his rightful mother, but was fine with Solomon using the sword to divide it.  This divisive impulse is alive today as it was in the Corinthian church, to use the Sword of the Spirit to divide genuine believers into factions.

It does not take long in reading articles or posts which support cessationism before I think, "No, no!"  How many times have opposing views been misrepresented as a caricature, words and terms curiously and narrowly defined, even scriptures wrenched from context to prove some spiritual gifts have arbitrarily passed into antiquity because they are no longer needed!  Says who?  The gift of prophecy is conveniently reduced to "preaching" when it suits (though the same assert preaching can be prophetic), and the Acts of the Apostles are sadly relegated and limited to an archaic age.  Those designated "sign" gifts by theologians are written off as valid only in the early church, though I see no such designation between gifts in scripture.  Can fruit of the Spirit be out of season today?  Praise the LORD the miraculous regeneration and salvation of the soul by the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ is not outdated!  It is the scripture which sets the precedent for the use of spiritual gifts in love, and the Bible governs the proper use of gifts.  I'm speaking from the heart here, but I also want to use my head.

I am convinced even if I did not knowingly operate in a spiritual gift I would continue to believe all spiritual gifts are available from our awesome God today according to His will, as it says in scripture (1 Cor. 12:11).  Our tongues are very needed to speak to share the gracious truths of the Gospel, so it would be remarkable tongues of men and angels would now be invalid to praise and glorify God for His wondrous works as a sign to unbelievers.  It is a grief to my heart when people abuse the use of spiritual gifts or make them a gauge of spirituality.  It is also a great tragedy people use the Bible to castigate those who honour God, the scripture, and edify the church with spiritual gifts given by the Holy Spirit, as well as shutting the door on even seeking and asking God for spiritual gifts.  How can a person who doesn't believe Christians can operate in a spiritual gift by the power of the Holy Spirit ask believing and in faith receive?  It may be true some of what is passed off as spiritual gifting is a sham, but people ought to take care they do not blaspheme the Holy Spirit by claiming the operation of genuine spiritual gifts is demonic.  We do need the discernment of the Holy Spirit in the church today, don't we?  God knows what we need more than we do.

Anyway, this subject is something lately I've been thinking about.  Praise the LORD the Gospel is not outdated and the Holy Spirit has been sent to indwell and empower believers for the glory of God.  People on all sides of this complex topic are convinced in their own mind by the scripture, and let us all continue to unite in the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.  I gladly reach out my hand in brotherhood and friendship to those who identify as cessationist in Jesus Christ not as a "continuationist" but as a Christian, for we are united as one in His body.  Without God's love spiritual gifts and knowledge of scripture cannot be properly wielded, and praise the LORD God's love never fails.

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You Cannot!

"I say then: walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

Galatians 5:16-17

During the lives of Christians on earth there will be tension between the the desires of the flesh and walking as led by the Holy Spirit.  The efforts of the flesh are not sufficient to enable us to desire, think, speak or do righteously.  The Spirit of God and the sinful flesh are ever at odds, and it is only after we are born again and walk in the Spirit we are divinely enabled to do what is right.  We are born into the bondage of sin, and we are thus natural slaves of the flesh.  Praise be to God Jesus Christ has been sent to set us free and has provided the Holy Spirit to help us overcome the tyranny of the flesh.

Though we realise to a degree our natural limitations, spiritually we can remain in the dark.  God wisely shines the light of His Word upon our assumptions and reveals how sin and hypocrisy hinders us from walking in the Spirit.  Take for example the words of Joshua to the people of Israel when he challenged them concerning idolatry.  After Joshua uttered the famous words about how the people needed to choose this day whom they would serve, the people answered with one voice in Joshua 24:16-17, "...Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD to serve other gods; ¹⁷ for the LORD our God is He who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went and among all the people through whom we passed."  The people sounded resolute in their commitment to honour and obey God only, and I believe they said these words sincerely.  But see how Joshua responded to them in Joshua 24:19:  "But Joshua said to the people, "You cannot serve the LORD, for He is a holy God. He is a jealous God; He will not forgive your transgressions nor your sins."

No one appreciates being told they "cannot" do something.  It is one thing to withhold permission or say "I would rather you not" or "It will be difficult."  But to say "You cannot!" stirs up our indignant flesh.  I imagine people did not appreciate Joshua's words after they pledged themselves to God, but he spoke the truth.  They could not serve the LORD because they remained in bondage to idols their fathers had carried out of Egypt.  They could not be forgiven because they would not repent.  If they would serve the LORD, repentance before God was needed.  More was needed than simply the destruction of the images they carried.  They needed a change of heart before God (a transformation which comes only by faith in God demonstrated by obedience) or they would easily be ensnared by the next shiny idol which caught their gaze.

This same message was repeated to the early church in Corinth by Paul.  After establishing the fact God judged the children of Israel He brought out of Egypt because they sinned against Him by their rebellion, lust and idolatry, Paul lovingly pointed out serious faults in the church.  Their "love feasts" were anything but, for their gatherings were devoid of God's love.  There were divisions among the people, some people went hungry while others were full, and people even drank wine to excess.  The excesses and vulgarity of the flesh were on full display when they should have considered the glory of God and the good of others more important than self.  In the previous chapter Paul said plainly concerning their sinful practices in 1 Corinthians 10:21:  "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons."  You cannot - there it is again.  God's people were deceived to think they could do both, but if they would serve and honour God they needed to repent and walk in the Spirit.  Those who drank of the cup of demons could drink the wine of communion with Christ, but for them it was an empty ritual.  In attempting to drink from both cups communion with God was broken.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:24, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."  "Mammon" is not a word often used today, but it basically means "wealth" or "money."  In this human frame we will always be a slave to something or someone.  We are born slaves to all manner of sin, and for many money is their master.  People seek freedom, security, and power for self in money, and the insatiable appetite for the "almighty dollar" has seen many men prematurely go to their grave "pierced through with many sorrows".  Jesus lays out the principle oft repeated in scripture, that we cannot truly serve two masters (though we assume we can).   You cannot serve God and be mastered by anything else:  we can serve God truly when only He is our Master and we are His loyal, joyful slaves.  If we are serving ourselves, how can we say we serve God?  May His words ring in our ears when tempted by sin:  "You cannot!"  It is by walking in the Spirit we will not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.  By virtue of His grace and love for us we delight to please Him, and only this change in our hearts will cause the beauty and goodness of Jesus to outshine all other potential suitors.

How glorious it is when God brings us to a point of surrender and repentance, when we say to Him with all our hearts, "I cannot!  I cannot keep on living this way; something must give.  I cannot keep being torn apart with divided allegiances.  You are right God, and You always have been.  I have been wrong.  I cannot."  It is in this agreement with God through repentance, brothers and sisters, where we discover a place of blessing, rest, and peace with God.  The flesh dreads these moments, but they work in us growth in grace and fruitfulness not to be repented of.

This Earthly Pilgrimage

We are studying through the book of Acts at Calvary Chapel Sydney and on a couple of occasions I have flipped to the back of my Thompson Chain Reference Bible to follow Paul's missionary journeys.  Though we are currently in the midst of Paul's first missionary journey, my eyes drifted to Paul's fourth and last journey, the one which ended at Rome.  In his travels there was often a circular, leaving and returning flow to them.  The final trip to Rome was a one-way trip:  it was there his earthly pilgrimage and service to the LORD would end.

When Paul set out on a journey or voyage, I don't know he was ever certain where God would take him.  Being arrested and incarcerated and transported has a way of changing plans!  When we plan mission trips today, typically we know beforehand if it will be a "short term" or more permanent move because of the transportation we have available to us.  The first time I came to Australia I had a return ticket so there was no real surprise where I would be weeks later.  Many people who have purchased tickets never had the opportunity to use them because their Rome - the end of the line - was arrived at unexpectedly to them.  It was not surprise, however, to the God who ensures you will make it to Rome safely.  The God who brought Paul without harm to Rome would bring him home, regardless of how ill men treated him.

Praise the LORD for the journey He has each one of us on, for He will bring us safely home.  He will not leave or forsake us along the way, though to us there be unexpected twists and turns in the plot lines of our story.  Some people travel internationally with frequency, and others stay close to home.  Some go on short term mission trips, and others immigrate permanently to be where God has called them.  I find the one-way journey of Paul to Rome most compelling, for on soil distant to his land of birth he breathed his last.  Only God knows when and where our lives will end, but may we be faithful like Paul wherever we are, labouring for the kingdom of God in service to our Saviour.  By God's grace our lives and testimony, like Paul's, will be fruitful and honour our LORD.  Looking back we will be able to say, "See how far God has brought me!  And He has been faithful every step of the way."

Christ Our Refuge

David wrote Psalm 142 when he was at a low point, and many believe it was penned when he hid in the cave Adullam.  He had been anointed by the prophet Samuel as king, had experienced the victory and fame over the giant Goliath, yet danger dogged him at every turn.  King Saul (his father-in-law) sought to murder him, Doeg the chief herdsman was glad to betray him, and there was no help to be found from Philistines who remembered him.  The threat upon David's life drove him to leave his home, the company of his wife (who was given to another), and his best friend Jonathan.  During this season of David's life he undoubtedly felt alone, and in his distress he may not have had even the company of sheep.

Here are the words of Psalm 142: "I cry out to the LORD with my voice; with my voice to the LORD I make my supplication. ² I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble. ³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then You knew my path. In the way in which I walk they have secretly set a snare for me. ⁴ Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul. ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD: I said, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. ⁶ Attend to my cry, for I am brought very low; deliver me from my persecutors, for they are stronger than I. ⁷ Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise Your name; the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

David feared the LORD and walked uprightly, yet enemies sought his ruin.  David spent seasons hiding in caves, but it was in God he took refuge.  His troubles overwhelmed him, so David poured out his heart before the Almighty God who hears and answers the prayers of His saints.  There was no help or deliverance for David through his strength or power, for he was brought very low.  Do you have a sense how David felt, that no one was able to know the depths of his suffering?  Fear and loneliness were a prison David desperately sought release from, and the psalmist prophetically praised God for the end result he had not yet seen with his eyes:  "...the righteous shall surround me, for You shall deal bountifully with me."

I do not know how long David was alone, but it seems the answer from God came quickly to supply David's need for help and companionship.  He would have been happy to have one man who stood by him, but God sent many.  1 Samuel 22:1-2 says, "David therefore departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him. ² And everyone who was in distress, everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him. So he became captain over them. And there were about four hundred men with him."  These men ended up being David's closest friends and mighty men, valiant fellow warriors, and many righteous men who feared God were numbered among them.  David's family and men who were distressed - perhaps by the king's poor treatment of him - rallied to his side.  People who were in debt and looking for a new life came; men who were bitter with their lot came to him and humbled themselves before God's anointed.

I am reminded of a quote attributed to Dan Crawford a missionary of Central Africa:  "There is no high hill but beside some deep valley.  There is no birth without a pang." (Tilsley, Colin B. C. Through the Furnace. Outreach Book Service, 1979. page 91.)  Seasons with his father's flock and experiencing loneliness in the cave were formative events in the life of a man after God's heart who would be Israel's beloved king.  David learned to draw near to God, to pour out his heart, and to trust God to answer in His time and way.  In the depths David did not drown in his misery, but turned his eyes to the God of heaven who loved, called, protected, and provided for him.  How good it is to know we can rally to the side of Jesus Christ, being the man of his right hand who love and serve Him faithfully.  My name means "son of the right hand" and reminds me of the privilege it is to follow Jesus and to support others in this earthly pilgrimage.  Jesus has brought our souls out of prison, and may we praise His name now and forever!