Walking in Faith

Phil Johnson (PyroManiac) has posted his response to the seemingly never ending “discussion” regarding Continuationism and Cessationism. In the past two days, he has posted You’re probably a cessationist, too and Allow me to reiterate.

First off, a very brief description of each for those that might be confused:

Continuationism: “the assumption that the miraculous gifts are normative and have continued in uninterrupted operation since Pentecost.” (Theopedia)

Cessationism: “the belief that the miraculous gifts such as healing, tongues, prophetic revelation, and supernatural knowledge pertained to the apostolic era only, served a purpose that was unique to the era before the New Testament was complete, and passed from use before the canon of Scripture was closed.” (Theopedia)

Before I go any further… let me start by saying that I feel this is a non-essential matter in which Christians should not argue. It is not essential to salvation nor is it essential to the teachings of Christ. There has been significant amounts of blogs made within the blogosphere on this topic already (google link to blogs on the debate). With that in mind…

Point #1: God does not need gifts of prophecy, tongues, healing, etc. in order to reach people

God is not limited, or confined, in how He reaches people. God’s grace is completely and utterly irresistible. Miracles are not required for a person to hear the Gospel of Christ and profess their faith in Christ Jesus. God is able to regenerate a person through the Holy Spirit without any extra requirements or external influences.

Point #2: Scripture does not explicitly teach either way

Acts certainly discusses the gifts of prophecy, tongues, healing, etc. but does not give the reader any reason to conclusively say that these gifts either will, or will not, continue. Scripture as a whole would certainly support the idea that God can work in whatever ways He deems appropriate and necessary. Many would point to Eph 2:19-20 as a defense of the cessational perspective:

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, (NASB)

This could be viewed as an implicit teaching that the gifts were needed only to establish the initial Church. Another verse referenced in support of cessationism is 1 Cor 13:8-10:

8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part; 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.

What is the perfect? The Bible? Jesus Christ? Again, without clear, Biblical evidence, we are left to our presuppositions — what a dangerous thing, indeed!

Point #3: Establishment of the Church
As we look back to Eph 2:19-20, I am inclined to agree that the gifts of prophecy, tongues, etc. were given on Pentecost in order to help establish the initial Church. Now that the Church has been established, the “need” for such gifts is not required.

Point #4: Public “abuse” of any gifts has significantly impacted credibility

There have been repeated accounts of false prophets, false healers, etc. These people have impacted the experience and reason that people have with respect to the continuation of gifts. Many are extremely nervous about person who self-professes to have these so-called gifts due to the “stories” they have heard or seen in the media. Case in point — a survey was conducted of a theology class. Every single student stated that they had never witnessed or experienced, first-hand, a verifiable gift of prophecy, tongues or healing. Certainly, this is not a conclusive statement but is given as a data point. There are absolutely “one off” events that are unexplainable. I would argue that the power of faith is a gift, not necessary the gift of healing or the like.

In conclusion, based on my belief in Sola Scriptura, I find myself standing on a position of “soft cessationism”. God’s will cannot be thwarted. If tongues, healing, prophecy or other miraculous gifts are “required” in order to accomplish that end, then they will happen. I believe that God has done just that in the presence of some in order to either bring them to him, or to strengthen their faith. However, I do not believe that this is a common practice and that everyone walking around claiming these gifts is in their right mind. Luckily, I believe in a God whose grace is irresistible and whose mercy is plentiful. I thank God for the blessings and the gifts He has given to me — none of which include any of the miraculous gifts discussed in this article.

Jason Worthen Christianity, Theology

¹¹ I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous. ¹² Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be! ¹³ But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, ¹⁴ if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them. ¹⁵ For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? ¹⁶ If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too.

Paul was appealing to the Jews jealous nature and pointing out that God provided salvation to the Gentiles because the Jews were not obedient and did not follow the Lord in all that they did. This would offend and challenge many Jews. Paul wanted to challenge them and he wanted to reach them. He wanted every Jew to realize that God, in His holiness, wanted them to be saved through the Savior. However, God was not going to bring them to salvation just because they were His “chosen people” under this new covenant.

This is where my head starts spinning and I am challenged in my knowledge. God made a covenant with Abraham and then with Moses regarding the Jewish nation — they were to be His chosen people and He would care and tend to them. Because of their disobedience and neglect, He sent Jesus into the world (God made flesh, don’t forget!) in order to pay for the sins of everyone. Now, if the Jews were the chosen people, why would He do this? Because God loves everyone and wants for every soul reachable to have a chance to enter into the kingdom of Heaven, right? The Jews were the chosen nation, though. Why would God go to all of that trouble from the beginning only to open it to everyone after His son came?

The glory of God is my only answer to this. Everything God does brings glory to His name. God chose Israel because that was the lineage that would eventually bring Jesus into the world. That was the nation that He promised He would bless (to Abraham). To provide eternal salvation only to the chosen people certainly gives God glory — He is just, right and fair. He keeps His promises. He is immutable. I could go on. However, if God extends His mercy and His grace to every nation — to every soul that calls on the name of Jesus Christ as their savior. How glorifying to God! How glorifying to the King that sent His only son into the world as flesh in order to pay for the sins of mankind. Certainly God could have brought Jesus into this world to die for the nation of Israel — for their sins and their transgressions. But He didn’t. He let Jesus’s blood pay for all of the saved.

Jason Worthen Quiet Time, Romans

⁷ What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; ⁸ just as it is written, “GOD GAVE THEM A SPIRIT OF STUPOR, EYES TO SEE NOT AND EARS TO HEAR NOT, DOWN TO THIS VERY DAY.” ⁹ And David says, “LET THEIR TABLE BECOME A SNARE AND A TRAP, AND A STUMBLING BLOCK AND A RETRIBUTION TO THEM.

¹⁰ “LET THEIR EYES BE DARKENED TO SEE NOT, AND BEND THEIR BACKS FOREVER.”

As I meditate on this passage for a moment, I am quickly drawn to the fact that God is telling us that He has chosen those who He will save. Those who will not be saved will not have their eyes opened to see. This may seem harsh to many, but the fact of the matter is that God is the only one in this entire universe who is qualified to judge. Based on that qualification, God is the perfect judge to determine who should, and who should not, be saved. I know a God of love. I know a God of justice. I do not believe that it is unfathomable that God would destine people for wrath and others for grace.

I struggle with the fact that so many Christians argue and divide upon the issue of election and predestination v. “choice”. While I certainly came to Christ under the auspice of my own personal choice, it was only once the Holy Spirit enlightened me that I realized that I was not capable of such a magnificent decision. I was capable, because of my sin, to choose God. Given the choice, I would always choose my personal idols — TV, computers, money, sex, etc. Once the Lord opened my eyes to a world that exists for His glory, and not for mine or any other man, my perspective has changed greatly. God has given me eyes to see and ears to hear. God has given me a soul that longs and searches for His knowledge and His love. God has given me every blessing in the world that I could possibly ask for and yet don’t deserve. God has given me a new life in Him. Hallelujah!

Jason Worthen Quiet Time, Romans

NBC plans to air a new comedy/drama called ‘Book of Daniel’ tonight. Several stations have already removed the show for tonight and the American Family Association is calling for TV viewers to send a petition into their local NBC affiliates to not air the show.

I, for one, certainly will not be watching it. I don’t think that a TV show that has the following write-up really seems even remotely entertaining to me:

Emmy nominee Aidan Quinn (“An Early Frost,” “Plainsong,” “Legends of the Fall”) stars as Reverend Daniel Webster, an unconventional Episcopalian minister who not only believes in Jesus – he actually sees him and discusses life with him. Webster is challenged on many levels as he struggles to be a good husband, father and minister, while trying to control a nagging addiction to prescription painkillers, and an often rocky relationship with the church hierarchy, led by Bishop Beatrice Congreve (Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn, “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” “Requiem of a Dream”), Roger Paxton, a senior warden of the parish and stalwart churchgoer (Dylan Baker, “Kinsey,” “Happiness”).

The reverend also has loving, but challenging relationships with his three children: Peter (Christian Campbell, “Trick”), his 23-year-old gay son, who struggles with the loss of his twin brother; Grace (Alison Pill, “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen”), his 16-year-old daughter who doesn’t try to push her father’s buttons but succeeds at it nonetheless; and Adam (Ivan Shaw, “All My Children”), his 16-year-old adopted Chinese son, a handsome and cocky high school jock with a wicked sense of humor. Keeping Webster grounded is his strong and loving wife Judith (Susanna Thompson, “Now and Again”), who is fighting her own fondness for mid-day martinis, as well as Jesus (Garret Dillahunt, “Deadwood”), whose frequent chats with Daniel serve to remind him of his strengths and weaknesses. (NBC.com)

(HT: Belief.net article)

Jason Worthen Christianity

Thanks to Tim over at Challies.com, I just read that John Piper has been diagnosed with prostate cancer. John’s letter to his church has been published on desiringGod. I have only recently become acquainted with several of John’s works but am certainly impressed. Even the message he gives to the congregation is inspiring. John, his family and his church will be in my prayers.

January 6, 2006

Dear Friends,

I hope this letter will encourage your prayer, strengthen your hope, and minister peace. I am writing with the blessing of the Bethlehem Baptist Church Council of Elders to help you receive the news about my prostate cancer.

At my annual urological exam on Wednesday, December 21, the doctor felt an abnormality in the prostate and suggested a biopsy. He called the next day with the following facts: 1) cancer cells were found in two of the ten samples and the estimate is that perhaps 5% of the gland is affected; 2) my PSA count was 1.6, which is good (below 4 is normal); 3) the Gleason score is 6 (signaling that the cancer is not aggressive). These three facts incline the doctor to think that it is unlikely that the cancer has spread beyond the prostate, and that it is possible with successful treatment to be cancer-free.

Before going with my wife, Noël, to consult in person with the doctor on December 29 about treatment options, I shared this news with the Bethlehem staff on Tuesday morning, December 27, and with the elders that evening. Both groups prayed over me for healing and for wisdom in the treatment choices that lie before us. These were sweet times before the throne of grace with much-loved colleagues.

All things considered, Noël and I believe that I should pursue the treatment called radical prostatectomy, which means the surgical removal of the prostate. We would ask you to pray that the surgery be completely successful in the removal of all cancer and freedom from possible side effects.

With the approval of Bethlehem’s executive staff and elder leadership, we are planning surgery in early February, following the Bethlehem Conference for Pastors. The recovery time is about three weeks before returning to a slow work pace, and six weeks to be back to all normal activities.

This news has, of course, been good for me. The most dangerous thing in the world is the sin of self-reliance and the stupor of worldliness. The news of cancer has a wonderfully blasting effect on both. I thank God for that. The times with Christ in these days have been unusually sweet.

For example, is there anything greater to hear and believe in the bottom of your heart than this: “God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10)?

God has designed this trial for my good and for your good. You can see this in 2 Corinthians 1:9, “Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.” And in 2 Corinthians 1:4-6, “He comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God . . . If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation.”

So I am praying: “Lord, for your great glory, 1) don’t let me miss any of the sanctifying blessings that you have for me in this experience; 2) don’t let the people of Bethlehem miss any of the sanctifying blessings that you have for us in this; 3) grant that the surgery be successful in removing cancer and sparing important nerves; 4) grant that this light and momentary trial would work to spread a passion for you supremacy for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ; 5) may Noël and all close to me be given great peace—and all of this through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.” I hope God will lead you to pray in a similar way.

With deep confidence that

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting.
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57

Pastor John

With Sam Crabtree, Lead Pastor for Life Training
Kenny Stokes, Lead Pastor for Spreading
Tim Johnson, Chairman of the Council of Elders
Ross Anderson, MD, Bethlehem Elder

Note:
At this point, nothing on John’s speaking calendar has changed. If changes must occur we will post notification and contact the parties involved immediately. The Bethlehem Conference for Pastors will be held as scheduled, Lord willing.

If you would like to send a note of encouragement to Pastor John please email us, or mail us at:

Desiring God
Attn: Vicki
2601 E. Franklin Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55406

Due to volume, he will not be able to respond personally. Thank you for praying with us.

(HT: Challies.com)

Jason Worthen Prayer Requests