How are we to listen or not listen to those who believe that prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues and healing, and miracles still are to be believed and acted upon today?
Pentecostal Charismatic for example
Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have continued to this present age, specifically those sometimes called "sign gifts" such as tongues and prophecy. Continuationism is the opposite of Cessationism.
Continuationists believe that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are still distributed today, are still in use, and are still needed in the church. The same Holy Spirit that the Apostle Paul wrote of, claiming that it gave him supernatural abilities, was also written about in the Old Testament, which claims that it also endowed such abilities upon those God specifically chose to accomplish His works, as in the New Testament . https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuationism
Continuationism asserts that the Spirit still gives gifts so that the church may be strengthened and accomplish what God wants it to do today. Salvation, however, is not contingent upon the issue of the continuation or the cessation of the miraculous gifts. But this issue divides the church today as interpretations of the Scriptures will continue to differ.
But even if signs and wonders can't save the soul, they can, if God pleases, shatter the shell of disinterest; they can shatter the shell of cynicism; they can shatter the shell of false religion. Like every other good witness to the word of grace, they can help the fallen heart to fix its gaze on the gospel where the soul-saving, self-authenticating glory of the Lord shines. (Piper)
The teaching of cessationism (when it comes to gifts like tongues and prophecy) is in error.
Because whichever side is true has every right to ridicule and disparage and name and shame the other side.
Continuationism is the belief that the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit taught in the bible -- such as prophecy, tongues, interpretation of tongues, healings, miracles, etc. -- have not ceased and are available for the believer today (1 Cor. 1:7). Continuationism is the opposite of Cessationism which teaches that supernatural gifts have ceased either when the canon of Scripture was completed or at the death of the last apostle. Those who hold to continuationism are called continuationists or non-cessationists.
http://www.theopedia.com/continuationism above statment
Cessationism, in Christian theology, is the view that the miraculous gifts of the Spirit, such as healing, tongues, and prophetic revelation, pertained to the apostolic era only, served a purpose that was unique to establishing the early church, and passed away before the canon of Scripture was closed (comp. 1 Cor. 13:8-12 with Heb. 2:3-4). It is contrasted with continuationism, which is the view that the miraculous gifts are normative, have not ceased, and are available for the believer today.
http://www.theopedia.com/cessationism above statment
Are we to belive that God has closed the cannon of the Word of God? Are we to believe that the Bible contains all that God wants us to know from Him that is authoritative and truth without error, or are we to believe that God is still given His revelation to some?
Martin Luther, of course, wrote, "Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam gait, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance." That is, our life is not the life of kicking at the goads against the God who is Love: it is knowing His will for us and then dying to sin in order to live in His new life .http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
But, to close up here, this is where Christianity is above all false religions: those who are our enemies can be reconciled -- in fact, this is the purpose of our faith.
Christ died that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.
Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard Him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:11- 21
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,
he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
or God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships.
Romans 5:10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Romans 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary
2 Corinthians 5:16-21
The renewed man acts upon new principles, by new rules, with new ends, and in new company.
The believer is created anew; his heart is not merely set right, but a new heart is given him. He is the workmanship of God, created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
Though the same as a man, he is changed in his character and conduct. These words must and do mean more than an outward reformation.
The man who formerly saw no beauty in the Saviour that he should desire him, now loves him above all things.
The heart of the unregenerate is filled with enmity against God, and God is justly offended with him.
Yet there may be reconciliation. Our offended God has reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ. By the inspiration of God, the Scriptures were written, which are the word of reconciliation; showing that peace has been made by the cross, and how we may be interested therein. Though God cannot lose by the quarrel, nor gain by the peace, yet he beseeches sinners to lay aside their enmity, and accept the salvation he offers. Christ knew no sin. He was made Sin; not a sinner, but Sin, a Sin-offering, a Sacrifice for sin. The end and design of all this was, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him, might be justified freely by the grace of God through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Can any lose, labour, or suffer too much for Him, who gave his beloved Son to be the Sacrifice for their sins, that they might be made the righteousness of God in him We are Christ's Ambassadors http://biblehub.com/2_corinthians/5-17.htm
…16Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,…
http://teampyro.blogspot.com/2010_07_01_archive.html
http://www.frame-poythress.org/modern-spiritual-gifts-as-analogous-to-apostolic-gifts-affirming-extraordinary-works-of-the-spirit-within-cessationist-theology/ Tag
Analogous: comparable in certain respects, typically in a way that makes clearer the nature of the things compared.
- John MacArthur
- and the Young Prophet:
- Sharpening the Sword,
- Strange Fire,
- Beelzebub or the Finger of God?
- Accusations of "Strange Fire",
- blaspheming the Holy Spirit,
- word of correction,
- chastisement,
- prophet,
- prophetic ministry,
- factions,
- judgment,
- grace,
- mercy of God,
- mockery,
- hardened heart,
- circumcision of the heart,
- Twitter war,
- attack,
- Christlikeness,
- Calvinists,
- Reformed believers,
- Grace to You
A key distinction here is the distinction between rationally explicit processes, such as those involved when Luke wrote his Gospel, and intuitive processes, such as those involved with the Book of Revelation. One type of process is not inherently more “spiritual” than the other. Both the Gospel of Luke and Revelation were inspired.
Modern preaching is analogous to Luke: in composing a sermon rationally explicit processes dominate. Modern “prophecy” or intuitive speech is analogous to Revelation. Intuitive processes dominate. The general analogy between apostolic gifts and lesser gifts of the present day suggests that rationally explicit processes and intuitive processes can both be used by the Spirit today. http://www.frame-poythress.org/modern-spiritual-gifts-as-analogous-to-apostolic-gifts-affirming-extraordinary-works-of-the-spirit-within-cessationist-theology/
What does rationally explicit processes in composing a sermon rationally explicit processes dominate. mean?
An explicit goal of the group is to bring about some kind of change, whether it be on a global, social, or ... A fiery, "hell and damnation" guilt-ridden sermon from the pulpit or several hours with ... compel and dominate the free wills or minds of its members through coercive .... It is a technological process that impairs rationality.
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/mindcontrol/
COERCIVE PERSUASION IS NOT VOLUNTARY, PEACEFUL, RELIGIOUS
PRACTICE OR CENTRAL TO ANY BONAFIDE RELIGION.
Coercive persuasion is not a religious practice, it is a CONTROL technology. It is not a belief or ideology, it is a technological process. As a PROCESS, it can be examined by experts on its technology COMPLETELY SEPARATE from any idea or belief content, similar to examining the technical process of hypnotic induction distinct from the meaning or value of the post-hypnotic suggestions. Examining PROCESSES in this manner can not violate First Amendment religious protections. Coercive persuasion is antithetical to the First Amendment. It is the unfair manipulation of other's biological and psychological weaknesses and susceptibilities. It is a psychological FORCE technology, not of a free society, but of a criminal or totalitarian society. Any organization using coercive persuasion on its members as a CENTRAL practice that also claims to be a religion is turning the SANCTUARY of the First Amendment into a fortress for psychological assault. It is a contradiction of terms and should be "disestablished." Coercive persuasion is a subtle, compelling psychological force which attacks an even more fundamental and important freedom than our "freedom of religion." ITS REPREHENSIBILITY AND DANGER IS THAT IT ATTACKS OUR SELF-DETERMINISM AND FREE WILL, OUR MOST FUNDAMENTAL CONSTITUTIONAL FREEDOMS.
http://www.theforbiddenknowledge.com/mindcontrol/
rationalization processes orchestrated at all levels of societal and civilizational .... the dominant paths followed by entire civilizations to others that characterized ..... monks, and theologians rationalized the values implicit in doctrines into internally ..... Buddhist monk or those of the Sermon on the Mount to be "superior" . http://www.bu.edu/sociology/files/2010/03/Weberstypes.pdf
Every individual has a philosophy, even when they have never explicitly studied philosophy they develop one which tends to be a mix of ideas from surrounding culture. Philosophy, which is one’s interpretation of the world, effects every aspect of life governing all the choices we make - from career and family to what values we adopt - and the powerful role of philosophy in life is demonstrated unequivocally in The Enlightenment.
Every individual has a philosophy, even when they have never explicitly studied ... that existence was objective and understandable through logic and rationality. ... the dominant European religion, was on the virtue of poverty and suffering. ... In Sermons on Human Nature, Butler argued that we seek the good because we seek our well being, and under God the good and our well being are synonymous. The cynical Hobbesians and Calvinists, he argued, failed to see the beauty and moral worth of self love. To not seek happiness in this world is to criticize God’s very design itself.
He wrote – utler was the Spiritual advisor to the Queen of England, essentially the leading protestant theologian, and he would regularly address universities on Christian moral theology. A voice of tremendous influence rejecting Christian doctrine that had dominated for over a millennia. Butler celebrated rational self interest as moral and as God’s design. The influence he had over later deistic writers, such as Thomas Jefferson, can been seen clearly when comparing his views on self love in the pursuit of happiness to Jefferson’s opening to the Declaration of Independence. Butler wrote “…if in fact we are creatures of self love in pursuit of happiness then literally by God happiness was our birthright and coincident with virtue” and Jefferson - “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that [all men] are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” - Both asserting that it was the nature of human existence according to God’s design to pursue happiness.
http://rebirthofreason.com/Articles/dickeymf/Philosophical_Foundations_of_the_Enlightenment.shtml
