Readings for today: Job 24-25, Acts 10:9-48
Greg Daniels posted a great set of questions that arise from today’s reading. “In the early days of the Church, what we now call the miraculous gifts of apostleship, prophecy, tongues, healing, and miracles were common. A big question for the Church today is, have these gifts ceased to be (cessationism), or are they continuing (continuationism)? What do you think, do healings still occur? Do people still speak in tongues? Is there still new revelation by prophecy?”
For those who may be unfamiliar with the debate, there are those in the church today who argue the miraculous gifts of the Spirit have “ceased” (cessationism) because we have the Scriptures. Though the early church did have access to the Old Testament, they didn’t have access to the gospels or the epistles from Paul, Peter, James, John, etc. as they were still being written. Therefore - as the argument goes - the Holy Spirit provided miraculous signs that “authenticated” the message being preached but once the Bible came into its full and complete form, the need for such signs was no longer necessary since Scripture provides all the authentication the gospel needs. On the flip side are those who believe the miraculous gifts still exist today. They point to the fact that the Bible itself never says the signs will cease and in fact includes the miraculous sign gifts right alongside the other, more ordinary spiritual gifts when it lists them out. So unless we are going to suggest the gifts of teaching or preaching or evangelism have ceased as well, we should remain exegetically consistent. Furthermore, “continuists” point to the prevalence of miraculous signs especially in areas around the world where the gospel is being introduced for the first time. There are many reports of miraculous healings, tongues, prophecies, etc.
To put my cards on the table, I am a continuationist. I believe all the signs are still in operation and I believe God grants such signs for the building up of the Body of Christ, to further the gospel, and to bring glory to Himself. We see all these dynamics on display in the story we read from Acts 10. Peter receives a vision from the Lord in response to a prayer from an unbelieving Gentile centurion. It’s a new revelation regarding Gentile inclusion in the Kingdom of God. Peter goes to Cornelius and Cornelius welcomes him with open arms, asking him to preach. Peter preaches the gospel and here’s what happens next…
“While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word. And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles. For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared, “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain.” (Acts 10:44-48)
Note the Gentile believers were speaking in tongues, amazing the Jewish believers. Further, they understood that these new believers were “extolling God” meaning there was either an interpretation being given simultaneously so everyone could understand and celebrate what God had done or these new believers were actually speaking in known languages like what had happened on Pentecost. Peter then proceeds to baptize them all thus fulfilling the prophetic word he had received from the Lord.
It’s a powerful passage that holds great relevance for us today. The eminent church historian, Philip Jenkins, has provocatively suggested that the church of the 21st century will be traditional in its ethics, orthodox in its doctrine, supernatural in its power, and centered in the Global South. Africa will have over 1 billion Christians by 2050. Latin America over 650 million. Asia over 600 million. The growth of Christianity in North America will continue to slow to a crawl and will face steep decline in Europe. As the faces of Christianity continue to change, one will expect the influence of theologians and pastors and ministry leaders from these areas of the world to begin to dominate the landscape. No longer will the theological tone be set by the Reformation of the 16th century in Western Europe but by the Reformation taking place in Ethiopia, Uganda, China, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico. This new movement is decidedly Pentecostal. It is boldly Charismatic. The preaching of the gospel in these countries is often accompanied by signs and wonders and miracles. It all sounds very “New Testament” to me and I’ve experienced it’s impact firsthand.
I have seen miraculous healings. I have witnessed a resurrection. I personally received the gift of tongues a few years ago during a time of prayer in Ethiopia. I have also witnessed abuses. Faith healers claiming to heal when they did not. False prophets claiming new revelation from the Lord that never comes true. People speaking publicly in worship in all sorts of tongues with no interpretation. This is where we have to test everything according to Scripture. God will not contradict Himself. He will not say one thing in His Word and another to a pastor or prophet. Again, the Bible is clear. The spiritual gifts are given to build up the Body of Christ. They are given to further the mission of the gospel. They are given to bring God all the glory. Any attempt to use the gifts to make our name great, to exploit the members of the Body of Christ, or to further our own kingdom on earth must be rejected forcefully. This is especially true when it comes to prosperity preaching or false prophecy which is so prevalent in our culture today.
Readings for tomorrow: Job 26-27, Acts 11