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Disbelief in the Spirit's miraculous work is gaining ground in some Christian circles, but it’s fighting a losing battle.
The cessationist debate is back, although in some ways, it’s never left.
Pastor John MacArthur and Grace Community Church recently hosted the Cessationist Conference, timed to coincide with the release of the Cessationist movie—bringing an age-old topic back to the forefront of trending conversations, especially among Reformed believers. These discussions center on a basic question: “Are the miraculous gifts for today?” Cessationists would answer no.
But to me, there are even more fundamental questions at play here—such as why there is fresh interest in this subject today, and why so much effort is being spent on arguing against the continuance of supernatural signs and wonders.
The answer may be as obvious as it is simple. The Pentecostal-charismatic movement continues to rise rapidly around the world, and in the eyes of cessationist leaders like MacArthur, this is a cause for alarm, not celebration. In their view, this global movement is marked by doctrinal deviances and aberrant practices so extreme that some believe the “vast majority” of Pentecostals and charismatics are not Christians at all.
Dale Coulter, professor of historical theology at Pentecostal Theological Seminary, argues that the “the Pentecostalization of American Christianity” is coming of age. But in the opinion of these cessationist leaders, this isn’t a positive trend—dangerous doctrinal weeds are growing rapidly in our backyard, and theological diligence is required.
Having dialogued face to face with some of these leaders for hours, I don’t doubt the sincerity of their Christian faith or their pastoral concerns about perceived spiritual abuses. As a Pentecostal-charismatic leader, ...
from Christianity Today Magazine
Umn ministry
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