The Christian Contingent

Cessationism vs. Continuationism

It is the position of this ministry that all of the Spiritual gifts are fully active and present in Christians today. Unfortunately most of those who publicly display these gifts are counterfeits and charlatans. People who truely are using most of these gifts are doing it quietly. The perception of these gifts by most people is formed from the charlatans and not the true practitioners. For example: There are credible, true accounts of people who pray for healing all the time and there are healings that happen all of the time. People do not know about them, but they do know who Benny Hinn is.

There is a general discussion about if the Holy Spirit still indwells believers which determines if He is still active in the world today. If He is indwelling believers, why would he not be actively providing the gifts? Do not Peter and Paul say that each believer has a gift (1 Corinthians 12:7,11; 1 Peter 4:10-11; 1 Corinthians 14:26-33)? We each have a gift, we should be using it for the glory of God. We all need to use our gift as we are all one body, the body of the Church, the body of Christ, and when we are not using our gift then another part of the body will suffer (1 Corinthians 12:18-20; Romans 12:4-8).

When listening to the discussion of the cessation of gifts that Erickson wrote in Christian Theology, there is not enough evidence to be sure that the gifts have actually ceased. He also writes that even if they did cease for a while there is not any indication that they could not be reactivated by God.     

If ministry happens and there is a difference of beliefs about the spiritual gifts, we should not let the differences be the focus. Let the differences be secondary to the truth that we are all fallen. When we realize that we all serve the same God and that God calls for unity, can we be non-divisive for a time? Also remember 1 Corinthians 8:9,13 where Paul warns us not to cause a brother to stumble.


Comments

2 responses to “Cessationism vs. Continuationism”

  1. Your article helped me a lot, is there any more related content? Thanks!

    1. If you have further questions, please reach out to us through our email – AContender@TheChristianContingent.com thanks!
      May God bless you,
      A Contender

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