On Continuationism

Dallas News shared a story yesterday about an ongoing controversy in the SBC as a result of a message preached by Dwight McKissic at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth.  During his chapel message, he made the comment that he had a private prayer language, a reference to a manifestation of Spirit Baptism found in the book of Acts.  You can catch up on what is being said below.  For the sake of this blog entry, I am want to write about my understanding of this practice.  Tim Challies interviews Dr. Wayne Grudem and Dr. Sam Waldron to show each perspective.  Its worth the read.

I am a continuationist.  I believe that the Holy Spirit is still moving and functioning as He was during the Book of Acts and at the time the Epistles were written.  I embrace the Charismata and see no Scriptural end to the gifts of the Spirit.  I believe the Canon is closed.  I have never spoken in another earthly language as the Spirit of God directed me.  I do "pray in the Spirit and with understanding(1 Cor 14:15)." I am dependent on the leading of the Holy Spirit and also fully embrace the authority of Scripture. I do believe in miracles and the Scriptural manifestations of the Holy Spirit though I would have a more strict interpretation of 1 Corinthians 14 than most Pentecostals/Charismatics.  I feel that both of those descriptors may be narrow or incomplete in their description of my doctrinal understanding.

I love and appreciate my pastoral friends who are cessationists.  I do not have an affinity for a rejection of spiritual things that are simply rejected because they are too spiritually messy, inconvenient, or decentralized.  Certainly, arguments can be made that "prophecies have failed, tongues have ceased, and knowledge has vanished away (1 Cor 13:8)."  I think that is a legitimate theological perspective on the Scriptures.  But, it concerns me when any Scriptures are marginalized because of our discomfort.

I thought I'd throw that out there so you can get to know me a bit better as well as sharing this journey the SBC is on presently.  I hope you enjoy the conversations below:

McKissic's letter to SWBTS - Dallas News - Burleson on McKissic - How It All Went Down - Wes Kenney: 1st Impressions - Restive Baptists Meet - Nathin Finn: Solutions

Comments

[Matt Boyd]

Travis,

Just a little food for thought to fuel the fire of discussion… Who closed the cannon? Everything we base this belief upon is extra biblical sources and proof-texting. Logically, if God still speaks through the Charismata it is on the same level as everything else He has said.
The fact is that saying the cannon is not closed scares people! Continuationist, cessationists, Spirit-filled believers, evangelicals, fundamentalists are all afraid of that statement because it opens the door to someone adding books to the scriptures. We are afraid of another Mormon church arising or a new Jim Jones claiming he is the mouth piece of God.

I believe the SBC sees believing in the charismata as a slippery slope that will end up allowing for all kinds of craziness. In the end it is an issue of control. We cannot control God but we want to. It is a lot easier to control a bible that has one interpretation and a God who only speaks through that bible. We have fit God neatly inside a closed cannon so we can feel comfortable.

God Bless from the Frozen North!
Matt

[travis johnson]

Matt,

Awesome to hear from you. Where are you?!

Closed Cannon? I would agree that it is a control issue. Though, I would say it is appropriate. What books should be added? What new thing is being spoken?

[Matt Boyd]

I'm in Alaska. I believe the cannon is open because only God can close it. When He speaks to us individually it holds the same weight and authority as what is written in the Bible. (God is writing his law on our hearts) So, I am not advocating other books be admitted to the cannon. I am advocating that God is bigger then our limitations that we put on Him. There is a lot of tension in being Spirit centered rather then Solo Scriptura. But I believe God wants us to live in that tension and trust Him.

God Bless!
Matt

[travis johnson]

Is the Holy Spirit stil speaking? Yes. Are there prophetic voices? I'd say a definite yes. Am I going to base my faith and walk on the prophetic? No. The same Spirit that leads in prophecy, leads in discernment, pointing us to the words of Christ.

I couldn't agree more that God is bigger than the limitations we place on him. But, I am comfortable seeing through a glass darkly for now and until I see Him face to face.

[Hector Urrutia]

The Cannon is open. I'm agree with McKissic, is simple, Jesus himself declared it in John 16:12,13

[Travis Johnson]

Hector,

It is one thing to say that the Holy Spirit is still speaking. He is. It is another thing to say that God is still adding to the Scriptures.

Like McKissic, I embrace the gifts of the Spirit. That does not mean I would embrace another Testament of Jesus like the Mormons would with the "Pearl of Great Price" or the "Book of Mormon."

[Travis Johnson]

You should check out a book by John Ruthven called, "On the Cessation of the Charismata." Interesting read.

[Nathan Bradfield]

Trav,

Interesting you post on this. My pastor was in Dallas for the conference and he asked a question about what would could we do to keep unity in light of the disagreement over one issue? A newspaper writer misquoted him the next morning as stating that as far as he was concerned, we will do our own thing b/c we disagree.

He shared about it last nite. Typical, but still hard to comprehend how that happens...unless the drive-by media looks for ways to divide and cause confusion... :)

[Phil Hoover-Chicago]

First of all brethren,

The word is "canon" and not "cannon."

Secondly, Matt Boyd, great to hear that you are still alive. How is life in Alaska?

Thirdly, Jack Deere's books SURPRISED BY THE VOICE OF GOD and SURPRISED BY THE POWER OF THE SPIRIT are great discussions on the issue of "cessationism" and "continuationism" and the closing of the canon.

John Wesley had a marvelous theological method:

SCRIPTURE (first and foremost)
Tradition
Reason
Experience

And that method still works well today.

[Travis Johnson]

Nathan, Who is your pastor?

[Travis Johnson]

Phil, thanks for the heads up on the spelling. And, good words re:Wesley.

[Matt Boyd]

Phil,

Both of the Jack Deere Books you mentioned are excellent! Alaska is beautiful. This time of year it is cold and dark (5 hours of sunlight). I will be performing a wedding this spring in Chicago.

I am not advocating new books in the Bible when I propose an open canon. I am trying to point out that if God still speaks today then it carries the same weight as scripture. My faith is not based on the Bible or the prophetic. It is based upon the person and work of Jesus Christ. God reaches out to all of us through experience, tradition, reason and scripture. Thanks Phil!
That’s my 2 cents!

Matt