What Are the Charismatic Gifts? -by Robert Rothwell

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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This Bible teacher doesn't quote a single syllable of the Bible. Not one. He references a few Bible verses, but cannot bring himself to quote them. This is our continuing complaint. We are convinced that in order to teach the Bible, one must present its contents.

Further, the author adheres to the party line regarding his case for cessationism, with little new information. But he also takes excursions into absurdity. And, he has several opportunities to explain some key assertions, but just moves on instead.

In fact, he briefly describes charismatic beliefs but does not comment on them. Rather, he simply dismisses them by explaining that certain Scriptures say the "supernatural gifts" have ceased. So if true, then the author owes us an explanation: Are charismatics deceived or making things up? 

We discuss these issues in detail in our cessationism series.

Lastly, the author's premise is to explain the "charismatic gifts," but he doesn't do that.  Indeed, it's a false premise, for all spiritual gifts are charismatic. That is, all spiritual gifts are empowerments of the Holy Spirit.

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Paul tells us that the Holy Spirit has given gifts for ministry to His people, (Where does Paul tell us this?)

and the English word “gifts” is a translation of the Greek word charismata. Therefore, the charismatic movement, which is the result of the influence of Pentecostal Christianity, (Actually, a result of studying the Bible and coming to a conclusion about its teachings.)

refers to a movement in the Christian church that has a unique emphasis on the gifts of the Holy Spirit. “Unique emphasis” is key here because in one sense, all churches are charismatic. After all, every Christian denomination believes that at least some gifts of the Holy Spirit continue to operate today in our post-Apostolic age. What sets the charismatic movement and Pentecostalism apart is their belief that the so-called charismatic gifts continue as well. Today, we usually use the term “charismatic gifts” to refer specifically to those spiritual gifts practiced by Pentecostal Christians and believers in the charismatic movement but not practiced in historic Protestantism or Roman Catholicism. These gifts include tongues, prophecy, and healing or miracles.

The Specific Charismatic Gifts

Speaking in tongues, sometimes referred to as glossolalia, is the gift of speaking another language not known to the speaker. Some who advocate the continuation of tongues today say that tongues are actual, known human languages. For instance, a native English speaker who suddenly speaks Spanish under the influence of the Holy Spirit—even though he does not know Spanish—would be speaking in tongues. (Do things like this happen today? This is a key question, because they would be in line with the cessationist definition, yet cessationists claim the gift has ceased. If there are Christians who are able to speak in an unlearned human language, then the gift has not ceased. 

The author runs right past this issue without comment.)

More commonly today, however, people view the gift of tongues as referring to speaking a language that has not been documented among human beings, perhaps a language spoken by the angels. Tongues are used as a private prayer language but also in corporate worship when many people speak in tongues all at once or when an individual says something in tongues and then an interpreter, under the influence of the Spirit, translates it for the benefit of the congregation.

In prophecy, an individual is believed to speak for God directly. The Lord reveals a message for that person or for others, and then the prophet delivers it. These modern prophets are believed to be much like the prophets we read about in Scripture, ("Much like?" In what way? Again the author has opportunity to explain but does not.)

men or women chosen to give others a word from the Lord directly by way of special inspiration. ("Special inspiration?" There is no such phrase in the Bible. We find it interesting that the author is discussing prophecy, a term that adequately describes, well, prophecy. Yet for some reason he finds it necessary to invent a neologism, having previously used the correct word.)

Sometimes gifts such as a “word of wisdom” are a type of prophecy. Some people who affirm that this gift continues believe that it is identical to the gift given to the biblical prophets and that the message is infallible. (We are unfamiliar with any charismatic teacher who believes contemporary prophecy is infallible.)

Others believe that modern prophets speak messages that include truth from God but may be mixed with error and thus are to be judged by Scripture. (The author makes this distinction but will not mention it again. Another opportunity for discussion is passed by.)

Finally, some believers are said to possess the gift of healing or miracles. Here we are not talking about praying for the sick, which all Christians do, nor about God miraculously healing people or protecting them in accordance with the prayers of His people. Rather, we are talking about individuals who claim to have a special talent ("Spiritual gift.")

for bringing about healing or working miracles. Pentecostal and charismatic Christians believe that somebody with the gift of healing is employed directly by God and used as His agent to restore health to others.

Do Charismatic Gifts Continue?

As we consider the claim that the gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing continue today, we should first commend Pentecostal and charismatic Christians for their interest in the work of the Holy Spirit. All believers should want to know more about the person of the Holy Spirit and desire to see Him work in the world. He is the third person of the Holy Trinity, after all.

The question before us is not whether we should believe that the Holy Spirit is at work today. All Christians believe that the Holy Spirit is working today. Reformed Christians in particular believe that the work of the Holy Spirit is discerned especially in regeneration, when He gives us hearts to believe the gospel (John 3:1–8), and in sanctification, when He enables us to more and more die unto sin and live unto holiness (Rom. 8). We also believe that God, by His Holy Spirit, sometimes heals people in extraordinary ways when we pray for them (James 5:14–15). (The author does not explain or define this occurrence.)

That the Holy Spirit is working today, however, does not have to mean that He continues to grant the charismatic gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing today. These gifts are associated with the giving of special revelation. (Hmmm. It was "special inspiration," now it's "special revelation." One might begin to suspect the author is trying to manipulate the reader's understanding.)

As we look throughout the history of redemption ("The history of redemption" is an odd and archaic choice of words. The average person would not understand the reference. We are beginning to think the author does not intend to provide an informative explanation, but rather to obfuscate.)

in Scripture, we see that miracles, prophecy, and ecstatic utterances such as tongues were not everyday occurrences but rather were associated with particular epochs. (This is spectacularly false.

First, let's note that "the miraculous things written in the Bible" does not equal "everything miraculous that happened." The Bible does not record everything that happened, only what the Holy Spirit wanted us to know. Therefore, many people might have been doing many miracles over the course of many centuries, and we would not know about it, simply because it's not in the Bible.

Thus, to limit miracles into isolated periods is merely an Argument from Silence, an unjustified attempt to impose a narrative based on what isn't written in the Bible.

Second, he is presuming his premise. "The supernatural gifts have ceased because there are no contemporary supernatural gifts" is a tautology. This the matter he must demonstrate.

Further, it would seem to us that every supernatural manifestation should be considered miraculous. Like prophecy, for example. The author does not want to include the varieties of prophetic manifestations in the OT. For example, King Saul [1 Sam. 10:6, 10:10, 19:20]. Abraham [Ge. 20:7] Deborah [Ju. 4:4] David [Ac. 2:29-30]. And of course, every single O.T. prophet. This great breadth of ongoing and diverse O.T. prophecy is a supernatural manifestation outside the parameters imposed by the author.

Nor does his view accommodate other supernatural manifestations, like Samson's strength [Ju. 14:6], Gideon's military prowess [Ju. 6:12], and Noah's deliverance [Ge. 6:8]. The miraculous is widespread in the OT.

We would make the same assertion regarding the NT, which is a front to back miraculous display.

Third, we also note that the number, type, or distribution of miracles in the Bible does not speak to what should or should not happen today.

Fourth, the prophet Jeremiah contradicts the author's position:

Jer. 32:20 You performed miraculous signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, both in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours.

To this day... The book of Jeremiah was written between 630 and 580 B.C., while the book of Exodus was written by Moses about 1450-1410 B.C. Jeremiah, inspired by the Holy Spirit, is making a claim of an unbroken period of miracles lasting over 800 years. This of course completely counters Mr. Rothwell's case.

But we needn't stop there. Peter quotes Joel's prophecy:

Ac. 2:17-21 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. [Joel 2:28-32]

This prophecy, quoted by Peter to authenticate what was happening at Pentecost, describes these things as happening in the last days. And we still live in the last days. Therefore, we should still be seeing the "supernatural" gifts in the church today.)

The era of Moses when the law was being given, the era of the old covenant prophets as instituted in the ministries of Elijah and Elisha, and the era of Jesus and the early Apostles that inaugurated the new covenant—these are the periods in biblical history when we see what we call the charismatic gifts manifested. In each of these eras, new special revelation (Hmmm. It was "special inspiration," then "special revelation," now it's "new special revelation." The author continues to make things up.)

was being given and the supernatural signs accompanied the deliverance of this revelation in order to authenticate it as from God. (This is a substantial claim, left undocumented. We certainly agree that Jesus pointed to His signs and wonders as proof of who He is:

Mt. 12:28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Jn. 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Jn. 10:25-26 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 

But we find no NT Scripture that states that signs and wonders authenticated the Gospel message of the early church. We find no NT church requesting such credentials. We find no account of a NT character performing a sign or wonder to prove who he was. We find no prophetic word in the NT that was attested to by a sign or wonder.)

However, we know now that special revelation has ceased. God has spoken decisively in His Son, and we will not have new revelation from Him until Christ returns (Heb. 1:1–4; 12:25–29). (Sigh. Let's quote the verses, since the author can't seem to be bothered to do so:

He. 1:1 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. 3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. 4 So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.

The writer of Hebrews was not discussing the cessation of "special revelation." The actual topic is the superiority of the Son over the prophets and the angels. In fact, the entire opening chapter of Hebrews is written to establish the high position of the Son. His speaking is higher than others who previously spoke. It is so high that this Speaker now sits at the right hand of the Majesty.

Certain men "spoke to our forefathers." That is, they were the OT prophets who spoke to Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and David, Jeremiah, among others. The writer of Hebrews is making a clear point. God has changed His avenue of speaking. This passage is not about the culmination of the communication of God, but rather, the apex of God's revelation to man.

In addition, we must consider the context of the passage, including how a reader in the early church would understand what was written. Would such a reader conclude that this the verse is telling him about the final culmination of God's revelation, the Bible? Of course not. There was no Bible back then. No, the first century reader would understand these plain, direct statements as presented: In the past age, God spoke to their ancestors ["forefathers," that is, the Jews] via the OT prophets.

...but in these last days... "But..." The writer of Hebrews is creating a contrast. Contrary to what He did in the past, in these last days God speaks [the Greek is present tense] directly by His Son, without the intermediation of a prophet. When did Jesus get proclaimed as the ultimate of God's revelation? Read the verse:  ...in these last days... Jesus dispensed with intermediation of the OT prophets at the commencement of the last days:

Ac. 2:17 In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams...

Now the Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh. Notice that Peter quoted the prophet Joel, who said, in the last days... The same phrase used by the writer of Hebrews. We are currently in the Last Days, so Jesus still speaks (present tense). "These last days." In these last days we prophesy, dream dreams, and see visions. 

He. 1:1-2 has nothing at all to do with anything ceasing. It does not speak to the ending of "special revelation." Instead, using very particular language, the writer of Hebrews is making the same claim that both Joel and Peter claimed: What was formerly apportioned to a select group of people is now directly apportioned to all flesh via the Son.

The writer of Hebrews confirms this. He wrote in the very next verse, He. 1:3:

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.

 If Jesus ceased speaking, the universe would collapse.

Now for the second cited passage:

He. 12:25 See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven? 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” [Haggai 2:6] 27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” [Deut. 4:24] 

There is nothing hear about the ceasing of "special revelation.")

Because of that, there is no need for the charismatic gifts to authenticate the revelation. (We agree, since that has never been the reason for the charismatic gifts.)

There is no new revelation being given today, so we should not expect to see the gifts of tongues, prophecy, or miracles. (Another tautology.)

The foundation of the church has been laid in the work of the Apostles and prophets (Eph. 2:19–21). (Again, let's quote the Scripture:

Ep. 2:19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow-citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Paul was talking about the spiritual dwelling place of God, which is the Church, built upon the apostles and prophets, with Jesus being the cornerstone. The Church is what is built on the foundation. This is not the Bible or doctrine or "special revelation." The Church is built upon the teachings of the apostles, the prophecies, and the death and resurrection of Jesus -  the living stones (1Pe. 2:5) are being constructed. 

More importantly, there is no justification to assert that "special revelation" means building another foundation. This is nothing more than an inference, a speculation. Read the verses again. Does the reader see anything there that implies something about "special revelation?"

Further, Scripture does not tell us that the foundation is the end of construction.  The church is building upon the foundation. Paul tells us that his work was to lay the foundation, but others were building upon it:

1Co. 3:10-11 By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. 11 For no-one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

So here we see the foundation upon which the Church is built occurred once for all time, but construction of the Church upon it continues by many others.

In addition, Paul himself acknowledges more than one foundation:

Ro. 15:20 It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation.

Others were building foundations, i.e., communities of living stones, in other places. Paul wanted to lay foundations in places where the Gospel was unknown.

We also are to build a foundation for ourselves:

1Ti. 6:18-19 Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. 19 In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

The author's assertion is incorrect.)

Apostles and prophets are the means of special revelation, (Undocumented claim, and a false one. Was Jude an apostle or prophet? Luke? They wrote Scripture, but are not described as either.)

and once the foundation of the church was laid, these offices and any signs that authenticate them passed away.

In addition to this core biblical argument (We are waiting for a biblical argument.)

that the charismatic gifts do not continue today, note that historically, the mainstream Christian church has said that these gifts ended with the death of the last Apostles. (An Appeal To History. What if historical practices were wrong?)

Occasionally, orthodox Christian writers in earlier eras spoke of prophecy as continuing, but by this they usually meant what we call preaching—the exposition of Scripture—and not the delivery of new revelation. ("Usually?" So sometimes these early believers were talking about prophecy? How much? Are they trustworthy sources? Again the author punts.

The author doesn't seem to even understand what prophecy is. "Revelation" is the unveiling of something that already exists, previously hidden, but now seen. There is no such thing as "new revelation." Prophecy isn't "new revelation.")

Groups that have claimed that the charismatic gifts continue, such as the Montanists in the early church, usually have also held to aberrant theology. Not all modern Pentecostal and charismatic Christians have heterodox or heretical beliefs to the degree that groups from the past had, but the historical association of aberrant theology and the continuation of charismatic gifts should give one pause before accepting that these gifts continue. (What present-day charismatics do or don't do is irrelevant to the biblical case.)

Yes, the Holy Spirit works today. But there are compelling biblical and historical reasons to believe that the gifts He gives to the church in our era do not include the gifts of tongues, prophecy, or healing and miracles. Other gifts of the Spirit listed in Scripture are still present. (These are also supernatural empowerments. This creates a problem for the author: Some supernatural empowerments continue, while others don't. He would have to explain the work of the Holy Spirit in the gifts he accepts, and why other supernatural empowerments are such a problem. He hasn't done that.)

These gifts, along with the faithful teaching of the Word, prayer, administration of the sacraments, and exercise of church discipline, are the means through which the Holy Spirit ministers to His people today.