Charismatic Counterfeits: Do the Modern Gifts Meet the Biblical Standard? - by Nathan Busenitz

Excerpted from here. Our comments in bold.

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This is a long, and dare we say, irrelevant sermon. 

In this excerpt Mr. Busenitz promises at least five times that he's going to apply a biblical standard. He does manage to quote a couple of tangential Scriptures, but doesn't actually give us his defense from the Bible, let alone an analysis of his theological opponents. In fact, he addresses not a single charismatic argument. 

Mr. Busenitz manages to actually quote only two Scriptures, Deuteronomy 13:1-5, and 2 Peter chapter 2 (neither appear in this excerpt). Neither Scripture adds to his position in any substantial way.

In fact, this is so frustratingly long, and so absent documentation and biblical exposition, we are going to quote just a snippet. The reader can go to the link above for the rest of it.

The reader may also wish to read our cessationism series, where we make extensive and detailed biblical arguments in favor of the continuation of the spiritual gifts.

As to the title, Mr. Busenitz is asking the wrong question. He should be asking, why doesn't the modern Church manifest the biblical standard?

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There is obviously significant disagreement between Charismatics and Continuationists on the one hand, and cessationists on the other. The first group contends that the extraordinary gifts, the miraculous and revelatory gifts are still functioning in the church today. The other, cessationists by contrast, assert that those extraordinary gifts passed away because they were limited to the foundation age of the church, limited to the apostolic age.

That raises a key question. How should we approach this controversial issue when we talk about it with those whom we disagree with about this particular topic? (That's easy. Make your case from the Bible.)

Now Charismatics often approach the debate from an experiential starting point. They argue that the extraordinary gifts must have continued because they assert that they have personally experienced them. (This is beneath reasoned discourse. To suggests that charismatics have no biblical defenses of their beliefs is insulting, puerile, and false.)

Or they know someone who has. I think this is summarized in James Warner’s quote here. He says, “It is hard to argue with somebody that speaks in tongues that there isn’t such a thing.” As Warner’s quote suggests, Charismatics believe that their personal experience makes it hard to argue that the extraordinary gifts are no longer happening. (Again Mr. Busenitz insults his theological opponents. It is simply reprehensible to suggest that charismatics are unreasonable or do not think.

Even worse, he thinks this is an obstacle to biblical exposition. We note the irony of this, in that Mr. Busenitz barely bothers with the Bible at all.)

How can you tell me it’s not happening when I’ve experienced it? (Having impugned and dismissed charismatics by creating a Straw Man, Mr. Busenitz will now extol the virtues of cessationists.)

By contrast, cessationists often approach the debate from what I call a chronological starting point. They go to passages like 1 Corinthians 13:8 through 10, (We thoroughly discuss this verse here, and we actually quote Bible verses and employ reason and logic. 

As an aside, many cessationists refuse to invoke this passage as proof of cessationism. They are wiser than the author.)

and they attempt to argue that the miraculous and revelatory gifts passed off the scene based on those verses in 1 Corinthians 13. Now seeking to know when the extraordinary gifts ceased is certainly a valid investigation. However, it’s been my experience at least that this type of argument seldom succeeds when convincing Charismatics that their contemporary practices are misguided. Part of the reason why is because even if a cessationist can demonstrate that the extraordinary gifts passed off the scene of church history, (Which, frankly, cessationists are unable to do.)

shortly after the Apostolic age concluded, many Charismatics will respond by simply saying that the gifts returned in 1901 at the outbreak of the Pentecostal Movement. (What? They do? References? Documentation? Quotes from charismatic leaders?

AGAIN Mr. Busenitz impugns charismatics. No wonder he doesn't bother with a biblical argument. He is as unacquainted with charismatic biblical arguments as he is with the Bible itself. We say this because if he has read his Bible he give no evidence of it here.)

So we find ourselves then at a bit of an impasse when we consider the usual ways that this conversation is framed. Cessationists are generally unimpressed by the subjective experiences of Charismatics. (Mr. Busenitz engages in his own framing of the conversation, himself making thoughtful discourse difficult.)

And Charismatics remain largely unpersuaded by some of the chronological arguments that are made by cessationists. (Mr. Busenitz continues to mislead us as to the nature of the issues. And, if he actually has an argument, persuasive or otherwise, we would love to hear it. Alas, he does not actually make any of the arguments he alludes to.)

So, the question is, is there a better way for us to frame the discussion in our efforts to think about these things in a meaningful and fruitful way? (We have some ideas about that. 

• Tell the truth about people who believe in the gifts
• Use and quote the Bible with insight and accuracy
• Stop accusing people of heresy
• Manifest the fruit of the Spirit. And especially, 
• Make an effort to discover, understand, and properly evaluate your theological opponents.)

Well I’m convinced that there is and that’s what I want to talk about this morning in this session. Before we start talking about when the gifts ceased, we first need to answer the question, what were the gifts? (Astonishingly, he will never use the Bible to tell us.)

What is it that we’re actually talking about. It’s not until we determine what the gifts were from Scripture that we can then even answer the question about whether or not they’ve ceased. So our goal then, this morning, is to articulate a biblical understanding (Yes, please. Give us the biblical understanding. Lay it out for us. Make your case, if you can.)

of the miraculous and revelatory gifts which we will then compare to contemporary Charismatic practice. 

We’re bringing the biblical standard to bear on the modern experience. (He keeps making this claim about a biblical standard. Promise not kept.)

And what we will find is that when compared to the real thing, the modern Charismatic gifts simply don’t measure up. They’re using biblical terminology but their experiences are not the same as what is described in the New Testament.

So, we might call this the what question. In other words, what were the gifts in the New Testament, based on the biblical evidence. (This is where we are going to stop, because Mr. Busenitz never answers this question. He never supplies the scriptural basis for his cessationism. He can barely bring himself to quote Scripture.

Sad.)

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