Debunking the Myths: How Continuationists Misrepresent Cessationism - By Publisher

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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The unnamed "Publisher" actually quotes some relevant Scriptures, a welcome departure from past practice. But he will prove himself to be a liar, and for that we must deem this bad Bible teaching.

In addition, he targets unidentified charismatics regarding their claim that cessationists are "putting God in a box." This apparently is terribly offensive to "Publisher," leading him to claim charismatics are attacking cessationists. 

Lastly, the author will deal with only this one "myth," the "profound misunderstanding" that is represented by the accusation that cessationists are "putting God in a box."

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Criticism of the doctrine of cessationism (It's not a doctrine, it's a theological position derived from a collection of doctrines.)

is hardly a novel phenomenon coming from the charismatic wing of professing Christendom. Yet in recent years, a concerning shift has become increasingly evident. Hostility towards this doctrine has intensified, crossing the line into personal attacks on people who hold to cessationism, (We would ask the reader to scroll down to the screen shot supplied by "Publisher" and then tell us who was personally attacked. There are no names named, there are no attacks in evidence at all. As is typical with Disntr, "Publisher" hyperventilates about minor issues.)

and most often by people who misrepresent what cessationists actually believe and teach. Here’s just one recent example that I saw on social media earlier today.

(This is pretty mild criticism. 

If "Publisher" is concerned about personal attacks, perhaps he might want to take a look at himself and his fellow "discernment ministers:"

Here's a "discernment" ministry that claims that its brand of discernment is definitionally loving.

This is a "discernment" minister who was respectfully asked a question about the status of her heart when she writes about false teachers, and her response is truly astounding.

This same person does concede that some criticism is deserved, but spends the greater part of her article complaining about how difficult it is to be a "discernment" minister.

Here we have a person who believe that only false teachers are divisive, which apparently justifies any and all bad behavior from "discernment" ministers.

"Discernment" ministers can get really nasty. Here's some examples:

• Karen Swallow, an admittedly questionable person, was "discerned" as follows:

hideously ugly

post-menopausal woman 

bizarre wardrobe choices

a penchant for cackling

no personal charisma

a face that scares children

a voice that sounds like nails down a chalkboard

pugnacious

unladylike

uglier on the inside than she is on the outside

the personality of a Roomba 

 the personal charisma of fetid corpse

unpleasant and evil woman

• Here's a "discernment minister" who thinks it's appropriate to rank the worst Christian of the year.

• Here's one who accuses a person of committing the unforgiveable sin.

• T.D. Jakes might have some doctrinal problems, but here's what a "discernment" minister wrote about him: TD Jakes deserves no honor among bible teaching, God-fearing men. Like you, he deserves nothing but our contempt and the working end of the shepherd's rod.

• Here's a fellow who seriously wants all charismatics to die of COVID. Yes, really.

• This man says we don't have to pray for people who are false teachers.

• This man feels it's within the bounds of proper discourse to call someone an imbecile.

"Discernment ministries" rarely pull punches, so we find it ironic that "Publisher" has such a thin skin.)

This aggressiveness (??? What aggressiveness?)

has moved far beyond merely a matter of spirited debate (Any examples?)

and it reflects a deeper issue that has plagued the Church for centuries. Interestingly, the vast majority of theological heresies that have infiltrated Christian doctrine over the ages have come through the conduit of continuationism. (Undocumented claim. We consulted several lists of heresies and found very few heresies that originated in the charismatic movement.)

From Montanism in the early church (Montanism did not originate in the charismatic movement.)

—a movement that claimed new revelation through ecstatic prophecies—to the modern prosperity gospel that often relies on so-called “new revelations” to justify its teachings, the pattern is hard to ignore. (When one looks for patterns it often becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Or another way to put it, when one has only a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.)

These movements, while seemingly distinct, share a common thread. (Guilt by association.)

They rely on the continuationist belief in modern-day “prophecy”, or extra-biblical revelation, which is often packaged as miraculous gifts of the Spirit. (Here's "Publisher's" opportunity to explain his doctrine. What about the gifts of the Spirit? How do they work? Why is prophecy bad? This is needed context, which "Publisher" does not provide.

And by the way, all gifts of the Spirit are miraculous.)

At the heart of these heresies is the precarious belief that people can continue to receive direct, divine revelation apart from Scripture. This opens the floodgates for any number of distortions and deviations since it subverts the authority and sufficiency of the Bible. (Undocumented claim.)

The idea that God is speaking new truths outside of His completed revelation creates an unstable foundation, prone to the illusions of fallible human interpretation. This is no piddling matter, it strikes at the very core of biblical Christian orthodoxy. ("Publisher" Thinks the problem is continuing prophecy when it is actually the misuse of the Bible.)

Such a landscape provides fertile ground for the escalating attacks (He hyperventilates again.)

on cessationism, which ultimately aim to undermine the foundational truth that God has spoken definitively and completely through His Word. (This is actually the matter to be proved, that God has ceased revelation.)

It’s against this backdrop that the crescendo of attacks (He hyperventilates again.)

against cessationism should concern any biblically-minded Christian. The bottom line is this: if you want to debate the merits of cessationism, at least make an attempt to represent cessationism properly. (Let's see if "Publisher" will identify specific doctrinal misrepresentations of cessationism, especially since he has not articulated charismatic doctrine particularly well. Hint: He won't discuss any doctrines at all, but rather a single characterization about cessationists he doesn't like.)

Otherwise, you’re merely a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal, clamoring about that which you do not know or understand. (Irony alert.)

The next sections will delve deeper into the cessationist doctrine, its biblical foundation, and why this theological position is not only warranted but essential for preserving the integrity of Christian belief. (After an unfocused, barely coherent rant, "Publisher" finally gets to the topic. We wait with bated breath.)

Cessationism—a term that sparks intense debates within the Christian community, often misunderstood and misconstrued. Yet, this doctrine deserves a fair examination, especially against the sweeping accusations that cessationists are skeptics of God’s ongoing work. This notion couldn’t be further from the truth.

Cessationism is the theological position (Remember he called it a doctrine at the beginning, but gets it right this time.)

that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit, such as prophecy, speaking in tongues, and healing, ceased with the closing of the New Testament Canon and the death of the last apostle. (All spiritual gifts are miraculous because all are spiritual empowerments of the Holy Spirit.

"Publisher" states his premise but will never discuss this again.)

But it needs to be understood that the cessation of these sign gifts ("Publisher" dishonestly inserts a term, "sign," which presumes his premise. And it's a descriptor not found in the Bible.)

does not equate to a cessation of God’s active involvement in the lives of His people.

One of the most profound misunderstandings is the charge that cessationists “put God in a box,” claiming that He no longer heals or performs miracles. (A clumsy statement. The sentence says that charismatics claim that  God no longer heals or performs miracles. That's what the sentence says. What "Publisher" probably meant to write was cessationists “put God in a box” claiming they believe He no longer heals or performs miracles. So charismatics claim cessationists "put God in a box," and charismatics do this by claiming that cessationists believe God no longer heals or performs miracles.

Hope that helps the reader.

So here "Publisher" has finally articulated the big problem that has him so worked up. And it's not specifically a doctrinal issue, it's a matter of perception between opposing parties. Hmmm.)

This is a gross misrepresentation. God, in His omnipotence and sovereignty, is free to act in whatever manner He chooses. The difference lies not in God’s capability but in the methods He has chosen to employ to carry out His divine purposes.

When we explore the Scriptures, (The author will quote three, none of which bolster his argument.)

it becomes evident that the apostolic sign gifts (Now "Publisher" adds the word "apostolic," again using non-biblical terminology that presumes his premise.)

had a unique and specific purpose—to validate the apostles as messengers of God during a time when the New Testament Scriptures had not yet been completed. For example, Paul’s apostolic authority was confirmed through “signs, wonders and miracles” (2 Corinthians 12:12). Let's quote the whole verse:

2Co. 12:12 The things that mark an apostle — signs, wonders and miracles — were done among you with great perseverance.

Notice that the verse does not tell us that only the apostles could do these things. Nor would it, since Stephen did great wonders and miraculous signs among the people [Ac. 6:8] and he was not named an apostle. Ananias did a miracle [Ac. 9:17-18], and he was not named an apostle. Then there's an unnamed fellow driving out demons [Mk. 9:38] of whom Jesus approved, and he was certainly not an apostle. 

Lastly, Paul wrote to the Corinthian church that there are miracle workers in the church [1Co. 12:28], which he mentioned separately from apostles.

The reader should see that we are providing Scripture that clearly refutes "Publisher's" point. We are not being aggressive or attacking by saying that "Publisher" is simply wrong.)

 

These miracles were not for show and were not even primarily for the purpose of the temporal results they brought forth. (This is a questionable remark. Jesus' healing acts are repeatedly attributed to His compassion [Mt. 14:14, Mt. 15:32, Mt. 20:34, Mk. 1:41]. While it is certainly true that Jesus appealed to His miracles he did so only once in answer to doubters: 

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.

Peter reiterated this fact as well: 

Ac. 2:22 Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.

But as far as any miracles performed by people other than Jesus, nowhere does the Bible say they were to authenticate the messengers, as "Publisher" will now go on to claim. 

Again note that we actually provide what the Bible says, which is not an attack on cessationists.)

They were to authenticate the message of the gospel and the messenger, to prove that he spoke with divine authority. (No, the authentication was always of the message, not the messenger:

He. 2:4 God also testified to it [ the great salvation, vs 2] by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

There isn't a single verse in the NT that tells us an apostle was authenticated by miracles. Not one. There isn't a single verse in the NT that has someone asking an apostle to do a miracle to prove who he was. There isn't a single verse in the NT describing an apostle performing a miracle in order to prove they were an apostle.

"Publisher" is simply wrong.)

Today, with the Canon of Scripture complete, we have the final, authoritative revelation of God. Hebrews 1:1-2 makes it abundantly clear that “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (emphasis mine). (We first note the obvious: The author's assertion is not found in these verses. There is nothing here about final revelation. Nothing. He. 1:1-2 has nothing at all to do with anything ceasing. It does not speak to the closed canon. Scripture is not under discussion. There is nothing about spiritual gifts.

These verses are not referring to the Bible, but rather to Jesus. The Son is the Word and the Bible is the written down Word of God. But the Son, the Word, and the Bible are not interchangeable. The Son exists independently from His titles. His Word exists independently from what has been written down. And what has been written down does not address the totality of what Jesus has said.

The writer of Hebrews was not discussing the cessation of revelation or the closed canon. The actual topic is the superiority of the Son over the OT 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, the OT prophets who spoke to Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, and David, Jeremiah, among others. The writer of Hebrews was making a clear point. God has changed His avenue of speaking. Jesus now speaks directly. This passage is not about the culmination of the communication of God, but rather, the apex of God's revelation to man.

...but in these last days... The writer of Hebrews creates a contrast. Contrary to what He did in the past, in these last days God speaks [the Greek is present tense] via His Son, without the intermediation of a prophet. Jesus speaks today via the prophetic gift.

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. 

To whom does His Son speak? He has spoken to us via His Son. First, the Son spoke to the prophets our forefathers. Then He spoke in person to the disciples while He was on earth. After He died and rose from the dead, He spoke to the NT prophets and the apostles. 

But He didn't stop there. He poured out the Holy Spirit on all people:

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...

The Holy Spirit is poured out on all flesh. 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. 

The writer of Hebrews was making the same claim that both Joel and Peter claimed: What was formerly spoken to a very rare group of people is now directly spoken to all flesh via the Son.

The writer of Hebrews confirms that Jesus still speaks. 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.

Now we see a separate reference to "the Son" and "His powerful word." He is speaking right now to sustain creation. He continues to speak, or the universe would fall apart. 

"Word" is rhéma, a spoken word, made "by the living voice." So Jesus upholds all things by His spoken living voice, which resounds through the universe. "All things" includes His Church. We are also sustained by His speaking.

Also, if the writer of Hebrews was claiming that revelation ceased with Jesus, then the book of Hebrews should have ended right there. There should be no inspired writing after this point in history. The book of Revelation should not exist. A couple of the Gospels shouldn't have been written. Some of Paul's letters must be considered extra-biblical revelation, if Publisher's belief about what Hebrews chapter one means is true.)

Today, we have no need for further affirmation as the Bible testifies that it is sufficient for “teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16). (Let's quote a bit more of the verse so as to see how "Publisher" misleads us: 

2Ti. 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness...

Notice that "Publisher" substitutes "sufficient" for "useful." The Greek word is óphelimos, profitable, beneficial, useful. He is now lying to us.)

The end of the sign gifts (Again he uses this descriptor not found in the Bible.)

doesn’t spell the end of God’s miraculous work and to accuse cessationists of believing this is a fabricated distortion of the doctrine. (Does "Publisher" speak for all cessationists, because some of them do indeed believe God has ceased all supernatural activity in the Church.)

God does indeed continue to heal people (Does He do this by human agency? That is, does God use a Christian to heal a sick person? If so, wouldn't that mean that for a time this Christian got empowered by the Holy Spirit and was able to heal someone? 

This would mean that the argument is no longer about whether or not there are certain spiritual gifts today, but rather how long those spiritual gifts remain in a Christian.)

and intervene in the daily lives of Creation through his sovereign providence. But let’s not forget the most astonishing miracle of all, the regeneration of a human soul. (Well, actually, we think the resurrection of Jesus occupies the number one spot.)

This is where the Holy Spirit is most powerfully active today, illuminating minds to understand God’s Word, convicting hearts of sin, and sealing believers for the day of redemption—a truly miraculous work of God that, interestingly, seems to be missing in much of the charismatic movement. (Various charismatic ministries report many salvations. But since "Publisher" doesn't document his claim, neither shall we.)

Being a cessationist doesn’t mean we have limited God. (Technically, if cessationists are wrong, they are indeed limiting God.)

On the contrary, we acknowledge His boundless power while understanding that His primary means of acting in this age is through His Word and the inward work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of His people. It’s not that God can’t, it’s that God has chosen a different way—one that aligns perfectly with His sovereign will and His revealed Word.

The charge that cessationists limit God’s activity is not only unfounded but reflects a lack of understanding of both God’s sovereignty and the purpose of the apostolic sign gifts (There it is again...)

as laid out in Scripture. We are not skeptics of God’s miraculous power—we are firm believers in the enduring, transformative power of His Word and Spirit. And that’s a truth worth standing on, unapologetically. So if you’re going to attack ("Attack.")

us, at least do so with a proper understanding of our beliefs. (Charismatics would expect the same.)