Cessationism again - by Phil Johnson

Found here. Our comments in bold.

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We had hoped to find some quality Bible teaching here regarding cessationism, but no such luck. The author simply recounts the events of an email encounter he had. So he doesn't teach us anything other than how he dispatched an errant charismatic.

We must deem this Bad Bible Teaching.

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Here are some excerpts from an e-mail exchange I had with a charismatic gentleman. I had suggested that the utter absence of any credible biblical-quality miracles is one of the reasons I'm not inclined to reconsider my cessationist stance every time charismatics claim we're seeing a new wave of Spirit-gifts. Phenomena such as holy laughter, tricks with gold dust, and "prophets" whose prognostications are less than one-third accurate don't impress me. Ditto with "tongues" that have none of the characteristics of true language. (The author wants a sign or he will not believe that God does miracles today: “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you?" John 6:30

The thing is, IF there are no miracles today [which in fact the author cannot know], then why might that be? The author and other cessationist teachers affirm this to be true, thus all of their followers believe this to be true as well. As a result we have an entire generation of [non] believers who would reject any hint of God doing miraculous things in our time. 

We would suggest that the lack of faith regarding these things are impeding the supernatural activities of God. Charismatics, believing the promises Jesus makes, aren't able to break through the lack of faith that infects the Church. We therefore do not see many miracles because there is no faith for it [Mt. 13:58].

More to the point, where's the author's affirmative Bible teaching where he instructs us on the proper and biblical understanding of these things? Hint: It's not here.)

If charismatics could produce the kind of miracles described in the Bible, or if anyone's "gift of tongues" turned out to be authentic or objectively translatable languages (like in Acts 2:8), I would be forced to reconsider my cessationist opinions. ("Jump through my doctrinal hoops and I might believe." Unfortunately, the author's carefully constructed doctrine is an insurmountable obstacle because he inaccurately describes the situation. 

First, there is no Bible verse that tells us about the quality of miracles a Christian must perform. 

Second, Tongues aren't required to be an "objectively translatable language." There is no Bible verse that says so. We discuss tongues in detail here, where we explain the error the author makes.)

But (although I've heard an abundance of urban-legend-style unverifiable anecdotes) I have never encountered anyone today who is gifted to perform miracles in the same way the Apostles were. (Again, the author will need to produce a Bible verse that describes this standard.)

So this man suggested (in all seriousness) that I should turn on TBN and watch Benny Hinn heal person after person. (So the author isn't refuting a doctrine, he's refuting a misguided person. The rest of the author's presentation is spent discussing this person's beliefs about Benny Hinn.

There is no presentation or explanation of the Bible. At all. As such, the rest of the author's presentation is valueless and therefore redacted.)

(...)