I have, on several occasions, had some variation of the following conversation:
Charismatic: It’s sad that you don’t believe God speaks today. God is still the same as he was in the Bible. He spoke to his people then; there is no reason to believe he doesn’t now. It’s a shame that you think so little of God. He is awesome, and still does awesome things.
Me: God doesn’t speak to us now because his Word is complete. . . .
. . . and I would go on about the cessation of prophesy, the closing of the canon, etc.
It has been quite a while since I’ve had such an encounter, and I’ve replayed the situation in my mind several times. As is typical, I have excellent hindsight, prompting one of my many Things I Wish I Had Said moments. I wish I had said something like this:
You’ve misunderstood me. I do believe that God speaks today. He speaks to me, personally, all the time.He tells me all about himself, his nature, his character, his will, and his acts — past, present, and yet to come. He tells me all about myself, my sin, and my need for a Savior. He calls me to repent and believe. He invites me to come to him, weary and heavy-laden, and promises me rest. He entreats me to cast my cares upon him, for he cares for me. He commands me to love him with all my heart, soul mind, and strength, and to love you, too. He tells me what is good, and what he requires of me: do justly; love mercy; walk humbly. He promises that I will face no inescapable temptation, and that he will preserve me in the faith to the end, when he will receive me into his presence.
He speaks to me of those things each time I open his Word. He tells me everything I need to know, and much more than I can possibly take in. You see, when I say God is not giving direct revelation today, I am not betraying a low view of God; I am demonstrating a high view of his Word, and therefore of God himself, since I cannot separate the two. You think you show great faith by looking for extraordinary words from God. But I say, this Word that I hold in my hand, this Bible, is itself a miracle. Men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God. Is that not extraordinary? I have a sure, undeniable Word from the Lord constantly available at my fingertips that never fails to accomplish God’s purpose, that is living and active, sharper than a two-edged sword.
You say I think too little of what God will do. I say you think too little of what he has done. You are looking for something fresh, new, and exciting; I’m not yet over the exciting things God has already done. I am satisfied with his finished work and his future promises; you are looking for more, now. Your faith is dependent upon perceived signs and wonders; My faith and hope is in the Word God has spoken. I am filled; you are hungry. You are hunting for unicorns, while I eat from a freezer filled with prime beef.
I suppose that’s not a very scholarly apologetic; but that’s what was on my mind this morning, and those are my immediate thoughts on the matter.
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4 Comments:
#1 || 08·10·27··16:32 || Nathan W. Bingham
David:
I think your thoughts here summarise the heart of the Cessationist. Thank you for posting it.
It greives me to hear of those who seek to hear God outside of His Word - His ordained means.
#2 || 08·10·28··09:04 || Daniel
I like to remind people that the list of people God spoke directly to throughout scripture is actually quite small. How many of the two million or so Israelites in the wilderness did God speak with? One. Moses. How many prophets received direct instruction? A handful. Even if Hebrews 1:1-2 didn't tell us plainly that God used to speak thus (through visions, dreams, prophets, voices, etc.), but now speaks through Christ (i.e. scripture) that is - even if God were still speaking thus: we could only say that very, very, very, few Christians would hear from him.
Most Charismatics don't like to hear that.
#3 || 08·10·28··15:58 || Betsy Markman
"You say I think too little of what God will do. I say you think too little of what he has done. You are looking for something fresh, new, and exciting; I’m not yet over the exciting things God has already done."
That's an awesome statement. When we were looking for a new church home recently, we checked out a place that we thought (based on denomination) would be Biblically solid. In the few Sundays we were there we heard several people speak of how hard it was to read the word of God (one even said, "Yuck." He was recommending a Bible reading plan that takes no more than 5 minutes a day, which he said was tolerable.) Once, a member of the "Worship team" heard me in a very joyfully deep conversation with another believer, and she couldn't stand it. Kept coming over and telling us we needed to lighten up. Whatever happened to reverence and love for the Word? Do people even know how many have died for the privilege of having it? Does it occur to people that, if they love what God says to them today, they should also love what He said yesterday? And that if there's a difference between today's message and yesterday's recorded Word, then what is being said today is coming not from God, but rather from "the god of this world?"
Sorry...didn't mean to build my own soapbox here...
#4 || 08·10·28··16:32 || David
Betsy, that’s a sad statement on that church. Unfortunately, I think that’s all too common an attitude. It’s as if 2000 years of history, including the life of Christ, never happened.