"Strange Fire" Eval #2 - Sufficiency of the Spirit's Work and Prophecy
Posted by Russell Tusing at 4:13 PM
2 other concluding thoughts or judgments offered at the end of the "Strange Fire" Conference in regard to continuationists that need evaluation are:
A.) Continuationists distract from the Holy Spirit's true ministry by enticing people to buy into a false ministry. A hazardous distinction to make by the way (Matt.12:22-32). According to this reasoning, advocating the ongoing activity of the Spirit by way of the perpetuity of charisms/gifts somehow suggests a view of the Spirit's insufficiency. Consequently, it is false. This is maintained on the grounds that the Spirit's work/s of regeneration, sanctification, conviction, filling, and sealing are the primary works of the Spirit. Well to those specifics of the Spirit's ministry continuationists would say an unabashed amen. However, we would actually propound a more robust activity of the Spirit that brings those about. Strange Fire's characterization of the gifts as false evinces a fundamental misapprehension of the nature of the gifts as biblically delineated. See below.
B.) Continuationists wrongly or erroneously advance the gift of Prophecy and special revelation. The two of course are interrelated. This objection relates to the above A.). For "Strange Fire" Prophecy and revelation must be on par with O.T. Prophecy. They treat the two as if they have to be understood in terms of being "inspired" in the sense of the Bible being "inspired" and "infallible." Again, this misunderstands and confuses the biblical categories. See below.
A.) Continuationists distract from the Holy Spirit's true ministry by enticing people to buy into a false ministry. A hazardous distinction to make by the way (Matt.12:22-32). According to this reasoning, advocating the ongoing activity of the Spirit by way of the perpetuity of charisms/gifts somehow suggests a view of the Spirit's insufficiency. Consequently, it is false. This is maintained on the grounds that the Spirit's work/s of regeneration, sanctification, conviction, filling, and sealing are the primary works of the Spirit. Well to those specifics of the Spirit's ministry continuationists would say an unabashed amen. However, we would actually propound a more robust activity of the Spirit that brings those about. Strange Fire's characterization of the gifts as false evinces a fundamental misapprehension of the nature of the gifts as biblically delineated. See below.
B.) Continuationists wrongly or erroneously advance the gift of Prophecy and special revelation. The two of course are interrelated. This objection relates to the above A.). For "Strange Fire" Prophecy and revelation must be on par with O.T. Prophecy. They treat the two as if they have to be understood in terms of being "inspired" in the sense of the Bible being "inspired" and "infallible." Again, this misunderstands and confuses the biblical categories. See below.
Continuationsists actually advocate a biblical sufficiency of the work of the Spirit and a robust, biblically grounded pneumotology (doctrine of the Holy Spirit) that cessationists degrade. Now, "Strange Fire" is correct to denounce much of the hyper-Charismatic and Word of Faith doctrines and practices as degrading the ministry of the Spirit. Although, to generalize as they did is just dishonest. In the end, after honest biblical interpretation, it is possible that they are actually pointing the proverbial finger at themselves with concern. A.). A concern that is more or less existential or experiential in nature than biblical or theological. And this existential or experiential dilemma is the base of THEIR objection/s allayed against charismatics...while lumping continuationists into the mix. While Scripture undoubtedly affirms the work of the Spirit they acknowledge, Scripture also undoubtedly affirms the work of the Spirit continuationsts acknowledge. Actually, continuationists maintain that the ongoing activity of the gifts that are commonplace within the N.T. community and regularly promoted (Rom.12:3-8; I Cor.12:1-30; Eph. 4:8-16; I Peter 4:7-11) serve to promote regeneration, sanctification, conviction, filling and sealing that the "Strange Fire" cessationists primarily affirm. "Strange Fire," in denouncing the gifts/charisms, shortchanges the Spirit's work though.
The above indictment (A.) at the closing of the conference either indicates that they are:
1) unfamiliar with continuationist doctrine (and meaning), 2) ignoring what they do know and are familiar with and arguing a "straw man" anyway (a logical fallacy where another's position is misrepresented) or 3) unfamiliar with how Scripture represents the gifts/charism's of the Spirit and thus the role and activity of the Spirit. I cannot say without being in immediate dialogue with them. Speculative conclusions and inferences can only be teased out from their literature.
1) unfamiliar with continuationist doctrine (and meaning), 2) ignoring what they do know and are familiar with and arguing a "straw man" anyway (a logical fallacy where another's position is misrepresented) or 3) unfamiliar with how Scripture represents the gifts/charism's of the Spirit and thus the role and activity of the Spirit. I cannot say without being in immediate dialogue with them. Speculative conclusions and inferences can only be teased out from their literature.
Instead of offering a rational critique on grounds of logic (or experience) I would rather turn to Scripture to define the role of the Spirit; which is a biblical logic. Something the concluding thoughts from the "Strange Fire Conference" sorely lacked. The conference by and large was inadequate in providing a comprehensive biblical warrant.
Let's begin with a record of Christ's description of the economy (activity or ministry) of the Spirit. Here are quotes from the Johannine gospel: John 14:16, "And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, to be with you FOREVER, even the Spirit of Truth...You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you." - Christ is here promising "another Helper" (advocate, counselor) that will indwell the disciples and His flock, by extension. The other Helper was Christ. This Helper, while a distinct person of the Godhead as the Holy Spirit, isn't altogether different in economy or function - John 14:26, "the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you," (cf.16:12-13). - The Spirit is identified here as He who will imbue the disciples with remembrance of Christ's teaching (this teaching is in the context of the Last Supper John 13 where the disciples were with Christ). This, the Holy Spirit did, as I am quoting from a fulfillment of that verse. The Holy Spirit did accomplish this as the remembrance produced in John is confirmed by this record of it in inspired Scripture. The New Testament was canonized by writers who were inspired and taught by the Holy Spirit just as Christ promised (II Tim. 3:16; II Peter 1:19-21). Interestingly, John, who quoted Christ as teaching the above, (John 14:26) applied this to the Christians at Ephesus near the end of his life. - I John 2:26-27, "But the anointing (i.e. the Holy Spirit that all born again Christians have been given and not some secondary experience) that you received from Him (Christ) abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you...." - John is maintaining that what was true for them (the Apostles/disciples in John 14:26) is true for all who have been born of God.
Now, there is a distinction that needs to be made. The Holy Spirit taught/reminded the Apostles of the teachings of Christ...the same teachings the apostles like John promulgated to the nascent church. For the Christians at Ephesus, to whom John is writing in I John, the oral tradition (primarily - although some letters were written by then) John and others had taught them, as the Spirit was bringing the teachings of Christ to their remembrance (John 14:26) was the same teaching the "anointing" or Spirit would confirm within every born again believer. The point is that the same Spirit in the Apostles, who taught and reminded them (the apostles) of the teachings of Christ is the same Spirit at work in all believers now, who teaches us and reminds us of the teachings of Christ as recorded in Scripture or, in other-words, as taught by the Apostles (I John 4:6).
The aforementioned establishes that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, guides Christians into all truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit will reveal NEW propositional truths not previously revealed in Scripture. Nor is that what John means in I John 2:26-27. The canon of Scripture is closed. There will be no additions nor subtractions. The Bible is the ONLY infallible and propositionaly authoritative revelation of God.
That is not the end of the matter though as "Strange Fire" would like the church to believe. The "true" ministry of the Spirit WILL enable us to recognize and believe the revealed truths of Scripture. The continuationist ethos and praxis of the Spirit's ongoing activity serves to promote the "true" ministry as defined by cessationists.
The gifts of grace that the Spirit sovereignly, "apportions to each one individually as He wills," (I Cor. 12:11) serves to insure the perpetuity of the Spirit inspired truths of biblical nomenclature. The gifts of "the utterance of wisdom," "the utterance of knowledge," "teaching," "exhortation" and "prophecy," are given to promote an understanding of that which has been revealed in Scripture by the same Spirit of Truth that endows Christians with these gifts, (I Cor. 12:4-11, 14:26,29-32; Rom.12:6-8; I Peter 4:11).
These Gifts of the Spirit exist to illuminate the truths of Scripture that have already been revealed through Christ, His Gospel and the "remembrance" that the Spirit enabled the Apostles and other inspired N.T. writers to have...now recorded in the 66 books of the Bible. These CONTINUING gifts serve to "reveal" a fuller understanding of Scripture that was otherwise not apprehended or understood by Christians. These gifts provide further "revelation" in relation to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His teaching relayed to all Christians, by way of the writers of the N.T. as they were moved by the Spirit of Truth, throughout time until Christ returns.
Prophecy and revelation are not to be understood as new revelations beyond Scripture or fresh propositional truths revealed beyond the revealed truths recorded in the Bible as the "Strange Fire" proponents inaccurately and falsely allege.
This is in accord with the Pauline understanding of the continuation of prophecy and revelation. The continuing activity of prophecy and revelation, as the Spirit continues to sovereignly distribute, serves to enlarge the Christian's clarity or understanding of what has been revealed through Christ and His teaching. Teaching that was preserved by the apostolic community as the Spirit brought to their remembrance the things of Christ. (We should agree, though, that many in the Pentecostal/Charismatic camps do promote a Montanist "new prophecy" doctrine whereby prophecy reveals new truths beyond the truths of Scripture in terms of propositional truths.)
"Strange Fire" makes many exegetical, categorical and contextual missteps when evaluating the continuationist position and the biblical evidence provided germane to prophecy and revelation. (See D.A. Carson, Showing the Spirit, pp. 119-121, 132-133,163 for instance). Space will not permit a more trenchant treatment and I am already pushing the envelope in terms of a blog so the following will have to suffice.
Paul relates "revelation" to "prophecy" in I Cor. 14:29-33. He also places limitations on both thus affirming that they are not infallible expressions of grace. "Strange Fire" suggests this is impossible by relating N.T. prophecy/revelation to O.T. prophecy and inspired revelation. Paul clearly does not reason the way they do. If prophecy/revelation is tantamount to infallible prophecy and revelation on par with Scripture (as "Strange Fire" maintains it should be understood) Paul is a blasphemer...denying the infallible word of God from being pronounced as he would be doing in I Cor.14:29-33. This is an absurdity.
The ongoing gifts/charisms of prophecy and revelation that continue to be operative within the Church serve to reveal a fuller understanding of those truths revealed in Scripture. In other words, a prophecy or revelation is a gift given by the Spirit (I Cor.12:11) in order to enlarge the Church's comprehension of the teachings of Christ, recorded in Scripture, as the Spirit inspired its writers, so that the Church can continue to mature in making application in our present life until Christ returns. Paul prayed this much (Col.1:9-12 for instance).
Moreover, Paul taught the Philippians that he trusted that God would "reveal" a teaching of his to them when they at the time might not have understood or received it (Phil. 3:12-15). Elsewhere Paul prayed, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened...," (Eph.1:16-18a). As D.A. Carson notes, "Apparently, at least some of this revelation came through a quiet divine disclosure, part of the Christian's growing grasp of spiritual realities - a growing grasp that can come only by revelation, which is to say it comes by grace."
These are congruous with the Spirit's gifts of the "utternace of wisdom" (I Cor.12:8) and "prophecy/revelation" (I Cor.12:10;14:29-30). These supernatural gifts of grace continue in perpetuity until Christ returns (I Cor.1:7-8;13:8-12) for the building of Christ's church...aka regeneration, sanctification, conviction et al.
"Stange Fire" fails to be convincing from a biblical and exegetical/hermenuetical standpoint. "Strange Fire" is simply redefining the sufficiency and ministry of the Spirit as outlined in Scripture. By and large they appear to be working with an "axe to grind" interpretive template more than a biblical template. At least John Calvin, while taking the cessationist position, was honest about it in saying, “It is possible, no doubt, that the world may have been deprived of this honour (the continuation of the gifts) through the guilt of its own ingratitude.”
+Inform your faith
Now, there is a distinction that needs to be made. The Holy Spirit taught/reminded the Apostles of the teachings of Christ...the same teachings the apostles like John promulgated to the nascent church. For the Christians at Ephesus, to whom John is writing in I John, the oral tradition (primarily - although some letters were written by then) John and others had taught them, as the Spirit was bringing the teachings of Christ to their remembrance (John 14:26) was the same teaching the "anointing" or Spirit would confirm within every born again believer. The point is that the same Spirit in the Apostles, who taught and reminded them (the apostles) of the teachings of Christ is the same Spirit at work in all believers now, who teaches us and reminds us of the teachings of Christ as recorded in Scripture or, in other-words, as taught by the Apostles (I John 4:6).
The aforementioned establishes that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, guides Christians into all truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. This does not mean that the Holy Spirit will reveal NEW propositional truths not previously revealed in Scripture. Nor is that what John means in I John 2:26-27. The canon of Scripture is closed. There will be no additions nor subtractions. The Bible is the ONLY infallible and propositionaly authoritative revelation of God.
That is not the end of the matter though as "Strange Fire" would like the church to believe. The "true" ministry of the Spirit WILL enable us to recognize and believe the revealed truths of Scripture. The continuationist ethos and praxis of the Spirit's ongoing activity serves to promote the "true" ministry as defined by cessationists.
The gifts of grace that the Spirit sovereignly, "apportions to each one individually as He wills," (I Cor. 12:11) serves to insure the perpetuity of the Spirit inspired truths of biblical nomenclature. The gifts of "the utterance of wisdom," "the utterance of knowledge," "teaching," "exhortation" and "prophecy," are given to promote an understanding of that which has been revealed in Scripture by the same Spirit of Truth that endows Christians with these gifts, (I Cor. 12:4-11, 14:26,29-32; Rom.12:6-8; I Peter 4:11).
These Gifts of the Spirit exist to illuminate the truths of Scripture that have already been revealed through Christ, His Gospel and the "remembrance" that the Spirit enabled the Apostles and other inspired N.T. writers to have...now recorded in the 66 books of the Bible. These CONTINUING gifts serve to "reveal" a fuller understanding of Scripture that was otherwise not apprehended or understood by Christians. These gifts provide further "revelation" in relation to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His teaching relayed to all Christians, by way of the writers of the N.T. as they were moved by the Spirit of Truth, throughout time until Christ returns.
Prophecy and revelation are not to be understood as new revelations beyond Scripture or fresh propositional truths revealed beyond the revealed truths recorded in the Bible as the "Strange Fire" proponents inaccurately and falsely allege.
This is in accord with the Pauline understanding of the continuation of prophecy and revelation. The continuing activity of prophecy and revelation, as the Spirit continues to sovereignly distribute, serves to enlarge the Christian's clarity or understanding of what has been revealed through Christ and His teaching. Teaching that was preserved by the apostolic community as the Spirit brought to their remembrance the things of Christ. (We should agree, though, that many in the Pentecostal/Charismatic camps do promote a Montanist "new prophecy" doctrine whereby prophecy reveals new truths beyond the truths of Scripture in terms of propositional truths.)
"Strange Fire" makes many exegetical, categorical and contextual missteps when evaluating the continuationist position and the biblical evidence provided germane to prophecy and revelation. (See D.A. Carson, Showing the Spirit, pp. 119-121, 132-133,163 for instance). Space will not permit a more trenchant treatment and I am already pushing the envelope in terms of a blog so the following will have to suffice.
Paul relates "revelation" to "prophecy" in I Cor. 14:29-33. He also places limitations on both thus affirming that they are not infallible expressions of grace. "Strange Fire" suggests this is impossible by relating N.T. prophecy/revelation to O.T. prophecy and inspired revelation. Paul clearly does not reason the way they do. If prophecy/revelation is tantamount to infallible prophecy and revelation on par with Scripture (as "Strange Fire" maintains it should be understood) Paul is a blasphemer...denying the infallible word of God from being pronounced as he would be doing in I Cor.14:29-33. This is an absurdity.
The ongoing gifts/charisms of prophecy and revelation that continue to be operative within the Church serve to reveal a fuller understanding of those truths revealed in Scripture. In other words, a prophecy or revelation is a gift given by the Spirit (I Cor.12:11) in order to enlarge the Church's comprehension of the teachings of Christ, recorded in Scripture, as the Spirit inspired its writers, so that the Church can continue to mature in making application in our present life until Christ returns. Paul prayed this much (Col.1:9-12 for instance).
Moreover, Paul taught the Philippians that he trusted that God would "reveal" a teaching of his to them when they at the time might not have understood or received it (Phil. 3:12-15). Elsewhere Paul prayed, "that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened...," (Eph.1:16-18a). As D.A. Carson notes, "Apparently, at least some of this revelation came through a quiet divine disclosure, part of the Christian's growing grasp of spiritual realities - a growing grasp that can come only by revelation, which is to say it comes by grace."
These are congruous with the Spirit's gifts of the "utternace of wisdom" (I Cor.12:8) and "prophecy/revelation" (I Cor.12:10;14:29-30). These supernatural gifts of grace continue in perpetuity until Christ returns (I Cor.1:7-8;13:8-12) for the building of Christ's church...aka regeneration, sanctification, conviction et al.
"Stange Fire" fails to be convincing from a biblical and exegetical/hermenuetical standpoint. "Strange Fire" is simply redefining the sufficiency and ministry of the Spirit as outlined in Scripture. By and large they appear to be working with an "axe to grind" interpretive template more than a biblical template. At least John Calvin, while taking the cessationist position, was honest about it in saying, “It is possible, no doubt, that the world may have been deprived of this honour (the continuation of the gifts) through the guilt of its own ingratitude.”
+Inform your faith
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