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Towards Understanding Spiritual Gifts

Christians in the latter half of the C20 and beginning of the C21 find themselves divided over the so-named ‘charismatic’ gifts. These include the gift of tongues, prophecy, discernment, healings etc.

The Charismatic experience swept the Christian world in the latter half of the C20. Few Christian groups remained immune and reactions rarely were neutral. Some embraced the charismatic experience and believed it to be a great blessing from God. They believed it recaptured authentic NT Kingdom experience. In their view the church had domesticated the Holy Spirit and charismatic renewal liberated the Spirit to work again with sovereign power in ways that reinforced the gospel.

Others were convinced the charismatic experience was misguided. They insisted that the sign gifts of the Spirit were intended only for the beginning of the Kingdom age, introducing a new epoch of revelation and ceased with the demise of the apostles (and ipso facto new revelation).

Today there is a fairly clear divide between cessationists and charismatics. Mutual suspicion exists. Both groups look askance at the other. Charismatics tend to consider cessationists second-class citizens who require the further experience of tongues (generally assumed to be the sign of Spirit baptism) for a Spirit filled life. Cessationists on the other hand dismiss charismatic experience as (at best) excessive emotionalism or (at worst) demonic distraction. Neither group is particularly complimentary: each lacks confidence in the spirituality (if not spiritual life) of the other.

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About John

Hi there - I am a member of Greenview and have been for over 20 years. For a number of these years I functioned as an elder, however, indifferent health forced me to take more of a back seat. I see this as an opportunity to do a little writing, often focussing on issues that are a matter of evangelical debate today. Naturally the views expressed are my own and may not reflect the views of the elders or church at large, though differences are likely to be in the detail and not the substance.

These articles and sermons were written partly to clarify my own thoughts and partly with the intention of provoking thought in others who may read them. If you read one I hope you find it stimulating. Please feel free to give me feedback or discuss my articles in the forums.

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