Charismatic Gifts Debate
Charismatic Gifts Debate
By Mark Jones
Theo 350-B05
September 26, 2010
1
The Charismatic Gifts Debate
For my research paper I choose the charismatic gifts debate because coming from a Pentecostal/Charismatic background growing up in church, I know a little about the gift. With growing up in a Charismatic church, I saw the gifts in action. There is a lot of debate on whether the gift is relevant for today or have they ceased from the church. One side says that the gifts are in the past and is not relevant for the day that we live in and another side says that the gifts are still relevant for today. There is one group that says that if you do speak in tongues, then you are under demonic control and are not really saved. Both sides of the argument use scripture from the bible to justify their means. In the grand scheme of things, whether or not the spiritual gifts are for today is not a salvation issue. Therefore we should be gracious when it comes to debating this issue. In Romans 14:5, Paul wrote “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” (New American Standard Bible, 1960) As you can see, the bible leaves room for debate and the differences of opinion when it comes to the non-essential doctrine. The issue of whether the charismatic gifts is still around is still an issue that needs to be debated or not and needs charity from both sides of the argument. This is not an issue to divide the church over but many of them I hate to say has made chosen to make this an issue. I believe in my opinion that the charismatic gifts are still in use today. I don’t think that the gifts have ended with the apostles or with the completion of the bible. I will state the standard objection to the continuing of the spiritual gifts and then I will give what I believe is a basic but true evidence for the charismatic argument. One argument is that since we have the Bible we don’t need the
By Mark Jones
Theo 350-B05
September 26, 2010
1
The Charismatic Gifts Debate
For my research paper I choose the charismatic gifts debate because coming from a Pentecostal/Charismatic background growing up in church, I know a little about the gift. With growing up in a Charismatic church, I saw the gifts in action. There is a lot of debate on whether the gift is relevant for today or have they ceased from the church. One side says that the gifts are in the past and is not relevant for the day that we live in and another side says that the gifts are still relevant for today. There is one group that says that if you do speak in tongues, then you are under demonic control and are not really saved. Both sides of the argument use scripture from the bible to justify their means. In the grand scheme of things, whether or not the spiritual gifts are for today is not a salvation issue. Therefore we should be gracious when it comes to debating this issue. In Romans 14:5, Paul wrote “One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” (New American Standard Bible, 1960) As you can see, the bible leaves room for debate and the differences of opinion when it comes to the non-essential doctrine. The issue of whether the charismatic gifts is still around is still an issue that needs to be debated or not and needs charity from both sides of the argument. This is not an issue to divide the church over but many of them I hate to say has made chosen to make this an issue. I believe in my opinion that the charismatic gifts are still in use today. I don’t think that the gifts have ended with the apostles or with the completion of the bible. I will state the standard objection to the continuing of the spiritual gifts and then I will give what I believe is a basic but true evidence for the charismatic argument. One argument is that since we have the Bible we don’t need the
Cited: 1. The Lockman Foundation. New American Standard Bible. 1960. 2. The Lockman Foundation. New American Standard Bible. 1995 Revised. 3. Regan, David. “Gifts of the spirit- Are they for today?” http://www.learnthebible.org/gifts-of-the-spirit-are-they-for-today.html (accessed September 21, 2010). 4. Wallace, Daniel B. “Two views on the “Sign Gifts”: Continuity vs. Discontinuity” http://bible.org/article/two-views-sign-gifts-continuity-vs-discontinuity (accessed September 22, 2010). 5. Smith, Matt “Charismatic Gifts: Are they still present today?” http://learntheology.com/holy_spirit_charismatic_gifts.html (accessed September 23, 2010). 6. Wallace, Daniel B. “Hebrews 2:3-4 and the sign gifts.” http://bible.org/article/hebrews-23-4-and-sign-gifts (accessed September 24, 2010). 7. Busenitz, Nathan. “The Charismatic Question.” http://www.sfpulpit.com/2008/03/10/the-charismatic-question/ (accessed September 24, 2010). 8. Zondervan Publishing. Holy Bible: New International Version. 1973. 9. Spreading Light Ministries. “The Problem with Tongues.” http://www.spreadinglight.com/contemporary/tongues.html (accessed September 25, 2010). 10. Draper, Jim “Doctrine: The Bible and tongues.” http://www.bpnews.net/BPFirstPerson.asp?ID=25413 (accessed September 25, 2010).