Hi-
I am trying to get a feel for the language here. The last thread on this leaves me so confused
I talked to a WTS Presbyterian two years ago who told me that there are very very few strict cessationists left anymore. He said that almost all the Reformed community acknowledge that amazing healing miracles are happening on the third world missionfield. (This man calls himself a cessationist and disagrees with Grudem about the gifts today).
Then there are some charismatics I know who go to "prophecy conferences" and tell you straight out that "the wise man brings out of his storehouse treasures old and new," and the bible is old treasure and the end time prophets and apostles are bringing out new treasure. ( gag). I just call them charismatics when I am in a good mood and worse things when I am in a disgusted mood.
Then there are Piperites types who say that the apostolic gifting ceased but it is possible to have a word of knowledge about a situation. They NEVER would accept end time prophets and apostles the way charismatics do, never ever. They hold to the closed canon and sufficiency of scripture, and such "words" maybe take the form of a prayer burden or helpful guidance in a particular situation. Right or wrong, they are not like charismatics.
So isn't that moderate cessationism? And what about my Westminster guy who told me there are very few strict cessationists left who would deny mission field healing miracles are from God?
So here, at this forum, what exactly is a cessationist and what is a continuist, and why can't there be a moderate, in between everything ceasing extreme and modern day canonical apostles extreme?
Do the cessationists here deny healing miracles? If not, isn't that a moderate cessationism? Or is the debate more over the idea of "words from God" ? Is that what the cessationists define as cessationism but they accept healing miracles? Do you cessationists think alleged miracles of healing through the laying on of hands and prayer are not from the Lord? Did it all cease?
I am just trying to clarify the terminology here in my mind as it seems very confusing to read the comments.
[Just to be fair, I think the word " Christian" is very confused to day. The word "prayer" in some circles isn't even prayer, it is what you do when you take authority and declare things. The word "faith" is so distorted in some circles it is crazy. We almost need to start over with brand new words for another Reformation. ]
I would appreciate clarification as to these terms and what the parameters are at this board. Thank you!!
I am trying to get a feel for the language here. The last thread on this leaves me so confused
I talked to a WTS Presbyterian two years ago who told me that there are very very few strict cessationists left anymore. He said that almost all the Reformed community acknowledge that amazing healing miracles are happening on the third world missionfield. (This man calls himself a cessationist and disagrees with Grudem about the gifts today).
Then there are some charismatics I know who go to "prophecy conferences" and tell you straight out that "the wise man brings out of his storehouse treasures old and new," and the bible is old treasure and the end time prophets and apostles are bringing out new treasure. ( gag). I just call them charismatics when I am in a good mood and worse things when I am in a disgusted mood.
Then there are Piperites types who say that the apostolic gifting ceased but it is possible to have a word of knowledge about a situation. They NEVER would accept end time prophets and apostles the way charismatics do, never ever. They hold to the closed canon and sufficiency of scripture, and such "words" maybe take the form of a prayer burden or helpful guidance in a particular situation. Right or wrong, they are not like charismatics.
So isn't that moderate cessationism? And what about my Westminster guy who told me there are very few strict cessationists left who would deny mission field healing miracles are from God?
So here, at this forum, what exactly is a cessationist and what is a continuist, and why can't there be a moderate, in between everything ceasing extreme and modern day canonical apostles extreme?
Do the cessationists here deny healing miracles? If not, isn't that a moderate cessationism? Or is the debate more over the idea of "words from God" ? Is that what the cessationists define as cessationism but they accept healing miracles? Do you cessationists think alleged miracles of healing through the laying on of hands and prayer are not from the Lord? Did it all cease?
I am just trying to clarify the terminology here in my mind as it seems very confusing to read the comments.
[Just to be fair, I think the word " Christian" is very confused to day. The word "prayer" in some circles isn't even prayer, it is what you do when you take authority and declare things. The word "faith" is so distorted in some circles it is crazy. We almost need to start over with brand new words for another Reformation. ]
I would appreciate clarification as to these terms and what the parameters are at this board. Thank you!!