Are Miraculous Gifts for Today?

187 Pages·1996·18.9 MB·English

by  Doug Oss

-ARE--
MIRACULOUS
GIFTS·
FOR TODAY?
Four Views
~COUNTERPOINTS~
---ARE
MIRACULOUS
Four Views
Cessationist
RichardB_ Gaffin,Jr.
Open but Cautious
R. L. Saucy
ThirdWave
C. SamuelStorms
Pentacosta1lCharismatic
DouglasA. Oss
Wayne A. Grudem
GeneralEditor
•
ZendervanPubJishingHouse
GrandRapids, Michigan
ADivisionofHarperCollinspublishers
Withmuch appreciation and affection
wededicate this book
toourwives
Jean Gaffin
AreMiraculousGiftsforToday? Margaret Grudem
Copyright©1996byWayneA.Grudem, Richard B.Gaffin,Jr.,Robert L.Saucy,
Debra Oss
C.SamuelStorms,DouglasA.Oss
Requestsforinformationshould beaddressed to: NancySaucy
• Zondervan Publishing House
Ann Storms
GrandRapids,Michigan49530
LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData
Aremiraculousgiftsfortoday?:Fourviews/RichardB.Gaffin,Jr....
[etal.]:editedbyWayneA.Grudem.
p. cm.-(Counterpoints)
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN:0-310-20155-1 (softcover)
1.Gifts,Spiritual. 2.Miracles. I.Gaffin,Richard B. II.Grudem,
WayneA. III.Series:Counterpoints(GrandRapids,Mich.)
BT767.3.A74 1996 96-16189
234'.13-dc20 CIP
AllScripturequotations, unlessotherwiseindicated, aretakenfromtheHoly
Bible:New InternationalVersion®.NIV®.Copyright©1973,1978,1984by
InternationalBibleSociety.Usedbypermission ofZondervan Publishing House.
Allrightsreserved.
Allrightsreserved.No part ofthispublication maybereproduced, storedina
retrievalsystem,ortransmittedinanyformorbyanymeans-electronic,
mechanical,photocopy,recording,oranyother-exceptforbriefquotationsin
printedreviews,withoutthepriorpermissionofthepublisher.
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
97 98 99 00 01 02/+DH/10987654
CONTENTS
Preface:Wayne Grudem 9
Abbreviations 21
1. ACESSATIONISTVIEW 23
RICHARDB.GAFFIN,JR. 25
Responses
RobertL. Saucy 65
C.SamuelStorms 72
DouglasA. Oss 86
2. AN OPEN BUT CAUTIOUSVIEW 95
ROBERTL. SAUCY 97
Responses
Richard B.Gaffin,Jr. 149
C.SamuelStorms 156
DouglasA. Oss 164
3. ATHIRDWAVEVIEW 173
C.SAMUELSTORMS 175
Responses
Richard B.Gaffin,Jr. 224
RobertL.Saucy 225
DouglasA. Oss 235
4. APENTECOSTAUCHARISMATICVIEW 237
DOUGLASA. OSS 239
Responses
Richard B.Gaffin,Jr. 284
RobertL.Saucy 298
C.SamuelStorms 305
5.CONCLUDING STATEMENTS 309
DouglasA.Oss 311
C.SamuelStorms 318
RobertL.Saucy 327
RichardB.Gaffin,Jr. 334
Conclusion: WayneA. Grudem 341 PREFACE
AuthorIndex 351
SubjectIndex 354
Scripture Index 362
How is the Holy Spirit working in churches today? Ishe
really givingmiraculoushealingsandpropheciesandmessages
in tongues? Is he giving Christians new power for ministry
when they experience a "baptismin the HolySpirit" after con
version? Is hedrivingoutdemons when Christians command
themto flee?
Or are these eventsconfinedtothe distantpast,tothe time
whenthe NewTestamentwas beingwrittenandlivingapostles
taughtand governed-andworkedmiracles-inthe churches?
There is little consensus onthese questions among evan
gelical Christians today. There are many Pentecostalswho say
that Christiansshouldseektobebaptizedinthe Holy Spiritafter
conversion,and thatthis experiencewill resultin newspiritual
power for ministry. But other evangelicals respond that they
already havebeenbaptized in the HolySpirit,becauseit hap
penedthe momenttheybecameChristians.Who isright? What
are the argumentsoneach side?
In addition to these questions, there are manydifferences
overspecific spiritualgifts.Canpeoplehave a gift ofprophecy
today, so thatGod actually reveals things to themand they can
tell these revelations to others? Or was that gift confined to the
time when the New Testamentwas still unfinished, in the first
centuryA.D.?Andwhatabouthealing? ShouldChristiansexpect
that God will often heal in miraculous ways when they pray
today? Can some people still have a gift ofhealing? Or should
ourprayeremphasisbethat God willworktoheal throughordi
narymeans, suchas doctors andmedicine? Or again, shouldwe
mostlyencouragepeopletoseethe sanctifyingvalue ofsickness
andpraythattheywill havegrace to endureit?
9
10 I Are MiraculousGiftsfor Today? Preface , 11
There is even less consensus on the gift of speaking in dition, conservative groups such as the Missouri Synod also
tongues. Some Christians say that it i~ a valua?le h~lpto their hold mostlyto acessationistposition.
prayerlife, others say it is.a signofbelI~gbaptizedin the.H?ly Standingin clearoppositiontothecessationistpositionare
Spirit, and still others say Itdoes notexist todaybecause ItIS a three groups thatencourage the use of all spiritual gifts today:
form of verbal revelationfrom God thatended when the New Pentecostals, charismatics, and theThirdWave. Although some
Testamentwritings werecompleted.. . times people have used the terms "Pentecostal" and "charis
We could go on with more questIons-questIo~sabout matic"indiscriminatelyto referto all ofthese groups, theterms
whether the Holy Spirit guides us today through feehngs and are moreaccuratelyunderstood in thefollowingway:
impressions of his will, about ~astingout de~ons,and about Pentecostal refers to anydenominationor group thattraces
seeking spiritual gifts, or quest~ons about claims.that evang~­ its historicaloriginbackto thePentecostalrevivalthatbeganin
lismtodayshouldbe accompamedby demonstrationsofG~d.s the UnitedStates in 1901,andthatholdsthefollowing doctrines:
miraculouspower. Butthe pointshouldalreadybe clear:This IS (1)All the gifts of the HolySpiritmentioned in the New Testa
a large and interesting area of discussion, one of immense mentare intendedfor today; (2)baptismin the HolySpiritisan
importanceto the life ofthe churchtoday. empowering experience subsequent to conversionand should
be soughtby Christianstoday;and(3)whenbaptisminthe Holy
THEFOUR POSITIONS Spiritoccurs,peoplewillspeakin tonguesas a "sign"thatthey
have received thisexperience. Pentecostal groups usuallyhave
Is there any wayforward from this array of questions and theirowndistinctdenominationalstructures,amongwhichare
different views? The first step shouldbe to define clearlywhat theAssembliesof God, the ChurchofGodin Christ,and many
the mainpositionsare thatare currentlyheldin the ev~gelical others.
world. Ifthisbooksucceeds only in that task, somethmgvalu Charismatic, on the other hand, refers to any groups (or
able willhavebeenachieved. people) that trace their historical origin to the charismatic
But whatare the mainpositions? Can the entire evangeli renewalmovementofthe1960sand1970sandthatseektoprac
calworldbe classifiedintofour positionson these questions?As tice all the spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament
I discussed this matter with editors Stan Gundry and Jack (including prophecy,healing, mir..cles, tongues, interpretation,
Kuhatschek at Zondervan Publishing House, some positions and distinguishingbetweenspirits). Amongcharismaticsthere
becameimmediatelyclear. are differingviewpointsonwhetherbaptismin the HolySpirit
The cessationistpositionarguesthatthereare no miraculous issubsequentto conversionand whetherspeakingin tonguesis
gifts of the HolySpirit today. Gifts suchas prophecy, tongues, a signofbaptismin theSpirit. Charismaticsbyand large have
andhealingwereconfinedtothefirst century,andwereused at refrainedfrom formingtheir owndenominations,butviewthem
the time the apostles were establishing the churches and the selves as a force for renewal within existing Protestant and
NewTestamentwasnotyet complete.This isawell-definedand RomanCatholicchurches.Thereisno representativecharismatic
often-defendedpositionwithinevangelicalscholarship. denominationinthe UnitedStates today,butthe mostprominent
Thereare cessationists within both the Reformed and the charismaticspokesmanisprobablyPatRobertsonwithhis Chris
dispensational segments of evangelicalism. Reformed ~essa­ tian Broadcasting Network, the television program "The 700
tionism is represented by many of the faculty at Westmmster Club," andRegentUniversity(formerlyCBN University).
Seminary, especiallyRichard Gaffin. Dispensationa~ ce~sation­ Inthe1980sa thirdrenewalmovementarose,amovement
ists hold similarpositions on this questionbutare indifferent called The Third Wavebymissions professorC.PeterWagnerat
institutions; theyare representedbyinstitutionssuchas Dallas FullerSeminary (he referred to the Pentecostal renewal as the
Seminaryand The Master'sSeminary. Within the Lutherantra- first wave of the Holy Spirit's renewing work in the modern
12 I Are MiraculousGiftsforToday? Preface I 13
church, and the charismatic movement as the second wave). seen ingroupsthatpractice these gifts.Theydo not think speak
ThirdWavepeople encourage the equipping ofallbelievers to ing intonguesisruled outby Scripture, butthey seemanymod
use NewTestamentspiritualgiftstodayandsay thatthe procla emexamples as notconforming to scriptural guidelines; some
mation of the gospel should ordinarily be accompanied by also are concerned thatitoftenleads to divisiveness and nega
"signs, wonders,andmiracles," according tothe New Testament tive results in churches today. They think churches should
pattern. They teach, however, thatbaptism in the Holy Spirit emphasize evangelism, Biblestudy, and faithful obedienceas
happens to all Christians at conversion] and that subsequent keys to personal and church growth, rather than miraculous
experiences are better called "fillings" or "empowerings" with gifts. Yetthey appreciate some of the benefits that Pentecostal,
the Holy Spirit. Though they believe the gift of tongues exists charismatic, andThird Wavechurches have broughttothe evan
today, they do not emphasizeit to the extent that Pentecostals gelicalworld,especiallyarefreshingcontemporarytone inwor
and charismatics do. The mostprominentrepresentative ofthe ship and achallengeto renewalin faith and prayer.
"Third Wave" isJohn Wimber, a pastor of the Vineyard Chris Asthe ZondervaneditorsandItalked, we realized thatthis
tian FellowshipinAnaheim, California, and leaderoftheAsso last group was giganticin the evangelical world, butit did not
ciationofVineyardChurches.' have a name. For purposes of thisbook, we have called it the
Those are the well-defined positions: cessationist, Pente openbutcautiousposition. Itrepresentsthe broadmiddleground
costal, charismatic, ThirdWave. Butthese hardly represent the ofevangelicalswhodo not fallinone ofthese other camps. Isus
entire evangelical world.Thereisyetanotherposition, heldbya pect itisthe positionheldbythe majorityofevangelicalstoday,
vastnumberofevangelicalswhothinkofthemselvesasbelong at least in the UnitedStates.
ing to none of these groups. These peoplehave notbeencon Wewere left, then, with five positions: (1)cessationist, (2)
vinced by the cessationistarguments thatrelegate certain gifts openbutcautious, (3)Third Wave,(4)charismatic,and (5)Pen
to the first century,butthey arenot really convincedby the doc tecostal. Tohave five essays, however, seemed unsatisfactory,
trine or practice ofthose whoemphasizesuchgiftstodayeither. because three ofthem wouldhave affirmed thevalidityofmirac
They are open to the possibilityof miraculous gifts today, but ulous gifts today, making the book imbalanced on the central
they areconcerned aboutthe possibility ofabuses thatthey have questionitaddresses. So-we combinedpositions (4)and (5)and
asked the Pentecostal author to representboththe Pentecostal
viewpointand, whereitdiffered,the charismaticviewpoint.This
'JohnWimber,inhisbookonChristian doctrine,writes:"How canweexpe
leftus withthe four views thatarenowrepresentedinthisbook:
rienceSpiritbaptism? Itcomesatconversion....Conversionand HolySpiritbap
(1)cessationist,(2)openbutcautious, (3)Third Wave,(4)Pente
tism aresimultaneousexperiences"(PowerPoints[SanFrancisco:HarperCollins,
1991],136). costal/charismatic.
'Asaneditor,Iwasnotsatisfiedwith thename "ThirdWave"forthismove
ment, becauseit does not have a surface meaning that refers to any distinctive THE AUTHORS
emphasisofthemovement. Iconsideredtheterm"expectantevangelicals"because
onedistinctiveemphasisisahigh levelofexpectancy forGodtowork inmiracu In orderto get thebest possiblestatementsofthe four posi
lous ways today,buttheauthorsrejecteditascompletelyunfamiliar. Onerecent tions,my goalas thegeneraleditorwas tofind the mostrespon
spokesmanforthis grouphas chosen the term "empoweredevangelicals"-not sible representatives of these four positions among evangelical
implyingthatothersarenotempowered,anymorethantheterm"Baptist"implies Protestantscholars today. Iwanted the essays to interact seri
thatothersdonotbaptizeor"Presbyterian"impliesthatothersdonothaveelders
ouslywith scholarly questions, so the searchwas confined to
but implyingthatempoweringbytheHolySpiritisaprominentemphasisinthe
individualswhohadacademicdoctoratesandwhohad,inpre
teachingand practice ofthisgroup: seeRichNathanand KenWilson,Empowered
viousresearchandwriting,demonstratedconsiderablecompe
Evangelicals(AnnArbor,Mich.:Servant,1995).Perhapsthisisthebestalternative.
Buttheconsensusofthefour authors,includingDr.Storms,was that atthis time tence in biblical exegesis. I also looked for people who had
"theThirdWave"isthemostfamiliartermand wouldworkbestforthisbook. reputations for representingfairly the positions of those with
14 I Are MiraculousGiftsfor Today? Preface I 15
whom they disagreed, but who would nonetheless state and Western WashingtonUniversity(AB.),AssembliesofGod The
defendtheir ownconvictions firmly. BoththeZondervaneditors ological Seminary (MDiv.), and Westminster Seminary at
and Ihoped thatwhen the bookwas published, every reader Philadelphia (Ph.D.). He has two books forthcoming, The
would think that the author representing his or her own opin Hermeneutical FrameworkofPentecostalismandacommentaryon
ion had done so skillfully and fairly. The authors of the four 2Corinthians,andhas publishedseveral journalarticles.Dr.Oss
essays are asfollows: isamemberofan AssembliesofGod church.
(1) Cessationist:Forthe cessationistpositionwe approached (5) Thegeneral editor: Tocomplete the information given
Dr.Richard B.Gaffin,professor ofsystematic theologyat West above about the othercontributors,I should add thatI am cur
minster TheologicalSeminaryin Philadelphia. He has already rentlyprofessorof BiblicalandSystematic Theologyat Trinity
publishedabook-lengthdefenseofcessationism,Perspectiveson Evangelical DivinitySchool, Deerfield, Illinois, where I have
Pentecost: Studies inNewTestament TeachingontheGiftsoftheHoly taughtsince1981.Myeducationalbackgroundincludesdegrees
Spirit (Phillipsburg, N.J.: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1979), from Harvard (B.A), Westminster Seminary (M.Div.),and the
whichhas hadconsiderableinfluence sinceitspublication.Heis UniversityofCambridge, England (Ph.D.).For mostofmy life
a graduate ofCalvinCollege (AB.) and WestminsterSeminary I have attended "open but cautious" churches, with three
(BD.,Th.M.,ThD.),wherehetaughtNewTestamentfortwenty exceptions:
three years and has now taughtsystematictheologysince 1986. Duringmy collegeyears I hadthe privilegeofworkingone
Dr.Gaffinisaministerin the OrthodoxPresbyterianChurch. summerinMt.Vernon,New York,asanassistant totheRev. Har
(2) Open butcautious: Forthe challengingtaskofrepresent ald Bredesen,who was by thattime aprominentspokesmanfor
ing the broad center of evangelicals we invited Dr. Robert L. the charismatic renewal. Then, during my seminary years, I
Saucy,DistinguishedProfessor ofSystematic Theology at Talbot servedas asummerinternat a "cessationist"OrthodoxPresby
SchoolofTheology inCalifornia,where, inateaching careerthat terianChurchin Westfield, NewJersey-pastor Robert Atwell,
nowspans thirty-four years, he has instructedmanyoftoday's himselfacessationist, simplyasked thatI not make my convic
evangelicalleaders. He isagraduateofWestmontCollege (AB.) tions aboutspiritualgifts amatterofcontroversyin the church.
and Dallas Seminary (Th.M., Th.D.) and has published three Finally,during the years 1989-1994 my wife andI werepartof
books andnumerousjournalarticles.Dr.Saucyisamemberofa oneVineyardchurchandalsohelpedtostart anotherone,butthe
ConservativeBaptistchurch. 45-minutedrivefinallyproved toofarforeffectivechurchinvolve
(3) Third Wave: Torepresent this most recent viewpoint ment. Forthatreason we beganattendingawonderfulSouthern
withinevangelicalismwe invitedDr.C.SamuelStorms,the pres
Baptistchurchnearourhome, wherewe arenowmembers.
identofGraceTrainingCenter,aBibleschoolconnectedwiththe
From this variedbackground,I havegaineda deepappre
Metro Vineyard Fellowship ofKansas City and also an associ
ciation for the sincerity and the Christian lives of peoplewho
ate pastor of the Metro Vineyard Fellowship. Dr. Storms is a
holdeachofthese "fourviews."Thisdoes not meanthatI think
graduateofthe UniversityofOklahoma(AB.),DallasSeminary
these matters are unimportant or that the positions are all
(Th.M.),and the UniversityofTexasat Dallas (Ph.D.),hasover
equallypersuasive-butthe questionas towhichviewismost
twenty years of pastoral experience, and is the author of six
faithful toScripture,I now leave to readersto decide!
books. Hehas recently writtenandspokenabouthisdecisionto
affiliatewiththe Vineyardmovement. .
THE PROCESS
(4) Pentecostal/charismatic: To represent these views we
invitedDr.DouglasA Oss,professorofhermeneuticsandNew TheEssays
Testament andchairmanofthe divisionofBibleandtheologyat
CentralBibleCollege (AssembliesofGod) in Springfield,Mis Each author first wrote a fifty-page positionpaper,which
souri,where he has taught since 1988.Dr.Oss is a graduateof couldnotbe changed after the final copywas turned in. (This