In my book, Beyond Awkward, I spend three chapters on the role of the Holy Spirit in evangelism. Some people have written me, and reviewed, saying it was the most helpful part of the book for them. Others have written wondering when it was I fell off the cart!

[5 ways that help me hear God on the move]

With further reflection this summer, and a great conversation with both my brother in law and Tim Catchim, I have come to realize how to talk about the way I see the role of God speaking and the gifts of the Spirit for today. 

This post is thinking I am taking further and is not found in my book.

I think a continuum is helpful here.

 

Cessationism: the doctrine that spiritual gifts such as speaking in tongues, prophecy and healing ceased with the original twelve apostles

Continuationism: is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have continued to this present age

Charismania: The over spiritualization of life – if there is no sign, word from God, or miracle, maybe he is not moving.

We all have been around the people that don’t believe that God gives us supernatural gifts to move his Kingdom further. They are called cessationists. But we have also been around the people that believe a demon is behind every door and without a “word” from God, nothing is complete. They are called the “Charismania”.

To me, these two are the extremes in theology when it comes to the Holy Spirit. I know many will disagree with me, but as I try to define more what it means to “move in the Holy Spirit” or be led by the Spirit in evangelism, I want to be clear about what I believe.

I reject cessationism and I reject charismania.

I believe a different view is center and that is continuationism.

We can be biblically based – the Word of God is authority – but also live as people full of the Holy Spirit who hear his voice and eagerly desire his supernatural gifts. I would call this continuationism.

Many who lean toward cessationism, and reject continuationism, do so because they don’t like the charismania. I totally understand, but please do not confuse the two! Charismania is not continuationism.

Charismania is people interacting with the Holy Spirit in uncontrolled ways. They claim to have “no control” when in the “Spirit” and this is when many goofy unbiblical things come about – causing all of us to role our eyes and say, “how can that be God?”

Paul Corrects Both Camps

After talking with Tim Catchim a bit about this, he helped me see how Paul’s writings are helpul in correcting both cessationists and charismania.

Charismania: Embrace Weakness

Paul’s writing to the Corinthian church about embracing weakness and the power of the cross is a great word for all of us but especially those that fall in the charismania camp.

Overly charismatic and spiritualized believers have an underdeveloped view of weakness and the power of the cross. Paul is urging the believers in Corinth to embrace the reality that “Christ Crucified” is all we need and that power of God is found in that reality.

Immature believers who fall on the charismania side of things with regards to the Spirit tend to feel that they need a sign from God, an experience, a feeling, a word.

Unless God moves in a supernatural way, or an experience can be explained supernaturally, then God hasn’t moved yet.

Paul would say, “the power is found in the cross and Christ crucified…look no further.”

The charismania also lean towards power – power for themselves and the power of God. They want bigger and better.

To that, Paul would remind them to embrace weakness, suffering, and the power of the cross. Many people I know who lean towards the charismania reject weakness and run from it. It is not part of their vernacular and they can’t see God in this light.

Cessationists: Embrace Freedom

Paul is so clear in chapter 14 of Corinthians that we should eagerly desire the gifts. Nothing in the Word of God has ever told us to stop desiring these things. Paul makes it clear:

“Therefore, my brothers and sisters, be eager to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues.” 1 Corinthians 14:39

Why have some believers become cessationists when Paul is so clear in scripture to keep desiring and eagerly seeking gifts? I believe it comes from a spirit of legalism.

Legalism leads to control and control leads to the squashing of the Holy Spirit. Where there has been legalism in the church there has been opposition to the Holy Spirit as well.

Legalism leans towards dogmatism, reason, and over emphasis of self and rules.

Paul has a lot to say to a legalist group of believers in his letter to the Galatian church.

But with regards to Corinthians, we have a young and Spirit filled church that is out of control. Paul’s word to them is not to stop, but to become orderly.

I believe that his word to a cessationist would be to embrace the freedom in the Spirit and eagerly desire the gifts! Don’t cut them out. Don’t look at a crazy bunch of charismania and write off God’s power.

Yes, Gods power is found in the cross. But that same power flows into the spiritual gifts that are activated inside of each believer.

There is much to be said about our Western theology and how reasoned based we are. Overly reasoned and analytical faith lends itself to overthinking and for some, pushing the Spirit completely out of the picture. But I will leave that for another post, or you can check out chapter 6 of my book.

Continuationism: Embrace Order

Paul’s charge to the Corinthians is a perfect example of how he is urging them to hold together two things:

Freedom in the Spirit & Order.

Our faith is anchored in the work of the cross and Christ crucified. We find our strength through weakness and the message of the cross is foolishness. The way up is down in the Kingdom. Nothing more is needed than Jesus Christ and him crucified. It is our foundation and it is what the house is built on.

But that being said, the Kingdom is still advancing and must advance. The Spirit of God has given gifts to each believer and we, in unity, must work together. Chapters 12-14 in Corinthians show us Paul working really hard to say on one hand, “don’t squash the Spirit, the gifts are real!” but on the other hand saying, “We have to have order here people. You are out of control!”

Any charismania that claims they can’t “control” their outbursts of laughter or speaking in tongues, is not being “controlled” by the Holy Spirit. Paul makes it clear that while we are filled with the Spirit and the gifts are alive and active, there is still a demand for order. Eagerly desiring the gifts, and operating in them is not an excuse for immaturity and being “out of control”.

I believe that the New Testament vision for Christian witness is one that is full of the Holy Spirit and armed with supernatural gifts for the advancement of Jesus Kingdom. But our witness is anchored by the cross, embracing weakness, and having order in the way we worship and come together as community.

To say, on one hand that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today (cessationist), or on the other hand that we can’t truly experience God without them (charismania), is not the way forward Biblically.

Check out my post detailing 5 ways I go about hearing God on the move.

What do you like or not like about this continuum? Please leave a comment