Are You Up on Spiritual Gifts?

Interesting blog series on Spiritual Gifts at the Confluence | Newfrontiers site.

Paul begins his most famous chapter on spiritual gifts saying: ‘About spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant (1 Cor 12:1).

This series will help us become educated about these exciting spiritual gifts. The three main lists of spiritual gifts in the Bible are found in 1 Corinthians 12, Romans 12, 1 Peter 4 and Ephesians 4. There are also a few other gifts (e.g. hospitability) that seem to be genuine God-given gifts, but that are not specifically mentioned in these lists.

Whilst I try to define each gift clearly to help people recognise them, there is some overlap between the gifts, especially with gifts that are similar or complementary....

More at the link, with continuing updates coming. I recommend it.

Grace for the Sluggish Heart

What do you do when your heart is sluggish, and you feel somewhat Worship Challenged.   Here's some good counsel from Bryan Mowrey at Confluence to follow the example of King David.

I find David in the Psalms to be incredibly helpful. David is a man well aware of God's grace, but there were times in his life where he just forgot, and he needed to remind himself of God's goodness, which is exactly what Psalm 103 is all about. This Psalm starts out, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits." David is essentially saying, "Come on soul. Why are you so sluggish? Why do you sleep before this God? Wake up soul! Remember His benefits, which are many." Then David begins to list out all of the benefits he can remember: He forgives sin, heals diseases, redeems, crowns with love and compassion. He satisfies our desires with good things, justice for the oppressed, He has made His ways known. He is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. Will no accuse, will not harbor anger forever, and will not treat us as our sins deserve...thank you Jesus!

David, in this midst of reminding himself of all God's benefits, can no longer contain His worship and begins to encourage everything around him to bless the Lord. "Bless the Lord all you nations! Bless the Lord all you angels! Bless the Lord all you birds; see creations, beasts of the field, moon, sun and stars! Let everything and everyone bless the Lord!"

So, if you find that your heart is sluggish toward God, take a moment to remind yourself (like David) of all of God's grace in your life.

"Seven Reasons Why I Believe the Gifts of the Spirit Still Exist Today"

Any one who knows me or reads this blog knows that I believe in the continuance today of all the spiritual gifts described in the New Testament, but also believe that many of the present day models for expressing said gifts are faulty and in need of scriptural correction.  That is why I prefer the descriptive term "continualist" to the more common "charismatic," which carries a lot of connotative baggage in many circles.

On the subject of the continuance of the gifts, there was a great post this week by Scott at the "To Be Continued..."  blog entitled Seven Reasons Why I Believe the Gifts of the Spirit Still Exist Today.

If it came down to why I believe all gifts of God, including those in 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4:11, still exist today, I think I could summarise it in seven specific points. So here they are:

1) God is an actual living, personal being
2) Christ is a charismatic prophet and so is his body
3) The Spirit continues the same work of Christ
4) The positive affirmation in Scripture that such gifts would continue
5) Faulty exegesis of the normal passages brought up by cessationists
6) The amount of times God actually spoke through and used those who were not prophets or apostles
7) The great testimony of the charismata in church history

I have not quoted all his exposition for each of these seven points, you can read it at the link. But I can say it is well spoken and I agree with him. In conclusion, he says:

So, suffice it to say, I find it extremely hard to argue for the cessation, or ceasing, of the gifts of the Spirit. For me, there is an overwhelming biblical, theological and historical positive case for the continuation of such.

Confluence

A new blog I am checking out is Confluence Blog. Their self description is:

"Confluence is a place where the reformed, the charismatic, and the mission-minded converge to equip and serve the church to transform communities."

Adrian Warnock explains here how the three streams (Reformed Theology, Charismatic experience and a Missional mindset) come together.

Looking forward to reading more.

More Piper on Spiritual Gifts: How Should Miraculous Gifts Be Used in the Church?

In follow up to this post from last Saturday, here's more from John Piper on Spiritual Gifts - How Should Miraculous Gifts Be Used in the Church? 
I'm amazed by these comments and his openness to the gifts of the Spirit!  Guess I didn't know as much about Piper's beliefs and practices as I thought I did.

Where would you say the place for gifts like tongues, healing and prophecy is in the life of the church today?

I will tell you what I do, whether it is the right thing or not. I'm not going to die on this hill, but I will tell you what I do.

I think that these kind of gifts are most effectively and appropriately ministered in smaller groups rather than on Sunday morning. Sunday morning meaning the large gathered body of lots of people with lots of strangers and the need for some kind of movement in the service, rather than the whole thing being devoted to individual expressions.

So when I think of trying to do whatever elements of 1 Corinthians 12:13-14 are appropriate for today, I would want my people to know that I believe in those things and that I want them to flourish in those things.

I think that we should, spontaneously in relationships and especially in smaller groups, take the time to ask people, "Did you bring anything from the Lord tonight that you think we need to hear?" You could use whatever language you want. You could say, "Do you have a word of knowledge for us. Do you have a word of prophecy?" And If you are scared to use that kind of language you could say, "Has God impressed upon you in some way something that you think another person in this room, or all of us, need to hear from your walk with God?" And open yourself up to that.

Someone might say something that just penetrates right through to the core of another person. Or maybe they will minister a healing, or whatever. So, that is my answer.

Now I know that there are groups today—reformed groups—that try to fold certain prophetic elements into Sunday morning. They have a little microphone at the front where people can come up, and they have an elder or two standing there. The words that people want to share are first tested by one of the elders who judge whether the Scripture they are going to read or the poem they are going to read or the word they are going to deliver is appropriate. And while there is music playing in the background, during the interlude in between songs, the person can give whatever they are going to give at the microphone in front. And where this is done I've seen it done with decency and order the way Paul would like. But we've never gone that route at Bethlehem.

 At the link aboe there is video of him saying this.

Piper on the Gifts

Is the Holy Spirit undervalued in evangelical and reformed churches? Here's Dr. John Piper on Are There More Gifts for You to Unwrap?

I have been around long enough to know that there are seasons when the Holy Spirit is over attended to. And there also are seasons when he is under attended to.

If you are asking me about right now, I would say that he is probably under attended to somewhere. Maybe in young, reformed and restless circles—or whatever this movement is called. Especially as it concerns the fullness of the work of the Holy Spirit. Not his role in effectual calling, but his gifts. His necessity for powerful witness. 'Wait in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit comes upon you... You will receive the Holy Spirit and you will be my witnesses.' So maybe we are underemphasizing the necessity and the power of the Holy Spirit for witnessing.

Also, I was just thinking the other day that we downplay the work of Holy Spirit in terms of his varied gifts. This is underemphasized too much in our reformed churches, and in typical evangelical churches.

Here is an illustration. If you've been praying for a person, or maybe even for yourself, to be delivered from a sin or sickness. And if that moral or physical issue hasn't yielded to your prayer for years, but you still struggle from the moral or physical ailment, there are a few things to consider......

....Here's what hit me the other day. If there are gifts of healing. If there are gifts of faith, gifts of miracles, gifts of discernment. That means some Christians are going to be granted answers to those prayers where others aren't. So maybe the reason I'm not getting the answer to my moral struggle or my physical struggle is because I haven't asked Jane to pray for me. And Jane has the gift of healing. Or Jane has the gift of discernment of spirits and can see something here that needs to be seen.

Old & New Calvinism

At TheResurgence Mark Driscoll discussed "Four Ways 'New Calvinism' is So Powerful"

1. Old Calvinism was fundamental or liberal and separated from or syncretized with culture. New Calvinism is missional and seeks to create and redeem culture.
2. Old Calvinism fled from the cities. New Calvinism is flooding into cities.
3. Old Calvinism was cessationistic and fearful of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit. New Calvinism is continuationist and joyful in the presence and power of the Holy Spirit.
4. Old Calvinism was fearful and suspicious of other Christians and burned bridges. New Calvinism loves all Christians and builds bridges between them.

The Post-Charismatic Journey

At "Kingdom Grace" this week I read an interesting review of Strange Fire, Holy Fire, a book by Michael Klassen.

This book by Michael Klassen is a well-written and interesting addition to the post-charismatic library. With a fair combination of critique and validation, the author expresses the desire to bring balance and maturity to both the beliefs and practices of charismatics.
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Michael presents topics relevant to the charismatic movement in easy to digest chapters. While not an indepth study of the issues, the chapters provide enough points of background and scripture to begin the process of reflection and discussion for those interested in examining their charismatic practices.

Has any one out there read this book? How about the similar book Post-Charismatic by Robin McAlpine?

If you have read these books please leave some comments. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

We Need Both!

Yesterday I quoted some posts about the danger of spiritual dryness arising from Theology that is separated from spiritual experience. You know, it goes both ways. Spiritual experience separated from a firm and accurate grasp of the great truths of the Bible is also a recipe for spiritual disaster and open to error and spiritual danger.

We see the danger of both extremes all around us. I remember sitting under a fantastic teaching by Dr. R.C Sproul at a Presbyterian Church on the Doctrine of God's Aseity (His self existence) from the Exodus passage where Moses is told God is I AM. I was so fired up after that deep message that I wanted to run the pews when he was done. Instead, I had to endure "turn to Hymn number 132" followed by a formal and non-emotional rendition of a hymn. On the other hand I recently heard a "message" by a teacher in the prophetic movement that consisted entirely of the telling of personal dreams, vision and experiences with God without a single Bible verse or even a mention of the great truths of the Gospel. And this poor pathetic excuse for a Christian sermon came immediately after a stirring time of musical worship in which people seemed to connect to the Lord and experience His presence. How about combining that worship time with the Sproul teaching time? I want both doctrine and experience! I want teaching and worship!

Why do churches an individual believers seem so prone to fall into the ditches on either side of the straight and narrow road? Why do we seem to always separate things that God meant to be kept together? Why can't we believe in and practice spiritual gifts and also teach hermeneutics and homiletics? Why can't we have churches with both Theological teaching and sound Bible exposition combined with passionate worship and the experience of God's presence?

What God has joined together men should not put asunder.

Kicking Back to Go Forward

Michael Spencer, the "internet monk", has long defined himself as a "post-evangelical" In an old post at internetmonk.com » Blog Archive he defined post-evangelical as:

... Post-evangelicalism is a way of relating to the present seriously compromised, perhaps terminal, condition of evangelicalism by accessing the resources of the broader, deeper, more ancient Christian traditions that contemporary evangelicalism, in its pragmatic idolatry, has largely abandoned as sources and influences.

Please note that post-evangelicalism isn’t a rejection of evangelicalism, but a rejection of the current way of doing evangelicalism and being evangelical.

By that definition, I qualify as "post" also. But I think I also qualify as a "post-charismatic." By that I mean that I embrace continuing spiritual gifts and supernatural ministry, but reject most of the style, hype, "wierdness," and emotional manipulation of the charismatic world.

The answer is also similar: going deeper into Scripture and the legacy of past generations for resources to move into the future with a deeper and more authentic spirituality. Leonard Sweet used the image of a child on a swing, who must kick back in order to get the momentum to go forward. I think we must kick back into Scripture and history in order to go forward into authentic effectual ministry. But unlike that child on a swing, I want to actually go somewhere!

Update: Definition of "Post-Evangelical" at Theological Word of the Day.

Best of Both Worlds

Steve Murrell at the reluctant leader raises an interesting question: What do you do when one side (in his case, his Reformed friends) says that you are too Charismatic, and the other side (his Charismatic friends) says you are too Presbyterian? The question arose for Steve due to some comments on a post he wrote regarding the Lakeland revival.

Steve shares his testimony of being saved in a Presbyterian church and filled with the Spirit at a Charismatic meeting. How do you live with a foot in two different camps? Steve apparently made the same non-choice as I have - he choose both!

here's how i do life and ministry...

Presbyterian or Pentecostal? BOTH!
Reformation or revival? BOTH!
Strategic or spiritual? BOTH!
Plan or pray? BOTH!
Wait on the Lord or work in the harvest field? BOTH!

My own personal story is very similar, if you substitute Baptist for Presbyterian, and complicate maters with both reformed influences and some bad charismatic experiences. Both church and society seem to constantly pull us into such dichotomies -forcing choices like this. But sometimes the best thing is to not chose between, but to embrace both streams and combine the best of both worlds. It is not easy experientially, socially, or intellectually. But I am convinced it is the right thing to do.

WANTED - 1000 Reformed Charismatic Churches

Adrian Warnock wants to see 1,000 Reformed Charismatic Churches! See WANTED - 1000 Reformed Charismatic Churches

Do we need lots of reformed charismatic churches? I believe we do. Firstly, we need reformed charismatic churches to show Christians that there really is a third option between arid intellectualism and brainless experiential showmanship. It’s not that the caricatures we tend to make of both cessationists and charismatics are entirely accurate; it’s just that churches that are unashamedly both reformed and charismatic can give confidence to others to make that plunge, or at least ensure they do not meet the caricature defining their end of the spectrum. I believe that it is a good thing to have different churches in any given town that can provoke each other and learn from one another.

But I also believe that reformed charismatic churches are often uniquely placed to become genuinely missional churches that can reach out and grow largely by salvation. We live in a culture that has, for the most part, turned its back on traditional church. Why shouldn’t we offer the world a church whose methods, music, style, and experience are totally up-to-date, but where the message remains old-fashioned and traditional in the sense of being solidly biblical?

Sounds good to me.

Update: A helpful and timely reminder aboutthe priority of Evangelical identity before Reformed identity by Lee Irons at Between Two Worlds.

Mark Driscoll: Charismatic With A Seat Belt

Adrian Warnock posted a very interesting report on a message by Mark Driscoll on Doctrine of the Holy Spirit in Luke and Acts. The entire message summary is very worth reading - follow the link.

For anyone who doesn't know, Driscoll founded and pastors Mars Hill Church in Seattle, and heads the Acts 29 Church Planting Network. He is speaking this week in Great Britain (London) at a New Frontiers Network conference.

Mark Driscoll is well known as a leader in the Young Reformed movement. and known for his strong complementarian stand. He has often described himself as "Charismatic with a seat belt." I found his comments about Charismatics very insightful and interesting. Rick Ianniello summarized Driscoll's comments on Charismatics as follows:

Problems with Charismatics

* Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong person
* Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong event
* Some who love the Spirit have been corrupted by the view that it is all about prosperity
* Sometimes charismatics focus on the wrong person as the definition of what it is to be Spirit-filled and Spirit-led
* Sometimes charismatics are insufficiently missional

Roles of the Holy Spirit

* The Spirit fills people
* Spirit-filled ministry includes miracles
* Spirit-filled ministry includes prayer
* Spirit-filled ministry includes prophecy
* One of the ministries of Jesus is to baptize us with the Holy Spirit and fire for mission
* The Spirit leads us sometimes into hardship, testing, and temptation
* Spirit-anointed ministry includes preaching
* Spirit-anointed ministry includes justice for the poor
* Spirit-filled ministry includes joy in God
* The Spirit is given to us by the Father
* The Spirit teaches us what to say
* Spirit-filled ministry results in repentance
* Spirit-filled ministry brings conversion
* Spirit-filled ministry brings devotion to one another and awe towards God

There is nothing in the above that I can disagree with. Mark Driscoll's style is not mine, but I have enjoyed and benefited from his books and recorded messages. I certainly can't argue with the results of his work. Growing a 6,000 member church in the most non-churched region of the USA is some accomplishment.

Update: Driscoll blogs about his London visit.

5 Points To Stand Behind…

In a post called 5 points I’ll stand behind the Heat & Light Blog has restated the classic Five Points of the Reformed Faith (TULIP) as follows:

1. We’re so messed up that we need a miracle to restore our broken fellowship with God.
2. God chooses us, not based on what He knew that we would do, but simply out of love.
3. Christ gave Himself for the church.
4. When the light of the gospel fully shines in our hearts, we find God’s love to be irresistible.
5. Those who truly belong to Christ are able to stand strong only by the grace of God.

He also quotes John Piper's restatement of the five points "as we subjectively experience them":

1. We experience first our depravity and need of salvation.
2. Then we experience the irresistible grace of God leading us toward faith.
3. Then we trust the sufficiency of the atoning death of Christ for our sins.
4. Then we discover that behind the work of God to atone for our sins and bring us to faith was the unconditional election of God.
5. And finally we rest in his electing grace to give us the strength and will to persevere to the end in faith.

I've got no problem with the classic five points, but also like these alternative versions. What do you think?

Having the Best of Both Worlds

Heat and Light blog linked to an old post that I just love at How to Eat Your Cake: having the best of both worlds

An old adage goes, “You can’t have your cake and eat it too.” Old adages are stupid. I eat my cake. I know it may sound radical to some, but it’s true. I want the best of both worlds – the depth of theology, rich history, and deep love for the Word that I have found in Evangelical and “Reformed” churches, and the passionate worship, and the openness to let God be God and do what He pleases, as I’ve found among my Charismatic brothers and sisters. I am a Charismatic Calvinist – an “Empowered Evangelical” - a “Word and Power” Christian. Call it what you will, but I’m out of the closet for good.

Me too, brother! I want some of that cake. Sign me up!

We need the Spirit AND the Truth. Traditional Evangelicals and Charismatics need one another, and both are necessary in the emerging church if it is to faithfully be the body of Christ.

I tried to say similar things here. Let's refuse to choose between alternatives that are not mutually exclusive- things that God intended to stay together.

How to Be a Charismatic Calvinist

I discovered this week that Wikipedia also has a "How To" site called WikiHow. Check out this intriguing topic: How to Be a Charismatic Calvinist

Realizing that God is front and center, that He should be uppermost in our affections, in the words of Jonathan Edwards is one of the first steps toward embracing the view of God's sovereignty found in scripture and in Calvinism.

Some tips:

Listen to John Piper, C J Mahaney, R T Kendall, Martyn Lloyd-Jones, Tim Keller, Wayne Grudem or any other reformed third wave/charismatic that you can find.

Listen to reformed worship artists like Shane & Shane, Watermark, Sovereign Grace Music, or Caedmon's Call.

Read the Puritans. Read guys like Richard Baxter, John Flavel, John Bunyan, William Perkins, John Owen, Thomas Watson, and Matthew Henry. Also, read later theologians, pastors and Bible commentators such as Jonathan Edwards, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitefield, J. Gresham Machen, and J. I. Packer.

And a warning:

Try not to give an undue amount of focus to Calvinism as people around you often get tired of hearing you.

Not bad advice!

Dancing Calvinists

From a great article in Christianity Today entitled Teaching a Calvinist to Dance, quoted by Rick Ianniello:

"The heart and soul of that Pentecostal spirituality is not the manifestations, but rather the courage and openness to see God in those unexpected manifestations, and to say, 'This is what the Spirit promised.' ... I long for a kind of 'Pentecostalized' Reformed spirituality that expects the sovereign Lord to show up in ways that might surprise us. If we take our Reformed convictions about God's sovereignty seriously, then we can, with Peter, be boldly open to the Spirit's surprise."