Jesus' MiraclesSample

What Do Christians Believe About Miracles?

The New Testament has numerous lists of spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12:8–10, 12:28–30; Romans 12:6–8; Ephesians 4:11; 1 Peter 4:11). There has been no shortage of controversy regarding the so-called “sign gifts” – tongues, miracles, and prophecy – and whether they are to be practiced by the Church today. The following chart outlines the basic positions without getting into great detail. For more than three decades in the pulpit, I have held the continuationist position, or what is commonly referred to as being “Charismatic.”

Cessationist

Supernatural gifts, especially the speaking gifts (tongues, miracles, and prophecy), functioned only in the early Church and are not to be practiced today. God speaks today, but only in Scripture. Contemporary “revelations” do not come from God.

Functional Cessationist

Supernatural gifts are given to every generation, and God may continue to speak, but the abuses are so rampant that it is better to avoid them. It is safer to rely solely on the Bible and Spirit-empowered wisdom.

Continuationist (or Charismatic)

Supernatural gifts are given to every generation. Contemporary revelations are valued but always secondary to Scripture. Supernatural manifestations are sought but must show the fruit of the Spirit.

Word-Faith

Supernatural gifts are given to every generation. God’s Kingdom is a present reality with immediate healing and prosperity for anyone who exercises a faith confession. Contemporary revelations are highly valued.

The problem with cessationism is that it’s based upon worldly skepticism about spiritual things, leaning heavily in the direction of atheist David Hume. In Matthew 12:22-31, Jesus heals and delivers a man who was blind and mute because of demonic oppression. The religious leaders accused Jesus of doing these miracles by “Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” Jesus condemned them for “blasphemy against the Spirit.” Christians who are doggedly against the supernatural are open to doing the same thing by denouncing miracles done by God.

The primary Scripture used to justify cessationism is 1 Corinthians 13:8–12.

Cessationism is correct in that there is a day chosen by God when many of the spiritual gifts will cease. Paul says this plainly, using the examples of “prophecies” and “knowledge” that will “pass away” and “tongues” that “will cease.”

Continuationism is correct in that the day chosen by God when some spiritual gifts will “pass away” and “cease” is in the future and not the past. In context, the perfect is not the closing of the canon of the perfect Bible, but the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to fulfill all the prophecies of the Bible perfectly.

The problem with functional cessationism is that there is a downplaying of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, a lack of teaching on both angels and demons, and though they’d say God can do whatever He wants, they’d say He’s unlikely to ever show up in miraculous power. The result is a low sense of expectation that results in a mundane prayer and worship life – much like a fan base that expects their team to lose, so they aren’t very excited at the pre-game tailgate.

The problem with Word-Faith is that it says God must do miracles, and we can somehow push Him to do them. This is the opposite extreme of cessationism. This kind of behavior is much closer to non-Christian magic than Christian miracles.

In the perfect Kingdom, we won’t need any revelation in the form of prophecy or tongues because “we shall know fully.” We won’t need the gift of healing because there will be no sickness or death; we won’t need the gift of evangelism because the elect will have been fully found with no more converts to reach; and we won’t have to cast demons out of anyone because everyone in the Kingdom will only be filled with the Spirit. Until Jesus returns, all the spiritual gifts are needed, as the continuationists teach, and their abuses need to be avoided, as the cessationists warn.

Of the four types of positions discussed above, which one are you most closely aligned with? Are there any beliefs that you need to adjust to be true to God’s Word?