Confessions of a Cessationist

Some of my best friends are Charismatics. I often find that Charismatics are laid back, down to earth, easy to get on with, more loving, and generally kind. This, I think, comes from their emphasis upon the Spirit and mutual fellowship and care and love for one another. Some of their music is okay, and the joy in their worship is sometimes refreshing and challenging.

Yet, I’m going to be truthful, I can’t stand the Charismatic Movement! I’ve attended a few Charismatic churches. Good brothers and sisters. It's just…well…it's what they believe in regard to the spiritual gifts. I find Charismatics the most arrogant of all Christians. Yes, even more arrogant than die-hard, know-it-all, Calvinists! I have only ever once been called a heretic, and that was by a Charismatic pastor, because I did not believe in tongue-speaking. On a few occasions I have been told, in no uncertain terms, that I just cannot understand how blessed the Charismatic worshipper is, as the Lord lifts him up into heights of spiritual bliss. Whereas, I can never know this blessing, as a mere mortal and Cessationist believer. I was told, twice, that Charismatics are on a different, higher, spiritual plane to Cessationists, and that Charismatics lived by the real power of the Spirit. I was merely licking up crumbs! A Charismatic pastor boasted and laughed at the memory of his church pulling out all the wooden pews, taking them outside into the carpark, piling them up, and having a holy bonfire with great rejoicing. Ah, to be free of traditionalism!

I can’t stand their special pleading when in a debate, “Now, don’t so readily dismiss my view, and don’t consider it ‘nonsense’”. Why not? It is nonsense. More precisely, it’s babbling, ‘Chagawub shijkro durgebib, sa nobib gallah’. It is not a doctrinal difference alone. It is lunacy! ‘The Lord says that there’s going to be a great outpouring, a mighty revival. The Lord said that now is the time for holy water cleansing.’ Are you, by any chance, referring to the weather on Monday evening? You do realize, Charismatic friend, that as soon as you say, ‘The Lord said’ you are claiming the very words of God? And, no, I do not buy for a second the view of Grudem and others who promote minor-league prophesies. If it has, ‘God said’ attached to it, and comes from a ‘prophet’, and is called a ‘prophesy’, then it is the proverbial ‘duck’!!!! Am I supposed to take seriously the warning that I might be grieving the Spirit by saying that Charismatics rolling around the ground laughing are fake and nuts? When Benny Hinn lassoes people with his pullover, ‘blessing’ people with the Spirit, am I meant to hold my peace? Do you really expect me to attend healing meetings, when my Charismatic friends, with numerous physical deformities, have attended these meetings for decades and never been healed? Is it their fault? Do they lack faith? I love Don Carson, but mercy me, how can such a brilliant mind claim that ‘zugogdaliknok grilnox da pinqer’ is a ‘language’? And why will you not call out excesses in one another? Are you going to tell me that Joel Osteen is a pristine example of a Spirit empowered preacher?

What shall I say about their worship? Sanctified rock bands. The word of God comes second. Tell me again…why do you need to hire a non-Christian to be your drummer? If I hear ‘Hallelujah’ one more time! And those interminable choruses..aawwhh!! And, why, if everybody is so free and in the Spirit, do worshippers always raise their hands? Why, I say?

Yet, it was Charismatic brothers and sisters who stood by me in the hardest time of my life! I passionately love my Charismatic brothers and sisters in Christ! As long as they exist I will pray that the Lord will bless the Charismatic Church and the brothers and sisters in it. May God go with them. Amen!