Kevin DeYoung, The Holy Spirit 
(The Gospel Coalition Booklets; Wheaton: Crossway, 2011), pp. 21–22:
Those Controversial Gifts
I would be remiss in talking about spiritual gifts if I didn’t say something about the debate over the “miraculous gifts.” On the one side are cessationists, who claim that some of the gifts, such as tongues and prophecy, ceased after the apostolic age. They contend:
- The miraculous gifts were needed only as authenticating signs for the initial establishing of the gospel and the church.
- First Corinthians 13:8–10 says that prophecy, tongues, and knowledge will cease “when the perfect comes.” A minority of cessationists contends that the “perfect” came with the completion of the Bible.
- Revelatory gifts such as tongues and prophecy undermine the authority and sufficiency of Scripture.
- The miraculous gifts we see today are not analogous to the gifts exercised in the New Testament.
On the other side are continuationists, who claim that all the gifts are available today. They argue:
- Without a clear word to the contrary, we should assume all the gifts are still in effect and earnestly desire them (1 Cor. 14:1).
- The “perfect” in 1 Corinthians 13 refers to the return of Christ, not to the close of the canon (and, it must be pointed out, many cessationists accept this exegesis, too, but draw different conclusions).
- Revelatory gifts do not have the same authority as Scripture. They must always be tested.
- Whether or not the gifts are identical with the first century, we should welcome the Spirit’s work in our midst.
I believe both sides have come to see that they agree on more than they once thought. They agree that:
- Every proclamation must be tested against Scripture.
- Nothing can be added to Scripture.
- It is unwise to claim personal words from the Lord for someone else.
- We should be open to the Spirit working in nondiscursive ways, whether that’s called “prophecy,” “illumination,” or something else.
One of the encouraging signs in the evangelical world is how cessationists and continuationists have been able to partner and worship together in recent years, realizing that their commonalities in the gospel are far greater than the issues that separate them with regard to spiritual gifts.
Is he making a distinction between continuationists and charismatics/pentecostals? I don’t think they would agree with the 3rd point of agreement (at least, I’ve had people give prophecies for me before.)
Yes, I think Kevin DeYoung is considering the most responsible form of continuationism.
I appreciate DeYoung highlighting the common ground shared between cessationists and those continuationists who are careful and cautious. As a “soft-cessationist,” it seems to me that many cessationists fail to make careful distinctions among the various versions and degrees of continuationism. As a result, they tend to lump them together and brand them all equally dangerous. What’s more, sometimes cessationists (and I’ll include myself) fail to emphasize and zealously promote those dimensions of the Spirit’s work that are vital and continuing today. I look forward to reading the booklet. Thanks for the excerpt, Andy.
I should probably also point out that some of the stronger (more rigid?) cessationists may also not fully agree with point 4. At least, practically speaking they allow for no non-discursive work of the Spirit. So maybe he’s dealing with the more responsible forms of both.
Thanks for sharing this article. I grew up as a cessationist fundamentalist, graduated from BJU with a degree in Bible in 2004, and am now a continuationist member of a Sovereign Grace church. So I found this article very interesting and accurate in describing where I once was, and where I am now theologically.
I think that this is a good analysis, but the biggest obstacle to cessationists and continuationists working together is the state of the charismatic and pentecostal movements, which sadly seem to be full of snake oil salesmen.
I began in the charismatic movement, but became disillusioned when I saw the corruption that starts at the top and goes all the way down to the grassroots. I believe that God is sovereign and can still do miracles today if He chooses, but I just don’t see it happening in the real world. Everyone with a “healing ministry” I’ve ever encountered has been good at making people _believe_ they’ve been healed, but this invariably is false. I’ve never seen a genuine miracle. I also checked out speaking in tongues, and academics have found that what charismatic and pentecostal tongues are the same as pagan tongues – conclusion being that it’s psychological, not supernatural. But try telling that to a tongues-speaker.
So, whilst I’m open to miraculous gifts as I’ve concluded that the Bible is unclear on this issue, I just don’t see them operating today. What’s more, the people who claim to have them are either deluded or fraudsters, and I cannot with a clear conscience get involved in either.
Andy, you mentioned “the most responsible form of continuationism” – does such a thing exist? Any examples?
Thanks, David. Sorry for the late reply. I’ve been at The Gospel Coalition’s national conference this week.
Responsible forms include the one advocated by people like Wayne Grudem.