A Flash Blog // Continuationism vs Cessationism

by Byron Yawn
I Agree With Mark Driscoll Well, not exactly. But, on the Mark Driscoll controversy (the one regarding charismatic gifts that is), the guy is consistent. I think hes wrong and hes got opinions about my opinion, but he does seem to understand something others dont. Once you commit, you have to go all in. You cant be half in and half out when it comes to charismatic gifts, regardless of what side you come down on. This is true of cessationism, as well as continuationism. Obviously, Mark Driscoll realizes this. This is why his explanation of the gift of discernment is what it is. You cant be half-way in with either perspective. Not from a biblical position anyway. You can argue they dont continue, but you cant say they never existed. You can argue they do continue, but you cant biblically justify a piecemeal view, or that they have changed forms. So, in a way, I agree with Mark Driscolls take on his view of charismatic gifts, while I disagree with his view. There is no such thing as a partial-cessationist, or a partial- continuationist. At least, theres no such position which has a biblical leg to stand on. Neither of these positions could be argued from Scripture since they represent rather fanciful re-interpretations of 1 Corinthians 12-14. You can argue that they have ceased all together from the text. You can argue that they all continue from the text. This is true, regardless of which position you hold, or the debate in-between. But, you cant hold that some have ceased and some havent. The texts dont support a patchwork view. You cannot pick and choose, its either or. If the continuationist is right (and he isnt), then he can legitimately claim that discerning of spirits is ongoing and numerous people in the church have visions. (Assuming that was the primary manifestation in the early church) This includes all of the gifts; healings, tongues, prophecies, etc. Point is, to be consistent you have to hold to all of them continuing. This means, the moment some prominent pastor, reformed charismatic or otherwise, steps up and claims to posses the gift of healing you have to go with it. I dont mean that God still heals kind of healing either. I mean someone possesses the gift of healing as a part of the revelatory verication of the Gospel of Christ. Its all, or nothing. No casual/partial charismatic can rightly step up and say that Driscoll has gone too far. In reality, hes gone only to the logical conclusion of continuationism. Having said this, its interesting watching casual charismatics and friends of Mark Driscoll (I have no personal beef with him. Im sure hes a nice guy.) spend their time attempting to explain what he meant by what he said. I hate it when people do that to me. He clearly believes what he is saying. Let him say it. And well he should if he is to be a consistent continuationist. Which apparently, he is striving for. This is what made Douglas Wilsons blog comment so interesting to me. Driscoll is not suggesting that there is a realm of supernatural realities which - at times - dees explanation and cessationist seem to ignore. But, he is actually saying that he believes specialized revelation is ongoing through the continuation of spiritual gifts. That is consistent continuationism. Its the casual charismatic (or partial charismatic reformed guy) that should be uncomfortable in all this. Whats he to do? What seems to have happened is clear. Driscoll came along and took their perspective to its logical conclusion. You gotta go all in. I am a cessationist, so I am not in agreement with Driscolls view. But, as far as continuationist go, hes all in.

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