Are you a Continuationist or a Cessationist?

[ChristIsSovereign]

I believe that my church fellowship is also non-denominational, we believe that denominationalism is a sin (1Corinthians 1:10-13). We believe that there is only one Church, and that church must follow the pattern given to us in the New Testament. If your church is a new testament church then your the Church. Man made extras are a sin.

So what makes you a fundamentalist? I know what people say about them, but I rarely get a chance to here from one on what they really believe.

The Bible is the infallible Word of God and is the only source of doctrine. There is no exceptions. I believe sectarianism is a sin, indeed.

Our churches have instruments but hold to no denomination. That's why I'm 'Non-Denom' now. Sectarianism isn't something I want to hint at.

 

[marineimaging]

I am a Conservative Christianasionalist with sortbaptist leanings toward non-denominationalism.

 

[com7fy8]

Trust God to know what He wants to do, at any moment; and I am not His counselor. And if we obey Jesus, at any moment, He will do exactly what He wants with us.

 

[Thedictator]

The Bible is the infallible Word of God and is the only source of doctrine. There is no exceptions. I believe sectarianism is a sin, indeed.

Our churches have instruments but hold to no denomination. That's why I'm 'Non-Denom' now. Sectarianism isn't something I want to hint at.

I totally agree that the Bible is infallible and the only source for doctrine, but I also believe the Word of God is the only source for church worship, Christian life, and church organization.

 

[marineimaging]

The Bible is the infallible Word of God and is the only source of doctrine. There is no exceptions. I believe sectarianism is a sin, indeed.

Our churches have instruments but hold to no denomination. That's why I'm 'Non-Denom' now. Sectarianism isn't something I want to hint at.

What do you mean by "Our churches have instruments ?"

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I totally agree that the Bible is infallible and the only source for doctrine, but I also believe the Word of God is the only source for church worship, Christian life, and church organization.

..........yeah. I don't take my Restorationism that far. Moreover, if we want to be Restorationists (of any kind, really), I don't see how much of that can be compatible with a full-fledged sense of Cessationism.

But that's my view. You're welcome to have yours (ecumenically speaking, of course).

 

[2PhiloVoid]

What do you mean by "Our churches have instruments ?"

...some "Church of Christ" churches and their sister "Christian Church" churches in the Campbellite Restorationist Movement don't believe that instruments are appropriate for worship. But, thank goodness there are other Restorationist churches, however, who do. So, spiritual gifts aren't the only thing that get kicked to the curb sometimes.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

Do full cessationist view a return of the gifts in the last days or is it viewed as stopped for good? (Just a question)

...I think it will depend upon the Cessationist you ask, Sanoy.

 

[Thedictator]

...some "Church of Christ" churches and their sister "Christian Church" churches in the Campbellite Restorationist Movement don't believe that instruments are appropriate for worship. But, thank goodness there are other Restorationist churches, however, who do. So, spiritual gifts aren't the only thing that get kicked to the curb sometimes.

Yes, in most mainline Denominations the Word of God gets kicked to the side in favor of man made ideas.

 

[dreadnought]

Continuationism: Charismatic, Pentecostal, etc.
Cessationism: Most Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.

I vote Cessationist.

I don't think the gifts have stopped, but I believe Paul was wise to state that people shouldn't speak in tongues if no one is there to interpret (1 Cor 14:27-28).

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

I don't think the gifts have stopped, but I believe Paul was wise to state that people shouldn't speak in tongues if no one is there to interpret (1 Cor 14:27-28).

It is a sin to speak in tongues and have no one interpret.

 

[dreadnought]

It is a sin to speak in tongues and have no one interpret.

That might be taking it too far, but I don't see any purpose in speaking in tongues if no one understands what you are saying. People will say they are talking to the Lord, and how can you say they are not, but on Pentecost, speaking in tongues was to spread the Gospel to people who spoke in other languages. Is that what "speaking in tongues" means today?

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

That might be taking it too far, but I don't see any purpose in speaking in tongues if no one understands what you are saying. People will say they are talking to the Lord, and how can you say they are not, but on Pentecost, speaking in tongues was to spread the Gospel to people who spoke in other languages. Is that what "speaking in tongues" means today?

According to Pentecostals, it's spiritual ecstasy, I'd say. I feel very wary of it.

 

[dreadnought]

According to Pentecostals, it's spiritual ecstasy, I'd say. I feel very wary of it.

I am wary too. Someone said their church told them they were inferior if they didn't speak in tongues. It would be ridiculous for a church to say such a thing.

 

[Radagast]

It's a spectrum. There are more than 2 options.

 

[A_Thinker]

I am wary too. Someone said their church told them they were inferior if they didn't speak in tongues. It would be ridiculous for a church to say such a thing.

Paul addressed this in the Corinthian church ...

1 Corinthians 12

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

 

[A_Thinker]

I am wary too. Someone said their church told them they were inferior if they didn't speak in tongues. It would be ridiculous for a church to say such a thing.

Paul addressed this in the Corinthian church ...

1 Corinthians 12

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret?31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

 

[Halbhh]

Continuationism: Charismatic, Pentecostal, etc.
Cessationism: Most Baptists, Presbyterians, etc.

I vote Cessationist.

We cannot even say what the Spirit will do! (doctrines saying the Spirit won't do something anymore claim to know what they cannot (for instance we can learn healings have continued (even for a show-me person like me), by experiencing it or knowing personally of an instance); perhaps tongues were especially useful in early days of spreading the gospel, to aid conversions, but I'd not even try to claim the Spirit won't use that again, not even such a modest assertion even, because it's truly not for us to try to say even) --

John 3:8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

And also this proverb is so invaluable it seems as you open so many questions --

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.

We can trust Him. His words to us in the gospels.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

I was born and raised into cessionalist theology but after having my own brief but profound spiritual experience I am no longer of that thought and after studying it fairly intensely I can see both sides of the coin in Scripture but when you yourself experience things that cannot be explained by the laws of physics and you hear credible testimony to confirm similar encounters with the Holy Spirit it changes your mind.

I never spoke in tounges but my best friend of 40 plus years has and I believe him. It only happened once right when he got saved so I think it was for him confirmation of his salvation, and as Paul states, as John does as well as best I recall, the Holy Spirit gives different gifts to different members and all for the growth of the church whether by growth of individual members independently or as an aggregate body of the entire congregation. Growth is growth, and who are we (mortal human beings) to question a member of the Trinity.

 

[ChristIsSovereign]

I was born and raised into cessionalist theology but after having my own brief but profound spiritual experience I am no longer of that thought and after studying it fairly intensely I can see both sides of the coin in Scripture but when you yourself experience things that cannot be explained by the laws of physics and you hear credible testimony to confirm similar encounters with the Holy Spirit it changes your mind.

Interesting.

(By the way I have a support ticket. I am asking to go from Non-Denom to Calvinist.)