Question for those who are Reformed in Doctrin

[Grace_Alone4gives]

Do you all believe that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have ceased. I am particularily referring to Miracles,Tongues. healings etc...

I am Reformed, and typically, those who are Reformed or Presby follow the thought that the 'sign' Spiritual gifts ended at the apostolic age. I am one Reformer who believes they are alive and well. I know I am not alone, but I have only met a small handful of us.

TIA

In Christ
Victoria

 

[Drotar]

It depends.

The gift of tongues has ceased. The purpose of the gift of speaking in "tongues" was literally to speak in "languages" you didn't know, ALWAYS given to someone for the purpose of missionary work. It was used so that the gospel wouldn't be hindered by a language barrier.

Nowadays, liberal churches doing it for different reasons.

The big problem- these tongues people speak in nowadays is babbling, NOT a distinguishable language. I think it's ridiculously unBiblical.

As for miracles, I agree that they are still present. A miracle is God's intervention with natural processes. He changes our nature, regenerates us, and there are many unnatural phenomena that I cannot explain except by the hand of God.

Tongues? No (especially not babbling). Miracles, the fact we were raised from the dead and born again is a great enough miracle for me.

 

[Benedicta00]

What about the gift of prophecy or someone having the gift of healing or those in deliverance ministries?

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

Shelb5 - I believe in those gifts - however, I am not a follower of Deliverance Ministries. I used to be invloved in those and I find they do WAY to much harm and very little good. Cleansing Stream, for example, is way off course bibically.

 

[Terri]

What about the gift of prophecy or someone having the gift of healing or those in deliverance ministries?

Michelle have you left the catholic persuasion and become reform?


HopeTheyDance

I believe in all of the gifts of the Holy Spirit!

 

[Benedicta00]

Michelle have you left the catholic persuasion and become reform?

No my honey, is there a rule against me asking questions? And FYI, I believe in all the gifts too.

 

[Benedicta00]

Shelb5 - I believe in those gifts - however, I am not a follower of Deliverance Ministries. I used to be invloved in those and I find they do WAY to much harm and very little good. Cleansing Stream, for example, is way off course bibically.

I fully agree. Very few are qualified for deliverance and it spells trouble when someone who is not thinks they are.

 

[Terri]

No my honey, is there a rule against me asking questions? And FYI, I believe in all the gifts too.

Michelle--please ask as many questions as you want

 

[JesusServant]

It depends.

The gift of tongues has ceased. The purpose of the gift of speaking in "tongues" was literally to speak in "languages" you didn't know, ALWAYS given to someone for the purpose of missionary work. It was used so that the gospel wouldn't be hindered by a language barrier.

Nowadays, liberal churches doing it for different reasons.

The big problem- these tongues people speak in nowadays is babbling, NOT a distinguishable language. I think it's ridiculously unBiblical.

As for miracles, I agree that they are still present. A miracle is God's intervention with natural processes. He changes our nature, regenerates us, and there are many unnatural phenomena that I cannot explain except by the hand of God.

Tongues? No (especially not babbling). Miracles, the fact we were raised from the dead and born again is a great enough miracle for me.

(2 Timothy 3:1) This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
(2 Timothy 3:2) For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
(2 Timothy 3:3) Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
(2 Timothy 3:4) Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
(2 Timothy 3:5) Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 

[Knight]

Here's my $0.20.

Tongues: I'm not sure about this one. I agree that this was originally the ability to speak in another language in which you had no experience. Not the "spiritual language" some claim it is today. Has it ceased? Possibly. If it is still active I would say that it is rare.

Healing: God can still heal people. Does he use specific people to be "vessels" of this ability. I don't think so. The susceptability of that person to fall into corruption (believing that they were more blessed due to this gift) would be too great. Again, it is still possible because through God all things are possible but I believe it to be unlikely.

Miracles: God still performs miracles. However, like healing, He does not necessarily perform them through a specific person.

Prophecy: This depends on what kind of prophecy you are talking about. There are two, Foretelling and Forthtelling.
Foreteling is the predicting of future events. (Such as those in Revelation.) This IMO is no longer done.
Forthtelling is the speaking of God's Word in any given situation. People with this gift can recite scripture that applies to any given situation. I've seen this gift in action and it is incredible to watch.

 

[OxBaker]

I had heard that the Christian Reformed Churches view on the Gifts of the Spirit was "Seek not, forbid not". The whole idea being that you don't go out of your way to try and force them to happen but if they occure within your spiritual walk, you chose for yourself whether you believe it is something valid. And if they occure within someone elses spiritual walk, you don't forbid them from doing the same. Kind of a well balanced aproach, if you ask me

 

[frost]

It seems to me these gifts were given in the first century to advance the church. I'm sure that things like instantly healing people, raising dead people, and speaking in unknown other languages had quite an affect on people of that day and were used to win converts and prepare the way for the church age. Now that we are in that age, those gifts are longer needed.

 

[Grace_Alone4gives]

Im just wondering..
I am Reformed...however - once I was prayed over and had a hand laid on me...I did fall back and experienced an amazing feeling. At that time I spoke in tongues...it was beautiful and silent. Perhaps this is a prayer language. I have no clue.

I do not base my faith in feelings...(that is my problem with the Charasmatic movement) but I did 'experience' what I thought was tongues and was wooed by the Holy Spirit.

Make sense.

BTW Knight - good post with a good balance. My only propblem with some in ther Reformed faith is when they say "absolutely not' or 'never' as if they can hold God in a box. This is uncommon - but does happen. It is good to see you, and others, who do not limit God anc his power.

 

[Knight]

Im just wondering..
I am Reformed...however - once I was prayed over and had a hand laid on me...I did fall back and experienced an amazing feeling. At that time I spoke in tongues...it was beautiful and silent. Perhaps this is a prayer language. I have no clue.

I do not base my faith in feelings...(that is my problem with the Charasmatic movement) but I did 'experience' what I thought was tongues and was wooed by the Holy Spirit.

Make sense.

BTW Knight - good post with a good balance. My only propblem with some in ther Reformed faith is when they say "absolutely not' or 'never' as if they can hold God in a box. This is uncommon - but does happen. It is good to see you, and others, who do not limit God anc his power.

Thank you.

I would never presume to put God in a box. However, I would approach any claim of Tongues, Healings, or Miracles with a generous amount of skepticism if a person claimed to be a vessel of any of these gifts. There have simply been too many fakes.

I cannot speak as to your experience but I do reject the idea of a "prayer language." I do not see this in scripture. Plus, there would be no way to discern between an authentic "prayer language" and babbling.

I do, however, believe in healing. My grandfather experienced a healing many years ago. If it is in God's will He can and will heal someone. There have been many cases of people recovering from injuries when medical science declared their condition hopeless. This is due to answered prayer.

If someone claimed they had been given the power to heal I would be very skeptical of them.