the cessionism debacle

Sooo… about the last post. I promised a series on Revelation, based mostly off a Mark Driscoll series I heard on revelation that was so clear I wanted to try to articulate things clear as well. In the midst of the first post, the subject of cessasionism came up, so I thought I’d share my thoughts. Here is the deal:

My blog is where I learn to articulate things. When I articulate and formulate things and I’m met with the type of aggression I was, I know I’m not doing a good job at communicating the arguments. I’m a good big picture guy, I’m horrible at details.

It was presumptuous of me to take on a debate that has been going on since the Counsel in the 300’s. My goal was not to debate Cessasionists, nor was it to prove it wrong but make the point my Beloved friend Margret said better then I could:

“what has happened is that the radical charismatic fringe has so polluted something that should be pure and God given to advance the kingdom of God, that we all have become suspicious as to whether anything that occurs outside of the accepted “norm” is really of God.”

Which is why I said this: Do not let the theological neglect concerning how to minister the gifts in one part of the body lead you to neglect those very gifts that Christ has given us to effectively minister the gospel you so vehemently and rightly wish to defend.

Obviously I need more education, time, study, and revelation from the Holy Spirit Christ has given.

The point of all of this, in all these debates and arguments we must remember love. I don’t mean sentiment. I don’t mean feelings. I mean Believes all things, hope all things, bares all things. Patient, kind, not envious, not boasting, not self seeking, it upholds all things. Paul is speaking to us about how to deal with each other when discussing, and using the gifts of the spirit. He doesn’t pause to talk randomly about love in the middle of I Corinthians 12 and 14, he is specifically talking about us loving and being patient with eachother concerning these things.

I have not loved well in my discussion concerning this topic. For that I’m sorry.

I suspect that in the the years to come I will learn much concerning this topic and how to love in the midst of it.

This I know God is good, and those of us are going to live with Him forever! I’m free of sin, and I’m living a life I don’t deserve. Blessed be his name!

peace ya’ll

Cessationism

Please read full post before commenting! blessings -zack hensley

There is a school of thought that says the special revelation - Prophecy, tongues, the office of the Apostle and Prophet, dreams, visions, and miracles - have ceased when the first Apostles died. The school of thought is called Cessasionism. The belief is that signs and wonders, dreams, visions, prophecy, and apostolic authority were for the purpose to give authenticity to the early apostles. I bring this point up before I continue with my posts on Revelation, because many who read here subscribe to this school of thought however strongly or loosely, and I care about us knowing the truth here.

I do not agree with this school of thought for one simple reason: There is no actual evidence in scripture. I have only seen or heard of one proof texted verse (ICor. 13:8), and two more verses (Eph.2:20 and Hebrews 1:1) where we are to assume that the gifts and offices were only for those in the early church, to give credibility to there ministry. Many founding early church fathers held Cessasionalist beleifs, but later changed their views. Here are a couple of them as an exhausted list would be to long:

• Origen (185-253 AD) He said that the gifts were signs of the “Apostolic Age”. Though He professes to have been an eye-witness to many instances of exorcism, healing, and prophecy. He states that he refused to record them however so as to not arose the laughter of the unbeliever. That’s not surprising considering Origen is the Father of the Apologetics.

• Jason The Martyr Considered by some to be a cessasionist, but further investigation reveals that this opinion is held merely because he mentions the gifts of the spirit on different occasions, but leaves out the gift of tongues. Later study finds because he didn’t understand them, he never denounced them.

• Augustine of Hippo. Augustine mentions the outpouring in Acts 2 to have been specifically for that age, and that those gifts no longer exist. However he reports signs and wonders, healing, and visions later in his ministry in chapter 22 of The City of God.

More history…

· Athanasius and Gregory of Nyssa From epic the Counsel of Nicaea, spoke openly about the Gifts. Athanasius said that “The gifts of the spirit are God’s sanctifying grace or manifestation… are the gifts of the Spirit… there is nothing that is perfected in the Word that isn’t through the Spirit. “ (from Crisis in Byzantium) Eusthius, also on the counsel, was told by God in a dream that the counsel would meet that give them understanding through the spirit to effectively decide scripture.

· Macarius and other early church leaders (400’s-600’s) received dreams and visions for God that dictated their decisions. Macarius was directed by the Lord in dreams to sift out heresies that were being preached in Christian sects by the likes of Nestorius, a famous heretic.

· Martin Luther Prophesied to Litchtenberg that he would be Judged by God For his false prophesy. Litchenberg had been declaring false things concerning the Peasants War. Luther said that he was not a Prophet that spoke by the Spirit of God. Luther said “God directs the external part of the world in part through human action and in part in an extraordinary manner through angles, omans” He later spoke about Christians not seeking only prophecy but the word, but never denounces the spirits move in the realm of prophecy. (“Martin Luther” by Martin Brecht)

· John Knox Moved in Great signs and wonders including dreams and visions in founding the Presbyterian Church.

· Jonathan Edwards Spoke and acknowledged the movement of the Spirit during the Great Awakening. He acknowledged the spirit of prophecy and the Spirit arousing the emotions while he spoke. He however distanced Himself from the “French prophets” of Heruenot. Not denouncing that they heard from God, but thought their bodily manifestations to be embarrassing to the faith, and had caused embarrassment to his contemporary John Wesley during a revival meeting. (“Myths about Jonathan Edwards” by Bary Chant)

· John Wesley on numerous occasions (In “A Biography of John Wesley” Stephen Tomkins) had dreams that directed him in ministry, and had times when he heard from the Lord.

Even those “mystics” during those times were not part of some obscure sect of the church. St. Bernard of Clairvieux had more authority than the Pope in his day. In fact he was asked to be Pope and sent his understudy to fill the role instead. Kings would come to Bernard and ask them what they should do. Bernard walked into nations and demanded they cease their wars, and they did. St. Francis another “mystic” written off because of that label by cessationists. Received the audible voice of the Lord as to where the church in Italy was going, walked into the Pope’s chambers and rebuked him. The Pope not only ad here’d to his rebuke, but gave him his own order as a result of his hearing the direction of the Lord. The point is, Cessationists appeal to church history to make their case when church history really says otherwise.

Many claim “Sola Scriptura” that all things that can and will be revealed are found solely in the Word and deny special revelation of any kind. I believe that the Word is indeed our primary source for revelation. Which is why when that Word contains prolific amounts of evidence in favor of the gifts and offices, I raise a brow at those who would ignore it. More over I raise a brow because those who claim that good doctrine is above all, have such bad doctrine concerning the gifts of the Spirit.

The Word is living and active; it’s Christ. Yet Jesus explicitly promised us His Holy Spirit to help us. Why would the Spirit cease operating in the way it did all through scripture because the first apostles died? For the answer to this question there is no scriptural answer. Thus cessasionism is not a biblical doctrine, but an extra biblical philosophy.

Please pause… here is why I care about this

Take a deep breath blessed cessationist friends for my intent is not to blast you, but offer some advice.

I understand I’m hammering away at something many have researched and many have believed in for years. I understand that the discussion surrounding this may break out into a large drawn out debate possibly never landing on any agreement. I take the risk of entering this sort of draining debate for this reason: God is active, and wants to speak to you, and us in the Church.

It is true that Edwards, Wesley, Augustine, Luther, the Counsel , and most fathers would not like much of what goes on in the Charismatic Church. But I also believe they would not like much of what goes on in reformed cessasionist camps. Had the Great Awakening of the 1600’s been today many cessasionist would have written it off. As many did indeed have emotional manifestations, dreams, open visions. When Edwards initially preached “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” Many screamed and panted as they had open visions of the ground opening up beneath them and swallowing them into Hell. This is what punctuated Edwards’ message, and sparked people desiring conversion, not just the content of his message.

In our efforts to proclaim the gospel and the message of Christ to the ends of the Earth, if we present a God that is void of encounter we are saying God is no longer active. We are being functionally atheistic. This makes God an intellectual entity, not one who is living and active. I care because I know God is living and active. I have heard the Lord speak on many occasions. I have presented the gospel to an atheist on the street and told him, “tonight God will speak to you in a dream”. He came back the next day saying “you were right! God spoke to me! He’s real!”

I care because in our day if there was ever a need for Apostles and Prophets in our land its now. Whether eschatological or not, the times we live in our treacherous, specifically for those in the faith. As the gospel is being rapidly diminished by universal and prosperity doctrines, and the testimony of the church in this hour is that NO ONE has any revelation from heaven to offer but doctrinal disputes with one another.

I care because we have to be united on this front as a church: God is living and active. God is speaking and God will display the evidences of his reality in this day.

Thesis

I appeal to my cessationist friends this: Do not let the theological neglect concerning how to minister the gifts in one part of the body lead you to neglect those very gifts that Christ has given us to effectively minister the gospel you so vehemently and rightly wish to defend. As a church we need the gifts. We need something from God, we need to know His heart, and we desperately need wisdom from heaven. I have nothing to offer this world of unbelievers unless it’s in the Word, in Christ, or revelation from Heaven.

Lebron’s Momma

So this happened back on Monday, I just didn’t get around to mentioning it until now. Did you hear about Lebron’s momma?

Lebron James (For the sports inept, He’s a basketball phenom that some deem the next Micheal Jordan. He came in the NBA at 18 and has dominated the last 5 years.) went up for a dunk against the Boston Celtic’s Paul Peirce. Peirce in an attempt to save some dignity as he had been dunked on all night by James, wrapped his arms around him and held him down. The foul sent both of them into the front row where Lebron’s Mom went out to them on the court and yelled, “Don’t you hurt my baby!”

Lebron, embarrassed that his mom came to the defense of her professional athlete son, told her to “sit_____ down” Lebron later appoligised for the choice words he used toward his mom, then said “Glad today wasn’t still Mother’s day!”

I understand Gloria James’ stance, her baby was gett’n fouled hard. But I also understand when you are a professional athlete, and your mom comes to your aid as the game is getting tough… that’s a little embarrassing.

Either way you look at it, Lebron we be here about this from both his mom and everyone else for years to come. Don’t worry Lebron humility is the quickest way to greatness-The meek will inherit the Earth.

A Reemergence of the Blogroll

So Sometime last year I deleted my blogroll for reasons I wont go into right now.

But now it’s back, and with new peeps! so give um a click, if you have any suggestions let me know.

P.S. JimB and others waiting, I haven’t forgotten about the series on different types of Revelation. I’m currently writing to of those posts. I just want them to be good, and time has been lacking. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about the first part of the series is here: The Need For Revelation- a series.

When you realize you are human…

Yesterday Afternoon I was massively rushed. I was busy in my office editing videos for the Student Ministries Media department when I looked at the clock.

5:29pm

Totally lost track of time. I have an important meeting at 6pm and I have to cash a check at one bank, deposit it at another, and make it back on time. I have extra desire to be on time to the meeting because it’s the first meeting I have for a new role I just started, and I want to start off on the right foot.

I scream down the Highway, breaking every traffic law in existence. The adrenaline pumping as I get stuck behind someone driving the speed limit. Everything within me wishes I was driving a monster truck and could fly over the top of them. I pull off some Cannon Ball Run type maneuvers and I spin into the bank parking lot. There are no parking spots except for one older man slowly getting into his car. He sits down, checks his mirrors, mean while I tap the steering wheel like my life and existence hinges on him pulling out of his spot quickly. He does, I park and run inside.

I’m excited to see that though the parking lot was full, there is only 2 people in line at the teller. Then I realize I left in such a hurry I forgot the deposit slip to the friends account I was depositing the money into. I call them and get the info as the line in front of me grows. Once I get everything filled out I jump into line like a 5th grader in the cafeteria on Apple Crisp pie day. People notice my hurried pace and try not to stare as I tap my leg.

I’m next in line but the lady in front of me apparently knows the teller, so they are talking about their personal lives. I look at my watch frustrated cursing under my breath. The lady is laughing and yukking it up with the teller. Apparently she is friends with his mother too, and they are reminiscing. Meanwhile I couldn’t be more impatient. I restrain from saying anything. For someone who just broke every known traffic law getting here I suddenly become very law conscious. “He’s not supposed to have personal conversations during work hours! Someone should tell his manager.” Just as my blood boils to its zenith, she says good bye and leaves.

I take care of my transactions and run back to my truck. I have have 15 minutes left and I’m 5 minutes away. “I did it!” I sigh… or did I? I sat back and recounted my actions over the last 15 minutes. That’s when I became aware of just how totally depraved I actually was. As I rushed to get to a meeting where I was going to be strategizing about how to lead people in a ministry where prayer, fasting, and holiness are our main epitaphs. Yet here I am, prayer and fasting the last thing on my mind, and holiness far from the description of my actions. So I pause.

“Holy Spirit I need help. I repent for my actions. Thank you for grace and mercy toward me, help me to have peace and patience.” I put my car into gear, and pulled out. As I reached the Missions base I began to feel peace, and the hurriedness had left my nerves. I still felt bad for my actions, so I pulled in to a parking spot and paused again. “Jesus you love me even in my weakness, and you have forgiven me my sin, and I love you, I receive your mercy.” I got out of my car and didn’t think about it again. Knowing that though I was in sin, His grace was truly sufficient not only to forgive my sin, but give me strength not to sin next time.

Often I find myself in those types of places, as I’m sure you do. Places where I realize I deserve hell just as much as Adolf Hitler. Blessed be Christ who set me free from the law of sin and death, and made me alive when I was dead. Because without him I’m depraved.

For Real

I’m honored to be with these people

Saturday my beloved future wife Carrie graduated from IHOP’s bible School; FSM. The ceremony was so wonderful as people declared their love for the beauty of Christ. As different graduates spoke the summation of their learning they declared this (I’m summarizing): Jesus is God, our prophet, priest, and King, who is returning again, and I can’t wait to spend my life searching the scriptures to know and give glory to the man who gave his life for me. Most often when I observe a graduation service the graduates express the joy of completion, not so Saturday. Instead the students expressed the joy of a beginning. They expressed jubilation that they are just starting to learn about the things of Christ and are announcing the entrance into their study of Him.

Toward the end of the ceremony Cheston Stearns took the platform to make a call to salvation for those who didn’t know Christ. He started off by reading my favorite hymn by Wesley “In Christ Alone”.

In Christ Alone my Hope is found, He is my Light , My strength and my song…

His voice grew shaky as he read. He began to cry while he recited the hymn. By the time he got to: “And as He stands in victory, Sin’s curse has lost its grip on me” There was no longer a dry eye in the house. Everyone, including myself were weeping. He then began to give a tearful benediction of the glory of who Christ is then gave a call to salvation and healing that I wish had been in front of a thousand unsaved people. (One day I have no doubt it will be)The conviction, fear, and joy of which every student held when speaking of Christ blew me away. I felt honored to be numbered amongst these people who serve the same ministry I do. I felt honored to be under the leadership of men like Allen Hood who declared that the cross of Christ is our only entrance into the things of God and as much as you seek Him you must declare Him. I felt honored to be surrounded by people who share the same gratefulness I have toward Christ, and the same longing to see Him return to the Earth.

John Wesley once said:

” Give me ten people … only ten … who fear nothing but God,
                      love nothing but souls, and hate nothing but sin,
                      and I’ll shake the very foundations of hell … .
                      Get on fire and people will come and watch you burn
                      and then, those same people will become ignited themselves.”

I say give me these people. Give me Andrew Steinke, My fiancé, Cheston Sterns, Katie Scott, Jared Diehl, Tim Dodd, Caleb Culver, Carly More, Jaime Abyetta, Micheal Stevens, and all the others.

I have never seen such diligence, such genuineness, such real unadulterated fervor for the things of Christ. I witnessed men and woman who I have no doubt will one day see many souls saved as fruit of their labor in prayer, fasting and the Word. I bless them. I pray that they will forever increase in the things of Christ, and that they will have increased boldness to declare the gospel with diligence. I am truly honored to be counted among them.

 

 

 

Random Ranting Friday #86

Welcome back peeps and peepettes to the 86th edition of Random Rantings Friday!  I’ve got family in town and questions of Boomba and Bam abound! So lets dive in like Louganis… just don’t hit your head!

Last year in August I was watching the Rangers vs. Orioles game where the Rangers scored an historic 30 runs to Baltimore’s 3. At some point during the 8th inning as Texas added 10 more runs I just so desperately wanted to see Baltimore call the game. It was just sad watching them fight so hard to try to win a winless game. I feel the same way watching Hilary these last weeks… Hilary, just call the game! Barack is only scoring more runs!

A woman in Norwalk Connecticut files a claim that her outing with her son was ruined by dog feces. She is actually suing the city because her son stepped into Doggy doodoo. Saying it ruined his shoes and her day- her claims were met by the judge with the phrase “poop happens”

I hit my head while painting my kitchen- I sued the cabinet.

Ministerial update: My new jobs and roles around the Missions Base are taking on a life of their own. I’m now a section leader during 6am-12pm in the Prayer room, mostly overseeing our small groups and small group leaders. Then I’m Assistant Directing our youth camps this summer, and helping start a student ministries department that will have impact globally. Along with starting a media department, packaging the gospel and other sermons in the form of video blogs, podcasts, and other presentations. Not to mention teaching at a Worldveiw class at a charter Highschool next year. The nice thing with all of that is I’m getting my own office here in a week or so! eeeoow!

[Queen] “…Bump Bump bump and another one bites the dust” Bit Torrent friend- Torrent Spy gets sued for $110 million in copyright infringements. Just another in the long line of sued file sharing software peeps. Just goes to show that the FBI warning at the beginning of DVD’s isn’t just there for annoyance.

So its out! The “Evangelical Manifesto” that is. I’ve been waiting for this all week. It came out Wednesday. A group of Evangelical ministers got together and and decided something that I’ve long been saying here: 1. That the term Evangelical needs to be defined theologically as people who are of the gospel, not defined politically or culturally as it has been. 2. They call for repentance in the way we have walked out the gospel in the World. I agree, and repent. We (evangelicals) have made our faith more about single issue politics then we have made it about preaching the gospel. I’m all about seeing abortion ended, but Our charge is preach the gospel first. If we believe in the resurrection power of Christ the way we say we do, then our preaching the gospel will be way more effective than all of us trying to be William Wilberforce. Which for a few is fine, but as a whole we MUST declare Christ and Him Crucified and not let it get lost amongst political agendas. I don’t agree with everything in the manifesto, but I endorse those 2 points for sure!

I just found out that 150 years ago the acre of land my house in on, was the site of a giant civil war battle. It was part of the Battle for Westport. That battle is considered the Gettysburg of Missouri. The land I live on is where the Confederates retreated to. I’m thinking about getting a metal detector and looking for artifacts.

Growing up friends of mine always wanted to get tatoos and piercings. I never had a problem with it, I just never really wanted to, though my mom always thought I should. How many people can say that?

Carrie’s parents are in town this weekend, as is my Mom. Carrie graduates tomorrow from FSM. I’m so excited and proud of her. Listen to my future wife talk about the divinity of Christ is like a vacation in Barbados; simply beautiful. She is so brilliant.

My best friend and confidant Kyle Gebhart, wrote an great post on “The Hidden Danger of Christian Patriotism.” very good post, check it out!

With Oil breaking $126 a barrel, commuters in places like SoCal, people are turning to public transportation. I think there may be something to that. Maybe instead of lobbying the Feds to lower taxes or bring the prices down, we should lobby locally for our cities to get better public transit systems as an alternative to having to drive to work every day. Obviously doesn’t help those in rural areas, but cutting the demand for gas down in major cities, will bring down the cost of supply… just a thought.

When I was 5 years old I had an imaginary friend named Bob. I think I named him Bob because my parents watched the Bob Newhart show, and I always thought he was funny.

I’ve averaged a good couple hundred hits a day on the “Lakeland Revival??” post, and received even more e-mails, lots of questions about what we should do with what is happening. I’m living in Switzerland on this one (staying neutral). But here is what I will say this: The way Jesus deals with the 7 churches in Revelation 2 and 3 are key to understanding how we should respond to the church in this day amidst questions and supposed misconduct. Also the way Paul wrote to the Chruch in Colossai (they were worshiping Angels) the way he responds to them is an outline of how the amount of graciousness and love needed. All of us will come away from this humble, and admitting our weakness and need for Christ before Heaven.

Jesus Christ made a way for us to enter into the Holy of Holys. We ONLY have entrance into that place through the blood of Christ, for He rendt the veil with rending of His flesh so that we could encounter the living God. But it’s only through Christ and His Holy Spirit that we have entrance to those things that are in the heavenly realm. He has become the Great High Priest, we are in Him through faith. Where He is so also are we. But our entrance to things supernatural cannot be found anywhere except in The human man who is God and is returning to the Earth; Jesus Christ.

From Randomness to the gospel… that’s how I roll. much love to you all.

I’m out like drilling in ANWR!

Need a Great Awakening

The ironic thing about not being able to sleep one night when in the morning section, is that during the prayer room at 6am you can’t stay awake! That’s me today. I’m meditating on Galatians 5. I close my eyes to pray and a few minutes later Steeno is hitting me in the shoulder to wake me up.

However today is going to be fantastic as my mom and Carrie’s parents are in town for the weekend! But I first must make it through Galatians, the mountain of meetings this afternoon, and the projects with unchecked boxes next to them. If you are a friend pray I get a second wind…first wind at some point today!

Praise the Lord for Espresso!

p.s. 6. 6 is the number of times I nodded off while writing this post…

The inactivity of those charged to act

I saw this Cartoon over at good ol’ JimB’s blog and thought I’d share it:

I could make this a never ending rant, but I wont. But i will say that congress, not just on this issue but many others, over the last 10+ years has been all but useless. In fact I’d say that congress more fits the parody of the bureaucratic Vulgans from Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy than a body of government accomplishing anything.

On this I think even Jefferson and Hamilton would’ve agreed.

Anniversary

May 7th. This date holds a place of significance for the ministry I work for. Significant because it the bench mark that its been another year added since we started this prayer room phenomenon.

BUT as much as I love IHOP, this date carries an even more significant meaning to me this year. This is the day my beloved fiance’ and I started dating. I’ll briefly share the story:

So I had liked Carrie for years, but never really had a chance to talk to her or meet her. But in September of ‘06, I gathered up the courage to ask her out for coffee; she surprisingly said yes. That was the beginning of many “dates”. Though if you asked her, she wouldn’t have considered them dates but “hang’n out with a friend” times. After making it clear that I liked her in November, I’d spend the next 5 months trying to figure out if she returned the sentiment. Either way the relationship progressed into a wonderful friendship. In March I went back to Phoenix to DJ a friend’s wedding and raise support funds. She had gone to her home in Minnesota to relax during her Easter break from school. During that time we talked on the phone a few times, and she had time to think outside the bustle of school and leading interns. Then a week later I got an e-mail from her. In it she all but finally admitted what I had suspected all along- that she liked me. This was exciting, but yet surreal at the same time. Was the girl of my dreams, the one I had always wished to be with but never thought it actually possible actually returning my affections?

She got back in town and the first thing she did was accompany me for coffee. After a consistent number of these coffee dates through the month of April things started to become clear. Then one night as I was walking her out to her car from the prayer room she paused. “Sooo I have a question, and you can think about it, but what do you think about maybe us defining this relationship as “dating”? WHHHAAAA!! I leaped inside. Was this really going to happen? Were things really working out? “Think about it?” I said, “I think we should totally define it as dating.” “Ok then” She said. We paused and smiled at each other, but she was in a hurry because her interns were waiting for her to lead their meeting back at her apartment. I blissfully jumped up into the air as she drove away. I was so happy to be progressing in a relationship with the woman of my dreams.

I went to her apartment and waited outside for her meeting to get done. She came outside and we both looked at each other like; What just happened? It was a wonderful night!

I know look that same woman in the eyes everyday, happily knowing that I get to look into those same eyes year after year. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful, brilliant, witty, fun, and loving woman such as she.

Paul said a man who finds a wife, finds a good thing. That joker wasn’t kidding around!

I love you Carrie!