Charismatic Conversation...

Phil Johnson did it. Adrian Warnock made it official. Tim Challies reviewed it. Rob Wilkerson predicted it and roped Dave Bish into it.

What do I have to add? Well it seems that most of the blogging so far has been over whether Spurgeon was charismatic. Or a tug of war between two bunches of people who claim that the other side is appealing to experience rather than the Bible, whilst simultaneously appealing primarily to their experiences of the other bunch. Ah well, at least it's in love...

I'll admit to being a shifter between views on charismatic gifts. Mostly shifting between an open but cautious kind of position to an open but slightly less cautious position. So how you guys post might just convince me and one or two other floaters who read your blogs. Let's have exegesis!

Cessationists, it seems to me have the burden of proof to begin with; gifts certainly existed in the apostolic era, and Paul encouraged non-apostles to eagerly desire such gifts, and wished more people spoke in tongues. If this has changed, please show scripturally why. If Paul encouraged non-apostles to seek such gifts, doesn't that mean non-apostles like us also should? Did the non-apostles who Paul wanted to prophesy deny sola scriptura by doing so?

I guess that paragraph shows where my current convictions are. I better think of some questions for the charismatics too! How does prophecy work alongside scripture being the rule of faith? How do you deal with the more excessive Tornoto- Benny Hinn types? Can you give solid examples of prophecy at work in the modern church?