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ARE MIRACULOUS GIFTS FOR TODAY?
Wayne A. Grudem, editor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1996, 368pp.
This is one of the so-called "counterpoint" books. Four biblical scholars have each written a major essay on the same topic, giving four different perspectives. These essays were sent to their colleagues, who then gave their responses. Finally, the general editor, Wayne Grudem, wrote a summary chapter.
The writers are Richard B. Gaffin, professor at Westminster Theological Seminary; Robert L. Saucy, professor at Talbot School of Theology; C. Samuel Storms of Grace Training Center; and Douglas A. Oss, professor at Central Bible College. These four were asked to answer the question: Are miraculous gifts for today?
Gaffin argues for a "cessationist" interpretation, in which miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit such as prophecy, tongues and healing are confined to the apostolic period. This view is widely held among Lutheran and Reformed theologians, but is advocated also by many dispensationalists (Dallas Seminary would be an example).
Oss, who stands in the Pentecostal/charismatic tradition, argues that all the gifts of the Spirit mentioned in the New Testament are intended for today, and that the baptism of the Spirit is an overpowering experience which comes some time after conversion and which should be sought by Christians today. When such a baptism is experienced, it will be followed by speaking in tongues.
Storms holds most of the tenets of the Pentecostal/charismatic churches, but Grudem designates his position as "third wave". The expression comes from Peter Wagner of Fuller Seminary, who speaks of the Pentecostal renewal (in the early 20th century) as the first wave and the charismatic renewal (of the 1960s) as the second wave. The third wave describes those who hold that the proclamation of the gospel is ordinarily accompanied by "signs, wonders and miracles". In contrast to Pentecostals, however, Storms understands the baptism of the Spirit to happen at the beginning of the Christian life, when people are baptized into the body of Christ; later experiences may be called "fillings" or "empowerings" with the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the best-known representative of this "third wave" was John Wimber, leader of the Vineyard movement.
The fourth perspective, written by Saucy, Grudem characterizes as "open but cautious". This is the position held by a vast number of evangelicals. They are open to miraculous gifts today, but they have seen too many abuses of these gifts to be overly excited about advocating them. They would put the emphasis on evangelism, Bible study, faithful obedience to the Word of God and holy living, rather than on miraculous gifts.
As these four scholars interact with each other, they find many points of agreement. They are all committed to the authority of the Word of God. They all acknowledge each other as brothers in Christ. They all recognize the need for the individual believer to experience Christ at a deeper level. They all believe that God still does miracles, that He guides His children by His Spirit, that He empowers His people for service and that He makes Himself known to His children (although here Gaffin suggests the word "revelation" should be kept only for the revelation given to the apostles and prophets and recorded in the Scriptures).
The authors differ considerably, however, on whether we should expect the Holy Spirit in our day to work in miraculous ways similar to the days of Jesus and the apostles, and on whether Christians should be encouraged to seek and pray for such miraculous works. Also, they are not agreed on whether the gift of prophecy should be exercised in the church today. (Can we speak of "inspired" utterances which are less authoritative than Scripture?) They do not agree on the practice of "tongues" either. The most fundamental disagreement turns around the question of whether there is a pattern of worship found in the New Testament that can be transferred to all subsequent generations, including our own.
The book is well written, with a minimum of theological jargon, and can be read with great profit by anyone interested in these subjects.
David Ewert is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at Concord College now living in Abbotsford, B.C.
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