Do you believe in Cessationism or Continuationism? (poll)

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.

Are you a cessationist or a continuationist?


  • Total voters
    35

Blain

The Word Weaver
Aug 28, 2012
19,212
2,547
113
#42
I can't really choose an option here. I have an open mind and so I am always willing to learn and look at things from a different perspective my perspective on this subject is while it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if all the gifts were operational and used even in this day age as I believe that if it is needed then God will use it.

At the same time one gift I have never seen in action is tongues and honestly I don't see the use of tongues or even understand the purpose of the gift however that doesn't mean tongues is not operational today just because I have never seen it in action.
I have seen many fake this gift and seen many fake all kinds of spiritual gifts and maybe some gifts are inactive but merely rarely used for whatever reason.

And also I don't enjoy putting myself under labels according to what I believe or view
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
#43
i'm sorry... was this wise? Ben, if i were your momma i'd ask what you were thinking??
of course, you have every right to make whatever thread and poll you like, and yet...

this forum has been so very volatile lately, i wonder was it wise to make it a poll?

i know firsthand the Lord still moves; miracles still happen...

but to take a topic that's polarizing by nature and make it a thread, much less a poll.... was that wise?

forgive me if i offend. i thought it best to say this in public.

i pray this isn't the beginning of 30 pages of heated bickering, for Jesus' sake, amen.
I think in some respects it gives us a framework in seeing who we are having a bible discussion with. That is why the poll is public. Believing or not believing in God's gifts today and the operation of the Holy Spirit is revealing and can help us understand where the other person is coming from. This poll allows us to familiarize ourselves with one another, and it lets us know, in part, why they hold to certain doctrines they hold and why they oppose doctrines you hold.

In knowing certain people are for the gifts, I might be more inclined to share some pearls with that person. If I know someone is a cessationist, I may refrain from sharing to that person as it may just lead to a debate (which isn't all bad).

This may seem... controversial, but this question for me is almost a litmus test of whether I should be attentive to what people are sharing in posts. If someone tells me, for example, that today we cannot hear the voice of God, do you suppose I would speak to this person on how to have intimacy with the Lord? Or, if they are teaching against a doctrine I believe in and find scriptural, do you think I would given them any weight if I knew they denied Jesus Christ as the Son of God?

You see, even in this poll we have a question that pertains to the Holy Spirit's activity today and through the children of God. If someone shows they are against it, or don't believe it that, in part, is revealing. Revealing to what? Possibly a number of things. I don't mean to judge up front and completely disregard anything they have to say, but certainly if they disagree with something that is foundational in our walk with God and edifying the body of Christ I may choose my words more wisely and also too, what words I consider from them.

If I start talking about fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit in tongues and with an interpreter present, for example, this might be extremely controversial to a cessationist. They might even call me a heretic. It could sever all ties with such a person. Yet, it wouldn't with a continuationist. So, this thread/poll kind of gives us a back drop of what to share with certain people. Not to judge them, but to use discernment in who we are sharing with and what we are sharing.
 
Nov 22, 2015
20,436
1,430
0
#44
I am looking and I am trying to see where the trouble is here because the only thing that was eye catching was those who tried to turn it into something personal about baptism
I agree.....just talking out loud from being in previous threads...let's hope that it doesn't escalate if others come in that haven't been as cordial and respectful as has been happening. We can believe that the respect and demeanor will continue to be that way. I'm up for that!...:)
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,479
4,112
113
#45
i'm sorry... was this wise? Ben, if i were your momma i'd ask what you were thinking??
of course, you have every right to make whatever thread and poll you like, and yet...

this forum has been so very volatile lately, i wonder was it wise to make it a poll?

i know firsthand the Lord still moves; miracles still happen...

but to take a topic that's polarizing by nature and make it a thread, much less a poll.... was that wise?

forgive me if i offend. i thought it best to say this in public.

i pray this isn't the beginning of 30 pages of heated bickering, for Jesus' sake, amen.
I think that your point is somewhat insulting . Cannot one post a thread and just have those respect the post and not answer to it or stay in context.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
#46
I think that your point is somewhat insulting . Cannot one post a thread and just have those respect the post and not answer to it or stay in context.
I wasn't insulted, they were just showing concern for our witness. I understood their point, and above gave my response. No issue here, they didn't insult me. :)
 
Apr 22, 2016
1,218
12
0
#47
removed your post it was insulting ,


just saying
Im sorry:( I didnt realize that speaking on her works belief was an insult.
My intent was not to start an argument. I am just concerned.
 
Last edited:
P

psychomom

Guest
#48
I think that your point is somewhat insulting . Cannot one post a thread and just have those respect the post and not answer to it or stay in context.
i do sincerely apologize.
 
P

psychomom

Guest
#49
I wasn't insulted, they were just showing concern for our witness. I understood their point, and above gave my response. No issue here, they didn't insult me. :)
thanks for your explanation, and for your kindness.
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
#50
Im sorry:( I didnt realize that speaking on her works belief was an insult.
Lets just stay on topic and not drag the garbage from other threads into here, yeah? You may disagree with that person, but we don't need to put them on blast in every thread we see them in.
 

CS1

Well-known member
May 23, 2012
12,479
4,112
113
#51
Im sorry:( I didnt realize that speaking on her works belief was an insult.
to interject a belief of another on a post that had nothing to do with that subject is rude at the least.
 
Apr 22, 2016
1,218
12
0
#52
Lets just stay on topic and not drag the garbage from other threads into here, yeah? You may disagree with that person, but we don't need to put them on blast in every thread we see them in.[/QUOT]

Agreed. I am sorry that I interrupted.
 
Sep 30, 2014
2,329
102
0
#53
I can't really choose an option here. I have an open mind and so I am always willing to learn and look at things from a different perspective my perspective on this subject is while it wouldn't surprise me in the least bit if all the gifts were operational and used even in this day age as I believe that if it is needed then God will use it.

At the same time one gift I have never seen in action is tongues and honestly I don't see the use of tongues or even understand the purpose of the gift however that doesn't mean tongues is not operational today just because I have never seen it in action.
I have seen many fake this gift and seen many fake all kinds of spiritual gifts and maybe some gifts are inactive but merely rarely used for whatever reason.

And also I don't enjoy putting myself under labels according to what I believe or view
I have seen it, and yes I've seen folks I'd imagine try (not fake it but just don't have it) but this one guy I looked up to some what when I was younger, at night we would walk around our camp praying, and this brother would speak in tongues, I don't know what he was saying, but sounded pure and sat well as The Spirit moved with us and through us, pretty amazing.
 

AllenW

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2016
1,450
70
48
#54
Do you mind explaining the "but..." of the option you chose? I am just curious. :)
Yes sir.
What gifts do we have and how do we use them?
What is the gift of miracles and who has it?
 

NotmebutHim

Senior Member
May 17, 2015
2,921
1,593
113
47
#55
I consider myself a cessationist, but that's because I believe the work of the Holy Spirit is different from what it was during the time of the Apostles.

I agree that the spiritual gifts are still active, but they are not as frequent or as pronounced as they were during apostolic times.

God still heals, still gives the gift of speaking in tongues and the interpretations thereof.

I'm not Pentecostal or Charismatic, but at the same time, I don't believe that the spiritual gifts have stopped altogether. :)
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
#56
Yes sir.
What gifts do we have and how do we use them?
What is the gift of miracles and who has it?
As the Holy Spirit distributes, and that would be all of them. Some are volitional, you can stop or start. Others are most definitely enabled when the Lord wills, such as prophecy or a gift of knowledge maybe.
 

AllenW

Senior Member
Apr 20, 2016
1,450
70
48
#57
As the Holy Spirit distributes, and that would be all of them. Some are volitional, you can stop or start. Others are most definitely enabled when the Lord wills, such as prophecy or a gift of knowledge maybe.
Thank you.
I agree.
May I assume you believe the same as me, that all the gifts are active but there are conditions when they are manifested?
Also, could you be more specific concerning my question on the gift of miracles?
 
Sep 4, 2015
290
7
0
#59
I have NO IDEA how to answer this poll, since I don't have any idea what those options mean... but, I'm going to read up and then vote. Then I'll let you guys know ;) *waves hi to BenFTW and LadyLynn*. That rhymes. Teehee
 

BenFTW

Senior Member
Oct 7, 2012
4,834
981
113
34
#60
Thank you.
I agree.
May I assume you believe the same as me, that all the gifts are active but there are conditions when they are manifested?
Also, could you be more specific concerning my question on the gift of miracles?
I believe for certain gifts there are surrounding conditions, such as tongues and interpreting. However, I disagree that tongues must always be interpreted or have an interpreter present. The verse dealing with those tongues are in dealing with tongues that are speaking to a congregation and then an interpreter interprets what the Lord is saying to the whole body present. This doesn't mean that if you are praying for someone privately it must be interpreted, though that is exceptionally edifying (as much as prophesy according to the apostle Paul). VVhich makes sense, because tongues can be prophetic because within the tongue the Lord can have a prophetic utterance.

The gift of miracles some might compare to the gifts of healings, but I am not so sure. Sometimes I think this has to do with altering nature, like a sign and wonder. Think of Jesus turning water into wine. I could be wrong though. I also don't believe that someone must have the gifts of healings in order to heal the sick. All believers can heal the sick in the name of Jesus, they have that authority because they have His name and the same Holy Spirit inside of them that raised Jesus from the dead.