et another entry in my “Wish I Had Written This” category… (It’s so much quicker than coming up with original posts, you know! hehe)
Dave Black is a man I wish I could spend huge amounts of time with in person. I’ve had the privilege of meeting him on two occasions, and both times were all too short, yet wonderful. I don’t say this lightly when I say that Brother Dave (as he prefers to be called) is one of the most godly men I have ever met.
His passion for missions/evangelism, his desire to seek our Lord above everything else, his warm brotherly love to those with which he comes in contact, his genuine humble spirit…this brother exudes the Spirit of God. And I mean that very sincerely.
I have linked to him a couple of times in the past, and today, I would like to do so again. His latest essay takes a completely different look at the term “continualist”, and comes at it from an angle that I had never really thought of.
Most of the time, the term “continualist” (or I have sometimes used, and seen is used, as “continuationist”) is only in reference to certain spiritual gifts, including tongues. Debates rage over “cessationism” and “continuationism”.
But today, Brother Dave has honed in on the important aspects of true “continualism”. He states up front that he is a “passionate continualist”. But you have to read the context of the essay to understand what he’s talking about.
One paragraph, to whet your appetite:
I believe we ought to continue bearing a humble, faithful, and consistent testimony to Christ, as the early believers did. Let moderns appeal to the sensational and spectacular; even the early church knew of signs and wonders. But the greatest work of the church has not been the spectacular but rather the faithful day-in and day-out living of normal everyday Christians.
OK, I’ll give you one more (it was hard to pick samples, because the whole essay is excellent):
I believe we ought to follow the example of the apostle Paul and eschew the excellence of human oratory and any appeal to human wisdom. Nothing about the Gospel pleases this world – nothing! – and we are never so foolish as when we try to dress it up in the garish garments of this age.
Now, go read the rest of the article here! It’s not that long, so you can do it. 
Until next time,
steve 
Thanks for the link. Enjoyed reading the essay.
You are right! Excellent article — I am a continualist!
Debates rage over “cessationism†and “continuationismâ€.
Debates? Really? I hadn’t noticed. hehehe
This is a good post.
Steve,
Having read Brother Dave’s post, may I simply offer my agreement with your words and thanks to God for such brethren.
Interesting article. I especially like his point: why would we reject God’s pattern, as laid out in the early church, to be left to our own devices? God did say somewhere, “I am the same yesterday, today and forever” didn’t He? But it’s easier to have it your own way if God doesn’t speak anymore. It’s easier to read into the scriptures what you want them to say, if He doesn’t bring revelation anymore. And it’s easier to pray for people if you don’t have to believe for miracles anymore because He doesn’t heal anymore. So it’s easier to have it our own way. But, in fact, it’s impossible to have a relationship with someone who doesn’t interact with humans at all anymore. How can we say we have a relationship with someone who doesn’t speak to us, doesn’t heal us, doesn’t really intervene in our lives (or our services) because His supernatural power is now restrained – safe in the confines of heaven?
Hummm, could this be the new Nicean Creed for those outside the mainstream?
Great post, admonishing and uplifting at the same time.
Thanks for letting us know about it!
Um, that first line was a joke folks…
Thanks for the responses, all. I’m sorry I haven’t been very communicative. Summer is such a crazy time for me in my line of work, and I have not been able to keep up with blogs — reading, writing, or commenting — very well.
Mike, I actually chuckled when I first read your joke.
Sarah, you wrote: But it’s easier to have it your own way if God doesn’t speak anymore.
Great comment. I hadn’t really thought of it that way. Ironically, those who believe that God doesn’t speak anymore would often accuse those of us who do of wanting to have it our own way.
Gordon, you hadn’t noticed?
hehe
Yeah, I hear ya Steve and Dave, but with regard to the second quote (“Nothing about the Gospel pleases the world”), here are a couple of thoughts:
1. The world is yearning for salvation, but doesn’t know it yet. That’s where we believers come in.
2. If we’re not supposed to “dress it up with the garish garments of this age,” then what was Paul doing at Mars Hill when he explained their “unknown God” to them?
Carey