The debate about the continuation or cessation of the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit shows no signs of abating or of coming to a resolution. This is true within the wider church and true also within the narrower group who hold to Calvinistic theology. The debate began soon after the coalescing of what became known as “New Calvinism” and it extends today past its recent rupture. Some insist that the extraordinary gifts of the Holy Spirit—prophecy, healing, and tongues—have ceased and base their view on Scriptural proof; others insist that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are still operative and base their view on Scriptural proof. Additionally, both base their view on experience (or lack thereof). Two positions, two convictions, and two sets of experiences—yet only one can be correct.

New to the discussion is Cessationist, a two-hour documentary film directed by Les Lanphere (Calvinist, Spirit & Truth). As evidenced by the name, this film does not mean to provide arguments for competing perspectives while allowing the viewer to evaluate and choose between them. Rather, it is a defense of the cessationist position and a critique of continuationism. It makes its argument through a script written and narrated by David Lovi, interviews with those who hold to the cessationist position (e.g. Joel Beeke, Phil Johnson, Steven Lawson), and an abundance of videos by continuationist teachers and leaders.
I will tip my cards from the outset and go on record as a convinced cessationist. But as such I always feel the need to add this crucial but often misunderstood clarification: Cessationists believe that God can continue to perform miracles, and not merely that he can but that he does. And so we do pray that God would act in miraculous ways; we do follow Scriptural instructions by having elders lay hands on the sick and pray for them; we do see him work in out-of-the-ordinary ways. What we do not believe is that God continues to distribute the spiritual gift of prophecy, the spiritual gift of healing, or the spiritual gift of tongues. Hence, while there may be extraordinary actions on God’s part, he no longer distributes the extraordinary gifts. He no longer distributes them because they are no longer necessary following the establishment of the church and the completion of the Bible.
I will consider Cessationist through two lenses: whether it offers a valid defense of its position and whether it offers a fair critique of the alternative.
Does Cessationist offer a valid defense of its position? While admitting that I am by no means unbiased, I believe it does. Before it offers any substantial critique, it explains why there is solid evidence within Scripture that God meant for the extraordinary gifts of the Spirit to operate for a time, but then to cease. The film does this by showing the rarity of miracles in the Bible and the fact that they were grouped around certain crucial periods of redemptive history, by examining key passages that offer teaching about the use of gifts and the sufficiency of Scripture, and by drawing conclusions from the obvious decline of the gifts through the progressive narrative of Scripture. It makes a strong positive case for its position.
Does Cessationist offer a fair critique of the alternative position? I believe it does. It is easily able to rally the extreme fringes of the charismatic movement to its cause to show continuationism at its worst. Many of these people are obvious frauds and charlatans. Yet it also shows that some of the foremost theologians of continuationist theology are men we respect and regard as friends for their other positions—John Piper, Wayne Grudem, Sam Storms. I believe it treats them fairly, evaluating and critiquing their positions without writing them off entirely. I don’t think it ascribes to them positions they would not agree with, though they may perhaps take issue with the associations, such as when the film flows directly from Todd Bentley to John Piper—one of them a man whose wider theology and ministry track record is abhorrent and the other of them a man who honors God and serves his people.
The thing about the debate between cessationism and continuationism is that one side must be wrong—and quite seriously wrong. If cessationists are wrong, they are neglecting to exercise gifts that God may wish to use mightily for the saving of the lost, the blessing of his people, and the glory of his name. If continuationists are wrong, they are acting in ways the Bible forbids and foolishly thinking they are speaking in tongues, healing others, and, perhaps most seriously of all, prophesying in God’s name when they are actually doing no such thing. While we can still regard those who hold to the opposite position as friends and brothers, we must also believe they are disobeying God and acting in ways that are misguided or perhaps even foolish. The stakes are high, which means we do well to deepen our understanding and sharpen our convictions.
While I am certain that advocates of continuationist theology will take issue with some of the Cessationist’s claims and some of the associations it draws, I generally found it to be a strong and fair critique of an issue of great importance. No matter your perspective on the issue, I’d encourage you to watch it, to consider its claims, and to better understand why so many Christians are convinced that God no longer means for us to pursue or to exercise those extraordinary gifts.
(Note: The film is also already available in Spanish)

May the Lord be with you and bless you today.

I dug up just a few new Kindle deals today.
Meanwhile, WTS has another good deal, this one offering 50% off on ESV Scripture Journals.
You Probably Have a Good Pastor
This is a very important one from Todd Pruitt. “I have no desire to diminish the sad experiences of those who have found themselves in the unfortunate and at times tragic circumstance of having an abusive pastor. But the attention given to those who abuse God’s people suggests, whether intentionally or unintentionally, that abusive pastors are the norm. And I think we all know why.”
On Using Your 20s Well
“It seems like my friend had bought into a common myth: the idea that once you’ve finished college, you should be a fully-formed adult who understands yourself fully, knows exactly what you’re going to do for the rest of your life, and walks confidently into that future with full assurance.”
Give Little Kids a Firm Foundation in God’s Word
“​​This has everything I am looking for in a kids’ Bible: vivid and colorful artwork, well-told stories, ethnically diverse illustrations, faithfulness to Scripture, and a clear sense of how God’s promises hold history together. A go-to Bible for the next generation of children.” Andrew Wilson (Sponsored Link)
15 Reasons Why Legalism is Destructive
David gives us 15 reasons why legalism is so very destructive.
How Jesus Wanted Us to Read His Gospel
How does Jesus want us to read his gospel? That’s the focus of this article.
The Blessings That Come With Forgiveness
“‘Birds fly. Fish swim. Christians forgive.’ My husband made this statement in a sermon on forgiveness a few weeks ago and it resonated with me. With all the authority and confidence that could only be rooted in Scripture, he proceeded to explain how forgiveness is as necessary to the Christian as breathing.”
Stay in the Race
Erik focuses on pastors to remind us that pastoral ministry is a marathon rather than a sprint.
Flashback: God Has Found You Faithful
God is the one who has called you to walk this path, and he is the one who has called you to walk it faithfully.

The glorious fact of the resurrection is the very heart of our faith. —Elisabeth Elliot

Good morning from Morocco where I’ve settled in for the second-to-last leg of this journey. It has been a whirlwind, but all is well.

Westminster Books has a book on sale that you’re meant to order before Christmas.
Today’s Kindle deals include a number of interesting books.
(Yesterday on the blog: As Summer Turns to Fall)
Borrowed Strength
This is a tremendous article from Melissa. “I hope God can sort out the desires of my heart, because half the time I can’t even figure out what to hope for in this season. But I do know enough to know this: hope is warranted. Hope is essential and real and it’s different from wishing or dreaming, because real hope built on the person of Jesus.”
Ecclesiological Triage
Most of us have become familiar with the idea of theological triage. But do we also need some ecclesiological triage? Michael Lawrence makes the case for it.
Super Thoughts on Superscripts
Here’s a good article about the superscripts you so often find in the Psalms. Should we pay attention to them? Are they a part of Scripture or later additions?
Is something wrong with me if I don’t feel God’s presence in my suffering?
Sinclair Ferguson answers the question in his characteristically nuanced way.
Fighting for Faith When Doubts Abound
Sarah Walton: “The questions I’ve been asking myself lately are this: Why am I surprised when trials come when we’re told that in this world we will face sorrow and suffering (John 16:33)? Why do I so quickly question God’s goodness, love, and control when I experience the pain of this world or don’t receive the miracle I’m pleading for?”
5 Myths about Mental Illness
Tom Karel addresses a series of myths related to mental illness.
Flashback: No Hand But His Ever Holds the Shears
If it is our loving gardener who does the pruning, we can be sure there are never any unwise or careless cuts. Though we may not know why this branch has had to be trimmed or that one removed, we do know the one who wields the blade.

Anxiety does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows, but only empties today of its strength. —Charles Spurgeon

These are the days in which summer begins to give way to fall. The days grow shorter, the nights get longer, and there begins to be just a bit of a bite in the air. Though winters in Southern Ontario are long, I still look forward to their slow approach.

But that is beside the point of the rest of this article. While I link to several good pieces of writing each day in my A La Carte column, I focus almost exclusively on Christian material. Sometimes, though, I read other material and feel like commenting on it. That’s exactly what you will find below—interesting articles from mainstream sources that are accompanied by some brief commentary.
The Wall Street Journal recently ran a fascinating and deeply concerning article about South Korea, the country with the industrialized world’s lowest birth rate. “South Korea’s fertility rate—a snapshot of the average number of babies a woman would have over her lifetime—slumped to 0.78 last year, from 0.81 in 2021, according to new government data. And the slide has worsened in recent months, falling to 0.70 in the April-to-June quarter.” For a birthrate to replace and maintain the current population, especially in a country with no significant immigration, it must be no lower than 2.1. A number as low as .70 represents a looming disaster. The government has been heaping up subsidies, incentives, benefits, and even cash payments to those who have children, but they have been unable to stem the tide.
What the article does not discuss is that a generation ago the government very successfully convinced its people to not have children due to fears of overpopulation. They ran an extensive campaign to promote family planning and childlessness, even going so far as to reward people who would agree to be sterilized. That campaign proved successful and lasting. Combined with greater urbanization and a high cost of living, especially in the cities, there appears to be no easy way to reverse the situation. Perhaps it is worth praying for South Korea and especially for its Christians that they would be counter-cultural and take seriously God’s desire that his people, even today, “be fruitful and multiply.” And we should probably pray for other Western nations who are consistently beginning to show the same trend. It might also be a good time to read or re-read Kevin DeYoung’s article The Case for Kids. (Note: WSJ is a subscription site, but because I subscribe they offer me the ability to create links for others to read an article for free. I am not sure, though, how many can click that link before they cry foul. I guess we will find out. If you find it locked, try googling the title of the article (World’s Lowest Birthrate Sinks Further Despite Cash Payouts to Parents) since that will sometimes allow you to enter WSJ’s site for free.)
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Legal Lullabies is a site meant to help you fall asleep. To do this, a reader provides a mellow reading of the complete Instagram Terms of Use. If you prefer to listen to TikTok’s, they are there as well. Clever! And probably effective.
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The National Post recently ran an article about people who are freezing their bodies or even just their brains in the hope of a future resurrection. Of course “cryopreservation” has been spoken about and occasionally practiced for a number of years now. Yet the science is still in its infancy and few people believe there is any legitimate chance of ever reanimating those frozen bodies. Still, it is a good reminder that humanity naturally fears death and longs to overcome it. This seems to especially be the case with those who gain great wealth. How many billionaires turn away from their enterprises to instead focus on attempts to promote health and longevity? It is my assumption that their ability to experience so many of earth’s pleasures actually just prompts their souls to sigh, like The Sage, that “everything is vanity.” Yet because they will not look to God and the true hope of a true resurrection to life, they must look somewhere—anywhere—else.
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Wired recently ran an article titled Preferring Biological Children Is Immoral. It is fascinating in the way it manages to tick almost every possible box related to the unholy trinity of intersectionality, gender identity, and climate change, not to mention its use of what has become a rare word in our day: immoral. To describe something as immoral requires holding it up to some kind of a standard and, indeed, the author does that. The standard, though, is the new standard, the current standard—the one that has existed for about 5 years and will inevitably be modified or replaced within the next 5. That is a low bar to label something “immoral.”
I think Christians may resonate with his plea for people to think more about adoption and not to believe that biological children are inherently superior to non-biological children—something he labels biologism. But the reason behind this moral claim is that the current phase of the sexual revolution requires us to set aside any notion of biological essentialism or of the traditional family. He believes that single people and same-sex couples have every bit as much of a right to have children as opposite-sex couples. This, of course, requires either adoption or some kind of donor and/or surrogate. So his desire in the article is not really to promote adoption but to promote the growingly chaotic sexual/gender landscape.
What’s fascinating in his view and that of others is that reproduction and parenting are now considered rights. If infertility has traditionally been viewed as a condition to be treated, it is now seen as a right to be claimed. If reproduction and parenting are rights, then it falls to society to enable them, even when biology makes it impossible (as in the case of single individuals or same-sex partners). Hence, a female same-sex couple has the right to acquire sperm and a male same-sex couple has the right to make use of another human being’s womb. Such claims are unparalleled in human history but seem to be unfolding right before us.
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Also in the Wall Street Journal is an article about friendship, and particularly the relationship of Lew Wilcox and Bobby Rohrbach Jr., who struck up a friendship in 1962 and have maintained it ever since. “Good friends are good for us. They help us get through bad times, listen when we need them and offer advice. A lack of someone you can confide in can lead to loneliness and isolation, which have been labeled a public health threat, on par with smoking and obesity. Yet as important as they are, people have fewer close friendships than they once did.” Not surprisingly, they turn to statistics: “Four in 10 Americans say they don’t have a best friend at all, up from 25% in 1990. The best-friend gap is more pronounced for men, who typically have fewer close friends than women do. The percentage of men without any close friends jumped fivefold to 15% in 2021 from 3% in 1990…”
I would like to think that Christians are a little more committed to friendships, and perhaps especially in the context of the local church, but I’m not certain that’s the case. Either way, the article makes the case for friendship and provides a sweet example of one. Maybe it will inspire you to follow these men’s example. Speaking as one who has been blessed with some truly great friendships, I can attest that it’s worth the time, effort, and vulnerability. Friends are one of God’s greatest gifts.

Good morning my friends. Grace and peace to you.

The train is leaving the station
“It’s not like we have not seen this coming,” says Al Mohler about Andy Stanley’s continued departure from biblical Christianity. The latest example is concerning, but also in-line with the ones before it.
Making the most of things: time and trajectory
“Given the passage of our lives and the era in which we live, how can we make the most of things? This is a question which young people might dabble in at certain crisis points of career or during key rites of passage, but it can be a dominating theme for those in mid-life and beyond.”
New Bible Storybook for Little Kids
“A unique storybook Bible: faithful to the biblical text, beautifully illustrated, and teaching young children the big picture of how God’s promises are fulfilled in Jesus.” Alistair Begg (Sponsored Link)
Marriage is a Steel Trap
“Marriage is a steel trap,” says Darryl. And that’s exactly what makes it so amazing.
Don’t Just Be an Expert in What Things Don’t Mean
This is important: don’t just be an expert in what things don’t mean.
When Genuine Obedience Becomes Impossible, Hell Becomes Impossible as Well
Kevin DeYoung: “There’s a really important but simple distinction we need to make in thinking about our good works or our obedience. And that is that our good works can be truly good even though they’re not perfectly good. They’re never without some imperfections. They’re always tinged with some kind of selfishness.”
The Myth of the Sovereign Citizen
Wes draws a lesson from those “sovereign citizens” you see getting tased on YouTube.
Flashback: It Has To Be Dark Before We Can See
Joy comes to those who experience a particular kind of sorrow—a deep remorse over their depraved hearts and defiled hands.

Waiting on God is to be busy in service to God and to others, all in full acceptance of his wisdom and timing. —Tim Keller

Good morning from Cairo, Egypt. I am making my way from the south of Africa to the north, and that involves a day and a night in Cairo. I am looking forward to joining a friend who will take me to explore the city.

(Yesterday on the blog: Something as Flimsy as Stone)
Rescuing Abraham
This is quite an interesting take on Abraham’s decision to tell people that Sarah was his wife. Was this a lie? And was it necessarily a sign of weak faith? Even if you don’t agree with the article, I think it will help your understanding of the context.
Treasure in Jars of Clay
“As a missionary, I often feel like family members, friends, and supporters put us on a pedestal. That my sacrifice and calling as a missionary in Uganda are far beyond what any ‘normal’ Christian would be able to manage.” This story is meant to counter that notion and praise God for his grace.
Are People Basically Good?
“It is commonplace to hear the statement, ‘people are basically good.’ Though it is admitted that no one is perfect, human wickedness is minimized. Yet if people are basically good, why is sin so universal?” Ligonier answers this well.
The Strong Woman of Proverbs 31
“In Proverbs 31 we find the marvelous poem about the strong woman. And by this elaborate and tightly written poem, we will not only be swept up in the wise talents and virtues of women, but we will also learn more about our Savior.” This lengthy article could form the basis of a solid study on the passage.
A Fellowship of the Flawed
Susan Narjala: “When we moved back to India from the US eight years ago, we knew that finding a church would be high on our priority list. Along with a hunger for God’s Word, my husband and I sensed a deep hunger for community. After living abroad for over a decade, we were back home. And we longed for the church community to be our extended family.”
Stones of Remembrance: Journaling Through Life’s Challenges
Doug tells how journaling (or blogging) through life’s challenges has proven an important discipline.
Flashback: Emerging From Our Trials Unscathed
Our trials should make us better, not worse…We may emerge from them with broken bodies and broken hearts, but should never emerge from them with broken vows, broken honor, broken character.

Look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him, everything else. —C.S. Lewis

“The most impressive things on earth are ruins,” he said. “The four greatest structures ever built have now been reduced to a state of decay.” The Parthenon rising above the city of Athens is in ruins; the temple of Artemis in Ephesus is in ruins; the temple of Jerusalem is in ruins; the Colosseum in Rome may have been partially restored, but will never regain its former glory, for it, too, is in ruins. The splendor of the ancient world has decayed and disintegrated.

And as he speaks I ponder how we are drawn to ruins, how we are fascinated by these artifacts of what was once so beautiful, so splendid, so powerful a display of human power, opulence, and ingenuity.
Today we travel far and wide to visit the ruined remains of great buildings. No trip to Peru can ignore Machu Picchu, no trip to England can ignore Stonehenge, no trip to Cairo can ignore the Pyramids and the Sphinx. We stand and gaze and try to imagine what these buildings must have looked like in their prime. And like Percy Bysshe Shelley as he stood before the ruined remains of a statue of Ozymandias, we ponder the futility of enshrining our name and our reputation in something as flimsy as stone.
And it isn’t just buildings that fascinate us. As we study history we ponder the rise and fall of nations and entire civilizations. There was a time when the world’s greatest empire was Greece, though now the nation is mostly an afterthought in world affairs. The same is true of Egypt, Italy, and so many others. They were dominant for a time and ruled by fear, domination, and intimidation. And then they fell as quickly as they had risen, passed into obscurity as quickly as they had ascended to supremacy. We study them today to consider what caused their downfall. We visit them today to explore the remnants of their power, the ruins of their might.
And beyond buildings and civilizations, we study the ruins of human beings. We remain fascinated with figures like Napoleon who rose from relative obscurity to become the dominant figure in world affairs. Yet he died when he was still relatively young and generations of historians have been fascinated with what led to so catastrophic a downfall. Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar, Cleopatra—all had lives that were reduced to rubble, all died in ignominy rather than splendor and no study of ancient history is complete without considering their rise and fall, their ascendancy and ruin.
Truly, the most impressive things on earth are ruins. The most impressive civilizations are ruins. The greatest people are ruins. This is a world of ruins. And this teaches us that today’s most breathtaking buildings will also someday be ruins; the most powerful civilizations today will eventually be ruins; the greatest people today will inevitably be reduced to ruins. That’s just the way it is in this broken, beaten, battered world.
And then I ponder this: We are going to a city where there will be no ruins. The gates of pearl will never come unhinged. The streets of gold will never be torn up. The walls of jasper will never fall. The great temple will never lose its opulence. The many mansions will never crumble, never burn, never be destroyed. To the contrary, what is built there will last forever. The nation of God’s people will ascend without challenge and without interruption, and they will never be conquered, never be surpassed. No individual there will rise only to fall and then be remembered to history for his ignominious collapse.
As we ponder the rot and wreckage of this earth, let us remember, let us believe, and let us joyfully anticipate: We will leave this world of woe for a world of bliss, this world of ruins for a world without ruins.

Inspired by De Witt Talmage

It has been a productive time in Zambia and I very much enjoyed worshiping with Faith Baptist Church Kakolo. Today I begin making my way to the northern part of the continent.

Logos users: remember to take a look at the September Super sale which has some great resources on sale along with this month’s selection of free and nearly-free books. There are also some Zondervan collections and resources discounted at the moment.
(Yesterday on the blog: Christ’s Second Advent)
Help Me Find a Loving Dentist
Kevin is looking for help finding a loving dentist. But as you may guess, I don’t think he’s actually talking about dentists.
Public Pulpit Prayers
J.V. Fesko has a helpful article on praying public prayers.
Teach the Metanarrative of Scripture to Little Kids
The new God’s Big Promises Bible Storybook from The Good Book Company connects 92 foundational Bible stories by showing how God makes and keeps his promises. (Sponsored Links)
The State We’re In
“How do we know when a civilisation is nearing its end? If one sign is a general ennui, listlessness, lethargy, then we could well be almost there. We are always prone to moan and complain and imagine that ‘the good old days’ were a real thing (they weren’t) but there is a collective weariness across the British Isles; a sense that nothing is working quite like it should. Broken politics, broken healthcare, crumbling concrete.”
He Says This is “Literally Impossible” (Video)
Red Pen Logic offers a response to an increasingly common argument.
Contentment doesn’t mean you must stay in the same circumstance forever
It’s a valid question: If we are told to be content in all circumstances, does that mean it’s wrong to try to change those circumstances?
How Puritan Women Debunk 3 Puritan Stereotypes
“I hate to say it, but Puritan stereotypes—which go all the way back to the 17th Century—are still going strong. It almost seems like no matter how many solid scholarly books are written about them, the stereotypes will live on.” Jenny-Lyn de Klerk addresses three of them.
Flashback: Not a Matter of Pitch or Tone
Those who struggle to sing may be self-conscious, tempted to stay quiet or to do no more than mumble along. Should they? Not at all, for singing is a matter of the heart before it is a matter of pitch or tone.

Contentment is the product of the heart that is resting in God. —A.W. Pink

It does us good to consider the return of Jesus Christ. When times are difficult, when life is sorrowful, when we are just plain weary, it does us good to shift our hearts from our circumstances to Christ’s sure and certain return. That’s the purpose of this sweet poem by Reginald Heber. “The Lord shall come,” he assures us…

The Lord will come: the earth shall quake,The mountains to their centre shake;And, withering from the vault of night,The stars shall pale their feeble light.
The Lord shall come! but not the sameAs once in lowliness He came,A silent Lamb before his foes,A weary man and full of woes.
The Lord shall come! a dreadful form,With rainbow-wreath and robes of storm,On cherub wings and wings of wind,Appointed Judge of all mankind.
Can this be He, who wont to strayA pilgrim on the world’s high way;Oppressed by power, and mocked by pride,The Nazarene—the crucified?
While sinners in despair shall call,“Rocks hide us; mountains on us fall;”The saints, ascending from the tomb,Shall joyful sing, “The Lord is come!”

My gratitude goes to Christian Focus for sponsoring the blog this week to tell you about Rob Ventura’s excellent new resource on Romans.

There’s a small selection of Kindle deals today.
(Yesterday on the blog: How To Elevate Your Street Smarts)
5 Bad Reasons to Get a Divorce
Joe Carter: “In a world where the sanctity of marriage is increasingly under siege, it’s crucial to reevaluate the reasons often cited for divorce. There are undoubtedly situations where divorce may be a biblically justifiable option, such as cases of abandonment, abuse, or infidelity. But as the survey shows, there are many instances where a better understanding of commitment and values could be enough to save the marriage.”
Thirteen-Hour Days: Did Jonathan Edwards Neglect His Family?
You have probably heard, as I have, that Jonathan Edwards was a neglectful father. But where did that charge come from? And is there evidence to support it?
3D Model of Herod’s Temple
A friend sent along this amazing recreation of Herod’s Temple.
Love Your Church Anyway
Love your church anyway. That’s always good counsel…
4 in 10 Evangelicals Say They’ve Been Visited by the Dead
I’m sure it says something important (and concerning) that 4 in 10 Evangelicals say they have been visited by the dead.
Why Canadian Reformed Evangelicalism Has Splintered
Jeff Eastwood borrows insights from Kevin DeYoung and applies them to a Canadian context to suggest why Reformed Evangelicalism here has splintered over the past few years.
Flashback: The Bit of Heaven the Heaven Tourism Books Never Touched
Each of these people had experienced heaven as a sinner. As far as I know, not one had claimed to have their sin removed for the duration of their experience. They had entered heaven as sinners, experienced heaven as sinners, and returned as sinners.

No one can be robbed of his delights whose joy is Christ. —Augustine