A Very Brief Response to “Continuationism”

In the scriptures we find a peculiar passage in I Corinthians chapters 12-14 in which is elucidated a practice in the apostolic church of “speaking in tongues”, as well as various other gifts being given to Christians for the mutual edification of the church. Those who affirm that the practice of “speaking in tongues” was a phenomena peculiar to the apostolic age are styled “cessationists”, as they believe these gifts ceased with the passing of the apostles. Those who affirm that these gifts are to continue throughout redemptive history unto the Lord’s coming are styled, “continuationists”, as they believe these gifts are to continue to the end. What follows is a very brief refutation of the continuationist position, and brief, only because it should be all that’s needed to be persuasive in those who are sincerely seeking to be enlightened by the scriptures on this subject.

1. Firstly, every single place where people received the gift of tongues an apostle was present. There is not a single example in the bible where this was not explicitly the case. When people were deemed desirous of this gift and an apostle was not present…… they went and got one.

Acts 8:5 Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. ⁶ And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. ⁷ For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them: and many taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. ⁸ And there was great joy in that city. ⁹ But there was a certain man, called Simon, which beforetime in the same city used sorcery, and bewitched the people of Samaria, giving out that himself was some great one: ¹⁰ To whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is the great power of God. ¹¹ And to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries. ¹² But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. ¹³ Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done. ¹⁴ Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: ¹⁵ Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: ¹⁶ (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) ¹⁷ Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” (Acts.8:5-17)

2. Secondly, in ICorinthian 13 there is a verse which speaks of a time “when that which is perfect is come”, when speaking in tongues shall have ceased. The passage reads as follows:
ICor.13:8 ^“Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
There is much discussion among the various parties of this issue concerning exactly what this thing that shall be “done away” is. Some say, the Roman Empire was to be done away, and the completed canon of scripture was that which is perfect which was to come, making prophetic utterances obsolete. Others affirm that the perfect thing to come must be the person of Christ in His final return, citing in support of this claim that believers won’t “fully know” God until such a time.
Certainly both sides would agree that the apostle Paul is teaching that tongues are predicted to “cease” in the future. At what point this occurs is the point of contention. Again…Cessationists would typically affirm that it’s when the canon of scripture is complete, Continuationists affirm that the perfect thing to come would be when the Lord Himself shall return at His second coming, for only then, it is affirmed, will believers see the Lord “face to face”, as the passage ostensibly affirms in it’s sequence:
“For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face; now I know in part; but then shall I know even as I am known.” (Verse 12) The inference is that if tongues are not to cease until we see the Lord face to face, then they are not to cease unto the Lord’s coming and that the practice of “speaking in tongues” is to be continued unto the time of the Lord’s return.

3. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of this persuasion is that it is a fact denied by none that the word “that” in the phrase “when that which is perfect is come” is in the neutral case. As continuationists are affirming that this is a reference to God, it becomes instantly apparent that this is profoundly problematic, being contradictory to every other place in the bible that any grammar is used in reference to God. He is always in the MASCULINE case. God is a HE, not an IT. Because of this it is evident that whatever was to come is a THING, and not a PERSON, in which case it would have been in the masculine or feminine case, as people are either one or the other. It is not so important to affirm what “that which is perfect” is as what it isn’t, at this point, and it isn’t a reference to God, as it would make God an it rather than a “he”, in contradistinction to every other reference to His person in the bible.
Continuationists (charismatics) have a strong tendency to be very orthodox in a great many ways, and would N.E.V.E.R allow that God should be addressed in a neutral case. But they do it here unwittingly, and I would trust it will mean a great deal to them to learn of it.

4. As a fact of history the gift of tongues ceased with the passing of the apostles. Nearly every instance of its attempted resurrection from Tertulian onward has been marked by gross heresy and sin. Yet Jesus said that the Holy Spirit sent by Him would lead His church into all truth. When those who embrace this teaching are so notably marked by heresy and moral lapses in their leadership, how does this not mark them as not having the Holy Spirit, in as much as they are not led by Him into all truth?

5. Further, Jesus said, when He sent the Holy Spirit that He (the Holy Spirit) would testify of ME (Jesus), not of Himself. “But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of ME”. (Jn.15:26) Those that truly have the Holy Spirit are obsessed with exalting the person of Christ, possessing genuine worship in their heart toward Him in an inconcealable degree, are filled with hope by reason of His substitutionary death on their behalf, and with love to Him for such infinite kindness as their divine substitute. They will not be known for their making much of their ostensibly superiority endowment of the person of the Holy Spirit. Those that speak constantly of the gifts of the Spirit rather than magnifying the person and work of Jesus Christ DON’T HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT. Where you see people obsessed with the worship and doctrine of the person of Jesus Christ, there you can recognize the work of the Holy Spirit among them. Where you see them rather obsessed with the person of the Holy Spirit, there you can see that they are not manifesting the proof that Jesus said would mark those who truly had His Spirit that He would send.
This errant teaching has disappeared, and then reappeared many times throughout the churches history, and were it a true element of the work of God in His people, it would not anymore disappear than would repentance or faith. It is imperative for believers that they steer clear of such errors. “This persuasion cometh not of him that calleth you.” (Gal. 5:8) “Follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” (2Tim.2:22)