No Faith No Sight

Matthew 13:58 And He did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

It is possible that the reason my cessationist friends see few miracles, though they say they believe in them, is because their belief is only theological and for the most part the belief is that the Holy Ghost is somehow limited due to the canonization of Scripture. If they believed that the Holy Ghost still has the same mission as always until the Rapture, they might actually see far more than they ever had seen in their life. Faith or lack of it will determine what you see.

Now, are there excesses and abuses among those who believe the Spirit is still fully operative in this age? Yes, and there are many Pentecostals/Charismatics that would agree with you.

I am reminded of a story where a person visited a "Pentecostal" church and there was a man there with one arm. He asked someone how the man lost his arm. The reply was in an accident, but the Lord has healed him. The visitor asked how and the reply was that the arm had been restored, The visitor said that he could not see it and the reply was because you do not believe you do not see it. The visitor asked if it was fully functional and was told yes. He asked to have the man pick up a hymnal. He was escorted from the church.

That is a version of the Emperor's new clothes and though sincere, it was delusional. What God fixes is fully functional and the results are visible to the unbeliever in hopes the unbeliever will become a believer. Yet, that scenario I related is not the norm among Pentecostals. There are cessationists that believe some weird things so do not allow a few people on the other side to represent all people that believe in the Holy Spirit still doing His mission.

Try removing your glasses and rereading some of your proof texts. You may find you glasses had some smudges. God is OK with asking some honest questions. I have some. Indeed, I have swung over from the cessationist side knowing there are abuses, but I have asked God to keep me in His balance and let me not to be deceived by the abusers, but let me receive all that He might have for me. I don't think that makes me unhinged or of the devil as many cessations think when they think of "holy rollers."

I have been happier on this side and learning more than I did as a cessationist. If we believe we will see, but if we believe not, we will not see. By the way, no one has rolled down the aisle in my church, but if they do, I hope they will not hurt themselves.

Maranatha!