I've heard people bark in the Spirit. I've seen people roll in the Spirit. I've also sat in Baptist churches that might not know the Spirit if He slapped them in the face.

What's a Christian to think?

In this episode, I unpack why I no longer buy into arguments that the gifts of prophecy and tongues have ceased. While avoiding extremes and spectacles, we should expect these gifts to function until Jesus returns—even if that makes us a bit uncomfortable.

SHOW NOTES:

Tom Schreiner article: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/cessationist/

Sam Storms article: https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/continuationist/

Sam Storms on spiritual gifts throughout church history: https://www.samstorms.org/enjoying-god-blog/post/spiritual-gifts-in-church-history--1-

Some people try to put God in a box. In this episode, I try to put him in a bucket. Listen all the way through, and you'll figure out what I mean.

I’m sharing this episode, not just because I’m not a young earth creationist and want to explain why. It’s really more than that. I think this issue has become needlessly divisive among certain Christian tribes in the United States—my tribe included.

NOTES:

I highly recommend John Lennox's book Seven Days That Divide the World.

I also highly recommend John Sailhamer's Genesis Unbound.

First Charles Spurgeon quote from this sermon: https://www.spurgeongems.org/sermon/chs30.pdf

Second Charles Spurgeon quote from this sermon: https://www.spurgeon.org/resource-library/sermons/election/#flipbook/

In 2006, Calvinism was making a comeback. Evangelicalism was buzzing, and Christianity Today gave the moment a name: “Young, Restless, and Reformed.” Southern Seminary was given the label “ground zero.”

I was there—fresh PhD, junior faculty member, associate dean, newly minted Vice President for Communications. I had a book contract, expanding opportunities, and a front-row seat to the resurgence.

But over time, Calvinism lost its appeal. I found it increasingly difficult to use in making sense of the Bible. Like when a restaurant turns down the lights and turns up the ambient music, it became a struggle to read the text and hear the over-arching message. This episode is why I elected to leave T.U.L.I.P. in the dust.

SHOW NOTES:

Christianity Today article "Young, Resltess, and Reformed": https://www.christianitytoday.com/magazine/2006/september/

Book "Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists": https://www.amazon.com/Young-Restless-Reformed-Collin-Hansen/dp/1581349408

New York Times Article (though late - still analyzes the same movement): https://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/04/us/a-calvinist-revival-for-evangelicals.html