Continuationism

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Definition

Continuationism is a Christian theological belief that the gifts of the Holy Spirit have continued to this present age, specifically the sign gifts such as tongues and prophecy. Those who support this view are called Continuationists or Noncessationists. Those who do not support the Continuationist view are known as Cessationists. While the conflict between Continuationism and Cessationism is not an issue that affects salvation, it has drawn a dividing line between Christian denominations across the United States.

Continuationists are considered either Pentecostal or part of Charismatic movement.

Pentecostals believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is always accompanied with speaking in tongues.
Charismatics believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not necessarily accompanied with speaking in tongues.

Arguments for

Prophecies and Tongues will cease when Jesus returns

"Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:8-12 ESV)

Paul clearly tells us that the gift of speaking in tongues will cease when "the perfect comes", when he "shall know fully" even as he has "been fully known". Cessationists interpret that time as the time when all of the scriptures is written, but clearly Paul's readers could not have understood Paul that way; they have no concept of a N.T. canon (to be recognized half a millenia later). They could not have understood Paul to mean that at the completion of scripture all prophecies and tongues and knowledge will pass away. In fact Paul clearly expects that all the gifts are operational when Jesus comes back, he says so in the same epistle...

"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor.1:4-8 ESV)

...therefore he could not have meant that passage that way since an author cannot instruct something he does not believe (or does not know about).

Furthermore Paul is using himself as an example when he says that "he" shall know just as "he" has been fully known, and that hardly seems to be a fitting description of the time when he would be dead. His readers would very more likely interpret that time to be when Jesus returns, its the natural logic of the text, just as cessationists have no problem interpreting 1 John 3:2...

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (ESV)

...to refer to the time when we meet Jesus face to face at his return.

Some cessationists who agree with the logic above, on the other hand interpret the different description for tongues "will cease" as oppose to prophecy and knowledge "will pass away", to mean that the gift of tongues will cease earlier than prophecy and knowledge. But that is irrelevant, what is important is the context, Paul's reader would have to undergo complex hermeneutic lessons before they could understood it that way. And besides, Paul already says in the same book that he expects all the gift to be present at Jesus' return (see 1 Cor.1:4-8 above), so he can't mean something he doesn't believe in.

And if knowledge, prophecy, tongues will pass away/ cease when we see Jesus face to face, then it follows that they are still available today.

Jesus promises power to complete the Great Commission

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

The "you" in the verse could not have refered to the early church alone, as the early church did not become Jesus' witnesses to the end of the earth (all peoples).

"when the Holy Spirit has come upon you" does not refer to the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in all believers as the disciples were already genuine believers who had the Holy Spirit ().

Therefore "you will receive power" is a promise by Jesus available and needed by the Church today to complete the great commission.

"And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:9-13 ESV)

(Note that those who ask are children, in fact only children can ask.)

"Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith" (Gal.3:5 ESV)

Outpouring of Spiritual Gifts is characteristic of the New Covenant age

"But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel:

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’"

(Acts 2:14-21 ESV)

Peter says what happened at pentecost was the fulfillment of the prophecy in Joel 2:28-32a. Peter interprets "in the last days" to be their current time, and since we are in the "last days" this is still being fulfilled today, and it will continue to be fulfilled until Jesus returns ("before the day of the Lord comes"). However, cessationists argue that verse 19-20a...

"...And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood..."

...was not fulfilled at pentecost, and therefore it was only a taste of the fulfillment and not permanent, and it will be completely fulfilled in the millenium/future. However, Peter implies that it was fulfilled at pentecost and therefore those verses should be interpretted as hyperboles describing the world turning effect of that outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which is reasonable considering that Old Testament prophecies often use poetry and symbolism. An O.T. prophet would of had considerable difficulties in understanding and describing what would happen at pentecost and the world-turning effect they would have. It would be naturally for him to use poetry to describe what God is revealing to him.

Also, the cessationist interpretation of has problems in trying to reconcile a cessationist interpretation of where they say spiritual gifts have ceased because the perfect had already come, now they say spiritual gifts would be available in the future. A continuationist interpretation on the other hand is more consistent :

Promise of the Holy Spirit fulfilled at pentecost ().
Is available to the church as they witness to the end of the earth ().
Jesus' return is associated with the completion of the great commission ().
Spiritual gifts will cease at Jesus return because of perfect ressurection bodies and intimate fellowhip with Jesus().

Cessationist view contradicts direct biblical commands

"So, my brothers, earnestly desire to prophesy, and do not forbid speaking in tongues. But all things should be done decently and in order." (1 Cor.14:39 ESV)

"Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil." (1 Thess.

5:19-22 ESV)

"For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;" (Rom.12:4-6 ESV)

"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." (1 Cor.14:1 ESV)

"And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administrating, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts." (1 Cor.12:28-31 ESV)

Satan will not help those who work against him

"And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem were saying, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and “by the prince of demons he casts out the demons.” And he called them to him and said to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but is coming to an end. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house." (Mark 3:22-27 ESV)

"John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us." (Mark 9:38-40 ESV)

"Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit." (1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV)

Satan does not give spiritual gifts to help the Church. No Christian can perform miracles that advance God's kingdom by Satan's power. On the contrary, the bible warns not to sin against the Holy Spirit by accusing such people to be operating by demonic spirits...

"Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.”" (Mark 3:28-30 ESV)

... the scribes witnessed the mighty working of the Holy Spirit and fully understood it, yet they accused the Holy Spirit to be an evil spirit ("prince of demons", v.22). That's why Jesus said they blasphemed the Holy Spirit and would never be forgiven.