The miraculous gifts are generally known as the gifts of Healing, deliverance, and tongues.
Today, these 'gifts' predominantly exist within Pentecostalism, and even within that denomination there is much strife on whether these 'gifts' are genuine, especially when practiced by the Charismatic branch thereof. But, really, is there such a thing as a non-Charismatic Pentecostal Church?
I have questioned many Pentecostal theologians, yet I have not received one answer when I ask; "What is it within Pentecostal theology that has given rise to the Pentecostal Charismatic "madness", "lunacy", or "excesses" as the extreme manifestations of the continuing 'gifts' have since come to be known as?" There is but one answer, the veritable fact that the miraculous gifts are not continuing, for they have ceased, but this they cannot admit, for to do so would undermine their theological cornerstone! Also, who presently is the one who decides on whether a 'healer', 'deliverer', or 'tongues' speaker has superceded what is permissible?
I write from painful personal experience, having fellowshipped in a Pentecostal outfit for some three years, and showing it a clean pair of heels approximately 15 years ago. In the Sunday morning meetings (and mid-week home-groups) I would for the first time become aware of people singing and praying in words that I couldn't discern, subsequently I learned that this was called "Tongues". It was generally the more 'spiritual' members of the congregation (elders, deacons etc) that were foremost in this activity; and I wondered if I would ever attain such spiritual heights myself. Not being a "happy-clappy' sort, I didn't feel led to join in with the utterances, as it were, although my wife was encouraged by a couple of ladies to do so, but, thankfully she resisted. There was much peer pressure to fit-in with the rest of them, otherwise you really did feel like an outsider, an experience not new to me!
As the months rolled by, I spent much time studying whether the practice of singing, praying, and talking in tongues was biblical, and of-course it is biblical, for it is mentioned in the Bible! I read that we should desire spiritual gifts, 1 Cor.14:1, and covet earnestly the best gifts, 1 Cor.12:31, yet the previous verse says do all speak with tongues? (my emphasis). Paul clearly says that not all Christians in the Apostolic age spoke in tongues, the question then for me was, are there any (biblically speaking) that do so today? for in my own little fellowship it appeared that most did! In the next chapter it plainly reads whether there be tongues, they shall cease, 1 Cor.13:8 (my emphasis). The issue then became; when did, or will tongues cease? Paul said If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will not they say ye are mad? 1 Cor.14:23. Now, when I joined this congregation, I most certainly was unlearned with regard to spiritual gifts, having hitherto only attended a so-called orthodox church. Evidently the Apostle is strongly suggesting that there is a proper order, restraint, or procedure that must be performed regarding the gift of tongues. And so there is, for God is not the author of confusion, 1 Cor.14:33, for the Scripture says If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church: and let him speak to himself, and to God. 1 Cor.14:28. Not at any time was an interpreter present to interpret what I could now only assume to be gibberish (or worse), but, what I heard with my own ears, seemed to me, at any rate, to break all known Scriptural parameters! No doubt, those who were gifted to speak in tongues,subsequently became aware of their gift, and they became somewhat puffed up? This being a phrase exclusively used by Paul in the Authorized Version some seven times! Six in first Corinthians 4:6, 4:18, 4:19, 5:2, 8:1, & 13:4, and once in Col. 2:18.
I have since learned the reason why tongues was used by God in the New Testament, it was purely so that every man heard them speak in his own language. Acts 2:6. In Jerusalem, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, Acts 2:1, there were Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven, Acts 2:5, that heard every man in his own language, Acts 2:8 (RV). There are some 15 nations mentioned in Acts 2:9-11, and without God's enabling those men on that day to hear in his own language, how would they have ever heard the Gospel truth? But, today, we have Bibles printed practically in every language under the sun; and in this "on-line" age we can decipher languages by the touch of a button! The Scripture also says those at Pentecost began to speak with other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Acts 2:4 (my emphasis). In fact, they didn't know that they were doing it-for they were supernaturally enabled! Today, however, unless you decide to rattle away as it were, you have to be coerced, or coached into doing it!
As for the miraculous healings, they were designed by God to bear witness of Me. John 10:25, that was the express purpose of the miracles, they were not recorded in the Scripture of Truth to give licence to latter day wannabe faith healers! The whole verse reads; Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in My Father's name, they bear witness of Me. The Lord Jesus delegated His God given miracle working powers to His disciples; And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of disease and all manner of sickness. Matt.10:1 RV (my emphasis).
Regarding the so-called Christian faith healers around today, the 'miracles' they perform bear no resemblance to anything in the New Testament performed by Christ and His disciples. Just a word, or a touch was all that was needed to make the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up..." Matt.11:5. As for the charlatans around today, what of them? When their patients are not healed, they will often have the effrontery to tell them it was because of "their lack of faith", leaving them in even more despair.
I have written a whole lot more on this, but for brevity's sake, I try to keep it short and to the point as possible. But, why did Paul write; And now abideth faith, hope, charity (love RV), these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 1 Cor.13:13? Most surely, it is not too difficult to see that in our present dispensation in time, that we need faith, hope, and love? But! When that which is perfect is come (the Lord Jesus) 1 Cor.13:10, we will no more need hope and faith! Whatever for? For who hopeth for that which he seeth? Rom.8:24. His elect will then be in His presence forevermore! Little wonder, he said; the the greatest of these is love, for love will endure forever!
God is love. 1 John 4:8.
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