Life and Death: meditations on the restoration of all things

Over the past couple of weeks my family has experienced a rollercoaster of emotions. Two weeks ago this Friday we welcomed our 3rd child (Ashlyn Grace) into the world, and a week ago this Saturday we lost my father-in-law who went home to be with Jesus. On one hand, we have experienced the joy of new life. On the other hand, we have experienced the sadness and grief of death. And as I have reflected these past few days on these events I a reminded that is precisely what we are seeing taking place all around us. When one studies the narrative of Scripture, two main themes emerge: “new birth” and the “curse of death.”

“Curse of Death”: Since the Fall of humanity, all of mankind has been born in sin and died as a result. After the sin of Adam and Eve God places a curse upon them and the creation (Genesis 3) and the pattern of Scripture after that is we are “born” and then we “die” (Genesis 5). After all the wages of sin is death (Romans 5) and the entire creation has been subjected to futility (Romans 8). The imagery that Paul uses to explain this curse is “birth pains” an experience that is blazed into my mind after two weeks ago. Our first two deliveries went fairly smooth, this one did not. I will spare you the details, but this husband/father got caught up in the intensity of the moment. The anticipation got stronger, the pains of birth (at least for my wife) continued to mount, and I longed for it to be over and see our new gift of life.

Yet I could not help but think that this is exactly what all of God's children are experiencing. Paul writes in Romans 8:22, "We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth." Jesus said in Matthew 24:8, speaking of the tribulation, "All these are the beginning of birth pains." There is absolutely nothing joyful about the “birthing process” outside of the fact that we know what is coming is “new life.”

So as I watched my wife suffer the pains of childbirth, I also became aware of the birth pains I see all around me. A father-in-law dying of cancer, a church member with an alcoholic family, hurricanes that destroy cities in a matter of moments, a family that holds grudges and refuses to forgive, a body that grows older and older by the day, a father who decides to just walk away from his family, a baby who dies at an early age, nations that rage, and people who think life is all about them...oh how I long for NEW BIRTH!! Not just for a baby, but for a fallen world! As we see numerous birth pains all around us we know that there is nothing joyful about it, other than the fact that you know it’s pointing you to new life, a future resurrection that is kept by the power of God in Christ (1 Peter 1:3-7).

“New Birth”: Most Christians have been taught to believe that the “ultimate” future is heaven. This is not, however, what Scripture teaches. Our future hope is a new creation, a city that comes down rather than us going up (see Rev 21). The separation of the spirit and body is not according to the original design of God (Genesis 1-2) and while to be absent form the body is to be present with the Lord, a future resurrection in a restored creation is the new birth we are all longing for.

Not only is new birth the ultimate future reality for those who are in Christ, the promise of this new life is tasted of through genuine conversion now. The transformation we see in our lives as we come by faith to a resurrected Messiah is a transformation of death to life, of cursed to blessed, of slave to free. This theme is all over the biblical narrative. Ezekiel speaks of a day when we will be washed with water, which Jesus shares with Nicodemus when he tells him you must be “born again” (John 3). Jeremiah speaks of a covenant when we will have a heart of flesh and “know the Lord” (Jer 31). Paul uses this imagery in 2 Corinthians 5:17 when he says that if you are “in Christ” you are a “new creation.” In other words, what we are longing for eternally, namely a new birth, we are able to experience the first fruit of now “in Christ.” After all, the narrative of Scripture boils down to whether or not you are “in Adam” and dead or “in Christ” and alive (see 1 Corinthians 15).

What my family has experienced in a 1 week time frame is the very same experience we are all facing if we will just look around. There are images of new birth and images of death all around us and each one is saying something to us about a future reality and a future hope.

We waited, and the day finally came when our little girl was born into the world. What a wonderful day that was! After all new birth is a beautiful thing.

We waited, for the day when my father-in-law would take his last breath. And as we laid his body to rest today in a grave that will one day be opened with a trumpet shout, I am reminded that we must all wait for a day when the skies will be opened and our Savior will return to make all things new. What a wonderful day that will be! After all new birth is a beautiful thing.

Awaiting the Restoration of all things,
Pastor Wes

Speaking in Tongues (a reflection on the Great Debate 2)

We had another great evening last night as we hosted our second “Great Debate” at TBC. Our topic was on the gift of speaking in tongues. We were blessed to have Pastor Ron Strack from Meadowbrook Community church in Champaign, IL representing the Charismatic viewpoint, Dr. Alan Phillips Jr. from Bloomington, IL representing the Open but Cautious view, and Dr. Mark Coppenger from Evanston, IL representing the Cessationist view. These three men handled themselves with class, humility, and gave challenging insights to God’s Word. I am deeply grateful to each of these men for their contributions to our event.

My post is not to rehash the discussion from last night, but to provide some additional thoughts on the issue of speaking in tongues. As moderator, I did my best to remain neutral. As pastor, I want to add some thoughts regarding the issue.

The Church: A Theological Framework

In Ephesians, the Apostle Paul uses specific language to describe the Church. He describes the Church as, “God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone" (2:19-20). This is a very important description in my mind. Paul recognizes that the “chief” cornerstone is the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross and his resurrection so that “no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 3:11; 15:3-4).

The next building stage is the work of the Apostles and prophets, not because the work of Christ is insufficient, but in order to carry out the mission Jesus gave His followers (Matthew 28). Therefore, the Apostles have a unique role in spreading a revelatory Word in the mission of Christ as He builds His church (Matthew 16). So the finished work of Christ is joined with the Apostolic witness, which was to provide revelatory, infallible witness through the Holy Spirit that would bring about sacred Scripture and the spread of the gospel to the nations.

Just as Christ would not be on earth permanently, neither would the Apostles (the office or the gifts associated with it as I will argue later). How do we know that the Apostolic office was temporary? First of all, to be an Apostle you had to be an eye-witness of Jesus Christ (Acts 1:21-26 and 1 Corinthians 9:1). Secondly, Paul viewed himself as the final Apostle (1 Corinthians 15:7-9). Thirdly, (and yes I realize this is an argument from silence) we never hear of the office again. Timothy, Paul’s son in the faith, is never viewed as having Apostolic authority but rather is encouraged by his “father-in-the-faith” to study the Scriptures “which are able to make you wise” and “rightly handle the word of truth.”

The Apostolic Age: Signs and Wonders

In addition to the office and role of Apostle, Jesus said that “signs and wonders” would accompany the spreading of the gospel, which is in the context of the Apostolic witness moving forward.

And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18)

One should first note that there is a lot of discussion as whether or not these verses are in the original manuscripts. That said, Jesus says that these signs will accompany the spreading of the gospel (“those who believe”). Therefore, they are intended demonstrate the authenticity of the gospel. One of these signs is “glossolalia” which Jesus described as “new” languages. "New" meaning unknown to the speaker. Therefore, as the gospel is going forward one of the signs that will accompany it will be the ability to speak in languages “unknown” by the speaker. This interpretation is enhanced and supported in how the story unfolds in the book of Acts.

And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4)

In Acts 2, the Spirit comes down and fills the Apostles and they began to speak in other tongues (glossolalia) just as Jesus had said and just as the prophet Joel had prophesied (Joel 2). Peter himself refers to this in Acts 2. Yet Jesus mentioned that these signs would serve so that people “would believe.” This is why through the gift of tongues and the proclamation of the gospel (Acts 2) Peter concludes that it was to “let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified (vs. 32)." In other words, this event was to show the Jews that Jesus was who he said he was (proclamation of the gospel).

Some important facts:

1. It is clear in this passage that the gift of tongues was a known language because the response of those who heard it was "are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? (vs. 8-9) What was amazing was that these speakers were speaking in a language they did not previous know.

2. The content of the message was concerning the gospel of Jesus Christ so as to prepare their hearts to come to faith in Christ. So the miracle of the gift was to draw attention to the gospel.

3. Only existing believers received this gift and there is no evidence that new converts received such a gift after coming to faith in Christ. The gift they received was the Holy Spirit Himself. (2:38)

This event continued at other times in the book of Acts.

Acts 10:46—what happened in Acts 2 to the Jews, happened again to the Gentiles in Acts 10. God manifested Himself again for the Gentiles. Once again the purpose of the gift was to verify that the Father was active in saving people (now to the Gentiles) by sending His Son and Spirit.

Acts 19:6—the experience of Jews and Gentiles is now occurring for the followers of John the Baptist. This is the third and final time in the book of Acts. In all cases the gift is public, communicates the gospel, and verifies who Jesus is for three different groups.

Also, there are instances of the coming of the Holy Spirit without any record of speaking in tongues (Acts 2:41-42, 8:12, 9:17-19).

Other comments from the book of Acts

Many Continuationists have concluded that “being filled with the Spirit” resulted in speaking in tongues, prophesying, and/or performing miracles. However, in all of the verses that speak about “being filled with the Spirit” not a single one mentions speaking in tongues. Rather in all of these occasions the individuals spoke the word with boldness. Therefore, to be filled with the Spirit should refer more to bold evangelism rather than speaking in tongues. (4:8,31; 13:9,52)

The Apostle Paul and the Corinthian church

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. (1 Cor 13:8-10)

Paul is writing to an extremely unhealthy and fractured church that was caught up in paganism and therefore he must reeducate them on the proper place of tongues. Unlike the churches in Jerusalem and Ephesus, the use of tongues in Corinth was unintelligible and had caused division. Paul does confirm that speaking in tongues is a spiritual gift (though among the least 14:1) though it is not possessed by every Christian (12:30).

What is very clear from this passage is that tongues and prophecies will pass away or cease, so cessationism is true on some level. The point Paul wants to make here is to compare love (eternal) to gifts (passing). Now two important questions emerge: why tongue and prophecies and when do they cease?

Why tongues and prophecies? It’s simple. For Paul, tongues (when interpreted and under control) and prophecy work together because they are revelatory gifts (14:1-7). In fact, I would suggest that tongues, used properly, are a mode of prophecy. So these gifts are used together to bring revelation (see 14:14-19) in that it bypasses the intellect of the speaker and comes through the Holy Spirit.

When do they cease? Paul here is discussing present knowledge (which is partial) and future knowledge (which will be complete) when we see Christ (when the perfect comes). Many cessationists have argued that what Paul means here is the closing of the canon, or Bible. Continuationists would argue that the perfect is the Second Coming of Christ and therefore these gifts will continue until then.

Most likely, Paul does mean here the Second Coming and not the closed canon (because it assumes that Scripture is only sufficient when completed). However, just because it refers to the Second Coming does not prove a continuation of tongues/prophecies/etc. With this emphasis on partial knowledge, prophecy and tongues are no doubt singled out. But the time of their cessation is not the concern Paul has here. His stress is on the duration, until Christ returns, of our present, limited knowledge. So this passage does not teach that prophecy and tongues (revelatory gifts) will continue until the Second Coming, but only that they will pass. Complete knowledge will occur at the Second Coming.

2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. (Heb 2:2-4)

Notice once again the progression of revelation: “declared by the Lord,” and then “attested to us by those who heard” [Apostles] by the witness of “signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” The phrase “bore witness” is a present participle and therefore some argue that these “signs and wonders” continued on.

The participle, however, is a genitive absolute which means it must be linked to the main verb (“attested”) which is an aorist verb. Therefore, the “signs” happened in the past. In other words, at the time the Apostles “attested” the signs “bore witness.” So these verses are strong evidence that signs and wonders were connected with the witness of the Apostles. In addition, (though again an argument from silence) if the signs and wonders where happening for the author’s audience all he had to do was refer to the “signs and wonders” happening in their presence. Rather, he referred back to the “signs and wonders” associated with the Apostolic ministry. These verses further prove that the gifts of the Holy Spirit served to authenticate the gospel message during the early church.

Final Comments on Continuationism

First, passages such as Eph 5:18-20, 6:18 and 1 Thessalonians 5:19, and Jude 20 are often used to suggest the modern practices of speaking in tongues. However, glossolalia is never mentioned. Therefore, I do not believe these passages speak to the gift of tongues.

Second, based on what I see in Scripture (as detailed above) I personally have a hard time recognizing a correlation between the modern practice of tongue speaking and the biblical form as expressed during the Apostolic age.

Third, (I realize this is an arguement from history and not Scripture) it is hard for me to understand how outside of Montanus and a few of his followers in the later part of the second century, the emphasis on glossolalia was silent until the 19th century with the birth of Pentecostalism. If the gift of tongues is so foundational to the body of Christ, why was it silent for so long? Just a curiosity more than a dogmatic statement.

Theological Triage: keeping the main thing the main thing

In closing, I must admit that while I have biblical convictions regarding the gift of speaking in tongues, I would not want to break Christian fellowship over the issue. There are much more imporant topics (in relation to the gospel) that we cannot compromise on, namely the exclusivity of the gospel, the baptism of believers by immersion, the virgin birth, the inspiration and authority of Scripture, and many others. Though we may disagree on the timing of the cessation of tongues, I would join with my charismatic brothers and sisters in defense of the gospel of Jesus Christ any day. For one Day, we’ll all be speaking the same language!


Pastor Wes