My thoughts after reading, "The Holy Spirit, The Missing Finger: Comparing the Pneumatology of Alexander Campbell and Don Basham." by Cletus L. Hull III
I'm a Recovering Cessationist
Have you been "baptized by the Holy Spirit" in the way you described it? If so, how does that happen? Admittedly, I come from the "rationalist school" and yet I was exposed to Pentecostalism as a boy (5-10 yrs old), so I don't want to give up on the idea that signs and wonders may still exist (I hear the reports but I do not see them personally).
Even though I was among the cessationists (Reformed Presbyterianism) for a time, a young charismatic on the submarine (below several hundred feet of water) asked me if I "believed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit". I knew what he was driving at, so I said, "Honestly, I don't know. Let me read the passages about the gifts and I will get back to you." After an honest read, I couldn't sustain an argument for cessationism.
I went back to him and said that I do believe in them but I don't believe that speaking in tongues is singularly required or even preferred. He was okay with that response, though I think he disagreed to some extent. I have been in suspense since then (6 years). I have a couple of friends, one who was in the Vineyard movement and another who is a Wesleyan. Both have talked to me about these things, but haven't given me any practical direction.
Even though I was among the cessationists (Reformed Presbyterianism) for a time, a young charismatic on the submarine (below several hundred feet of water) asked me if I "believed in the gifts of the Holy Spirit". I knew what he was driving at, so I said, "Honestly, I don't know. Let me read the passages about the gifts and I will get back to you." After an honest read, I couldn't sustain an argument for cessationism.
I went back to him and said that I do believe in them but I don't believe that speaking in tongues is singularly required or even preferred. He was okay with that response, though I think he disagreed to some extent. I have been in suspense since then (6 years). I have a couple of friends, one who was in the Vineyard movement and another who is a Wesleyan. Both have talked to me about these things, but haven't given me any practical direction.
My church hasn't been much help either. We've done the 'uber' rationalist spiritual gifts inventory (I'm an INFP and I forget what my enneagram number is, you get my point). Then we followed up with exercises to encourage word of knowledge (I think) and speaking in tongues (my wife's group). "Say the first thing that pops in your head." My wife and I both laugh about what popped in our heads (we were not in the same group, but we both thought it kind of silly, after the fact). So not helpful.
Disciples of Christ
It's like everyone talks about the few who have experienced signs and wonders, but no one seems to be able to do them. I have some experiences with Disciples of Christ at college. Do you want to hear about it?
I sat through their "bible studies" at lunch. They were pretty well-scripted and made clear points (though I didn't believe the points to be correct and/or of the priority they designated them to be). I asked questions which they could not answer, though they tried. They passed me off to a disciple attending Cornell. We had an email exchange or two and then nothing.
I eventually roomed with several of the guys for a while. They never got me to go to the Syracuse Church of Christ, but I did hang out with them that Halloween. They all had their daily lives scheduled out. If they had free time, they were expected to be spending it with members of their church. It seemed a bit too controlling to me, though I recognized the benefits.
My Feelings
My "experience with the supernatural" has been extremely limited. I have "felt" things, but I have a hard time knowing what it is. Some people say it's the Holy Spirit. I have no need to deny it, but cannot know for certain that it's not emotionalism: feelings arising because of my thoughts (which they oftentimes are, so why not those times as well).
I have felt what I call spiritual oppression (before and during some arguments with the wife). I have seen what has appeared to be the face of a demon on a couple of occasions, where the person in question has had some kind of malice directed towards me (two people on the submarine). I have also seen it in my children during "battle of the wills" as I train them in the way they should go.
Experiences While Parenting
Maybe it's merely extreme selfishness and not a demon, but they literally shiver when I see them go from having a rebellious attitude to a submissive one. I had one child giving me an extended (many months) antipathy. I asked him why he was upset with me and he said it was because I spanked him.
It's like everyone talks about the few who have experienced signs and wonders, but no one seems to be able to do them. I have some experiences with Disciples of Christ at college. Do you want to hear about it?
I sat through their "bible studies" at lunch. They were pretty well-scripted and made clear points (though I didn't believe the points to be correct and/or of the priority they designated them to be). I asked questions which they could not answer, though they tried. They passed me off to a disciple attending Cornell. We had an email exchange or two and then nothing.
I eventually roomed with several of the guys for a while. They never got me to go to the Syracuse Church of Christ, but I did hang out with them that Halloween. They all had their daily lives scheduled out. If they had free time, they were expected to be spending it with members of their church. It seemed a bit too controlling to me, though I recognized the benefits.
My Feelings
My "experience with the supernatural" has been extremely limited. I have "felt" things, but I have a hard time knowing what it is. Some people say it's the Holy Spirit. I have no need to deny it, but cannot know for certain that it's not emotionalism: feelings arising because of my thoughts (which they oftentimes are, so why not those times as well).
I have felt what I call spiritual oppression (before and during some arguments with the wife). I have seen what has appeared to be the face of a demon on a couple of occasions, where the person in question has had some kind of malice directed towards me (two people on the submarine). I have also seen it in my children during "battle of the wills" as I train them in the way they should go.
Experiences While Parenting
Maybe it's merely extreme selfishness and not a demon, but they literally shiver when I see them go from having a rebellious attitude to a submissive one. I had one child giving me an extended (many months) antipathy. I asked him why he was upset with me and he said it was because I spanked him.
I explained why and he understood it. Then the antipathy left him as sure as a demon was exorcised. Instantly the next younger son had that antipathy, which he did not have prior to that very day. I have dealt with my personal "demons" and as I fall prey to temptations, I see the negative consequences on my family members (I learned about this idea from IBLP, but have actually seen it play out).
When I am relying on the power of Christ to resist the devil, it seems there is more peace in my home. It's like the demons know they are not welcome and the head of the household is not allowing them any quarter in his heart, so neither in his house (generally speaking). I have seen the demons of pride, selfishness, rebellion, fear, and more in my wife.
Experiences While Strengthening the Marriage
This is not fun to talk about, by the way. I fear I might be completely misunderstood. Anyways, I have worked hard to get the log out of my eye. When I was in my twenties, I was trying to help with the speck in my wife's eye, but I should have been worrying more about my log.
Fast forward 10 years or so and I'm working with my wife. And oh boy are we dealing with demons (it seems). We have experienced increasing pressure as we began to pursue ministry and declared a desire for ordination. As I've worked with my wife in her parenting to get her to maturity, the attacks have been fierce.
Recently, a lot of that is me not being able to win her to my side of the argument. So her flesh sides with the "whispers of the enemy" as I call it. I'm learning how to reason (aka employ "sales") in order to be able to tell people what they need to be able to resist, let alone the whole idea of resisting temptation and it's relation to demons.
She is coming around but it's a fight. The enemy has used the world to capture the minds of Christians on such basic topics as faith, hope, love, personal ethics, and all the fruits of the spirit for that matter.
The Rationalists' Spiritual Warfare
I have rationalized that I don't need to see signs and wonders (it would be cool in a scary sort of way, so I don't know that I really want to see that stuff). I figure, it's real. It's happening unseen even in me. But the effects are seen. And the effects are ethical. All I really need to do is to hold my self, wife, and children accountable to the highest standard. The fight to do so, is the spiritual battle requiring prayer and fasting.
The battle for the heart and mind is where the war is being waged, in my home and in my country. Other countries may require the sign gifts, but this country doesn't seem to need them, yet. We are quickly approaching full open paganism (wondering if it will also be accompanied by magic, etc.). At least in the Pacific Northwest, there is a strong presence of wiccanism (there's a wiccan seminary in WA) and I hear of satanism (in several of the port cities). I think there may also be earth-based religions among the native peoples.
Is it possible that my approach works? It's a covenantal approach with an acknowledgment but not a hyping-up of the supernatural. Mt idea is to hold people to the highest of ethical standards and help them rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to resist the devil. It's been said that if you don't believe in the supernatural, just try resisting a temptation, any temptation. You will believe in the supernatural if you simply try to do it. You cannot resist, not without help. It almost constitutes proof that God exists.
Is my approach still too rational? Does it achieve the same end? I think my approach will work until I come face-to-face with blatant demonism. But because I don't deny it, in fact I acknowledge it, I would like to think that I would discern it, and recognize that a more proactive exorcism (etc.) would be required.
Talking to Others About This Stuff
I see the boy falling down in the gospels, afflicted with a demon. I think about the rebellious children I see acting in (if not identical, certainly in) similar ways. Do I start talking about exorcism? I think not! But if I start talking about, the parents learning how to train their children, they will write me off...as the demons of pride, rebellion, fear, and anger have their ears. How do we approach this? I'm not so sure that I can link these sins/vices to demon influence like I have, but I'm not so sure that I cannot do otherwise either.
I do not mean "the devil made me do it" kind of thinking, but a "demons are tempters" like in the Screwtape Letters, kind of thinking. Is this too rational? I cannot see the wind, but I can see the effects of the wind, and I'm kind of suspicious of those who say they can "see the wind." I really want to believe them. But they tend to be immature people (at least the ones I've met).
There seems to be a huge divide between the spiritual school and the rational school. I feel like I've moved away from rationalism, but I can't embrace the spiritualism I see. I prefer objective covenant with subjective confirmation, to be sure. I know how difficult enough it is to simply hear Jesus' words and do what he says (the general call). As a special call, He only gave the power to cast out demons to his apostles (directly, I guess, there were others who cast out demons).
It does seem that there may be a correlation of demonic activity with sexual immorality, drugs, and rebellion. At least when consulting contemporary history. And my brother's experiences (while drifting from the faith). Though I think they've left him alone now that he claims agnosticism.
In Closing
If you've read this far, you've given me grace. Thank you. I know I shouldn't blast all of my thoughts, but it's a topic that dogs me a bit. As I have indicated, I've tenuously settled. But I'm open to learning. Any direction (spiritual, educational, or otherwise) would be appreciated. Jesus said, "Your faith has healed you." Can I go to a demon-possessed person and ascertain that their faith would do the same? I suppose not without prayer and fasting, but then after that I still see no guarantees. Oh Lord, increase my faith!
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Peace and Grace,
Michael Sei Davis
St. Charles Anglican, Bremerton
Diocese of Cascadia (ACNA), Washington
