Are Calvinist Opposed To Gifts Of The Holy Spirit

[JenniferGreen]

I am a new Christian, The more I look at scripture the more I see that God did choose me. And I personally felt the Holy Spirit was irresistible. I know I belong to Him. But I hear Calvinist are opposed to gifts of the Holy Spirit? Is this a general true statement and why?

[1057]

Hi Jennifer

It depends. I would say that most Reformed churches are cessationist (they don't believe that the gifts are for today) but there are some who are charismatic. I go to a Sovereign Grace Ministries (http://www.sovereigngraceministries.org/) church, and we're Reformed and Charismatic. Wayne Grudem is a well-known Charismatic Baptist. Some Calvinists are "open but cautious" (D. A. Carson, for example, and I think John Piper would fit that description).

[Antman_05]

Hey i'm a Reformed Pentecostal, so i just dismiss the idea that the gifts are no longer in use today or for today. i hold to most reformed theology minus 2 things, Infant Bapitism and also the cessationist view point.

[Imblessed]

I guess I would fall under the category "open but cautious" that Mr. Coffee described(i like that by-the-way....)

I know someone personally who goes to a church that uses tongues regularly. They are not "pentecostal" though. It's a Grace Brethren church(i'm pretty sure). We've had some long conversations about the whole "gifts of the spirit" thing. Before I knew him, I was a firm cessasionist, but now I'm not so sure.

I've never witnessed it though, so I can't judge to well. I'm thinking about going to his church once, just to see for myself.......

[Behe's Boy]

Mr. Coffee - I am very impressed with SG ministries. I visited my first church affiliated with them in Orlando - Metro Life Church - a couple of weeks ago while on vacation. It is the first time in my entire life that I experienced the correct scriptural, orderly use of the gifts in my life (This comes from a person who spent the beginnings of his faith in the AoG church). That coupled with Reformed preaching made for a blessing I will not soon forget!

[Behe's Boy]

Sorry Mr. Coffee - my last post should have been addressed to you....

[1057]

Antman - I am very impressed with SG ministries. I visited my first church affiliated with them in Orlando - Metro Life Church - a couple of weeks ago while on vacation. It is the first time in my entire life that I experienced the correct scriptural, orderly use of the gifts in my life (This comes from a person who spent the beginnings of his faith in the AoG church). That coupled with Reformed preaching made for a blessing I will not soon forget!I've been attending a Sovereign Grace church since 1999. I was filled with the Holy Spirit at while attending an Alpha course there. I've been a member since Jan. 2000. This is the church that taught me how to be a Calvinist and a Charismatic, at the same time. It's unusual, but it does happen. :)

[Behe's Boy]

One question for you brother - they don't believe you have to "speak-in-toungues" in order to evidence the baptism - do they?

[1057]

One question for you brother - they don't believe you have to "speak-in-toungues" in order to evidence the baptism - do they?No. Here's (http://www.sovgracemin.org/pdf/teaching/holy_spirit.pdf) a statement that Sovereign Grace Ministries put on their website to clarify our understanding of baptism in the Holy Spirit. Excerpt:It would appear from the book of Acts that speaking in
tongues is a common evidence of receiving this baptism,
but it is not a necessary evidence, and it’s not the
only evidence. Although speaking in tongues is a biblical
experience that Christians should pursue (1 Cor.
14:1, 5), baptism in the Spirit is not primarily about
speaking in tongues or personal experience, but about
receiving power from God that we might be more
effective in accomplishing His purposes.



Further:


• The statement does not require one to hold to a baptism in the Spirit distinct from conversion.


• The statement certainly does not exclude such a distinct baptism in the Spirit.

• The statement simply declines to specify what a second experience of the Spirit (i.e., an experience apart from conversion) should be called.

• The statement makes clear which values are central and should be held, whatever terminology one uses to describe a second work of the Spirit. As such, the statement contemplates a particular kind of lifestyle and experience: one marked by the Spirit’s presence and power.