When I was 19, I decided to go to Bible College. Upon touring the campus of a small Baptist institution (I had no meaningful Baptist background, but this college was only an hour from home), I was given some brochures and other literature to take home. I was stunned however to learn that this particular college took a hard line stance against speaking in tongues (to the point of expulsion - no joke). I wasn't so much surprised at the particulars of their stance, I was just taken aback by the vehemency of it. It was almost to the point of bitterness. I didn't have any background in the debate between cessationists and non-cessationists, so I called the college and politely asked for an elaboration. They explained that since we now have the Bible, we don't need gifts like speaking in tongues, or prophecy, or healing, etc.
I decided to investigate the issue for myself. One Baptist man I spoke to about it led me to investigate 1 Corinthians 13:8-12. It was explained that this text answers the question because the coming of the "perfect" leads to the cessation of the "imperfect" gifts like prophecy, tongues, and words of knowledge. He believed that the "perfect" was the completed New Testament which would nullify these gifts and by extension the others for today. I poured over that text and others like it (Ephesians 4:11-16 was another one I looked at) for about two weeks.
The following points are the conclusions I reached then as well as others I have picked up through study of the Scriptures, experience, and maturity. These are not intended as any kind of theological or exegetical treatise, just a brief summary of where I stand and why. Enjoy!
1. The coming of the "perfect" in 1 Corinthians 13:10 refers to the consummation of history which Jesus will bring upon His return. This implies that the completion of the NT canon was not what Paul had in mind and therefore the gifts he mentions (tongues, prophecy, words of knowledge) will continue to be functional up until that point.
While the overall context of 1 Corinthians 13 is about Christian love, even that discussion is set within the context of spiritual gifts. Paul's point is that love lasts into eternity, while spiritual gifts last only during this present age and will terminate at the consummation.
2. In a similar vein, Ephesians 4:11-16 tells of five (or four) ministries that will continue to function until the final maturity of the Church which can only take place at Christ's return. The first two of these ministries are the ministries of apostle and prophet. While all agree that evangelists, pastors, and teachers (or pastor-teachers) continue, it seems that Ephesians 4 presents a "package deal" of ministries. In other words, if apostles and prophets have ceased, then so have evangelists, pastors, and teachers; but conversely, if we still have evangelists, pastors, and teachers, then we must also admit the continuing function of apostles and prophets (in some form) today.
3. Peter's sermon on the Day of Pentecost includes a quotation from Joel's prophecy in Joel 2:28-32. In this prophecy, Joel predicts that the Holy Spirit would be poured out "on all flesh". Evidence for the filling of the Spirit on all of God's people would be supernatural manifestations like prophecies, dreams, and visions.
Joel's prophecy goes on to state that this arrangement will take place during the "last days". Other scriptures give us more information of the last days (for example Hebrews 1:1-2). In a nutshell, the entire messianic age from Jesus' first coming until His second constitute the "last days."
Also, Peter's inclusion of cosmic disturbances toward the end of his quotation indicate that the filling of the Spirit with its accompanying manifestations will last until the end of the age when Jesus returns. This is further confirmed by his statement that the promise of the forgiveness of sins and the reception of the Holy Spirit will be "for you and for your children and for all who are far off,everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself." (Acts 2:39 ESV)
4. Jesus Himself stated that those who believe in Him will "...also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." The context makes plain that Jesus is speaking about His miraculous works (John 14:8-14). Even if one were to explain the "greater works" as something other than miracles (like evangelistic success or church planting), one must still account for the equivelent works. In other words, Christ said we would do the same works, and in addition to that, we would do greater works. Just in the Gospel of John we see Jesus turning water to wine (2:1-11), healing a nobleman's son (4:46-54), and feeding the 5,000 (6:1-14) among several others.
There's still much more I could say (like showing how Ephesians 2:20 is not a good argument for cessationism), but then my list wouldn't be short. Maybe someday soon I will write a fuller defense of the ongoing validity of charismatic gifts. This is more to show where I stand on the issue and some of the reasons why.
