Do Charismatics Reject the Ordinary Means of Grace?

Lately, it seems as if I have been hearing a critique of continuationism from those within the cessationist camp that I was unaware of previously.  Namely, some cessationists complain that charismatics reject the ordinary means of grace (for example Scripture, prayer, the sacraments) in favor of emotional experiences supposedly delivered by the Holy Spirit.  I have recently come across this critique here and here.  I thought I would take a few moments to briefly respond.


Firstly, despite being an obvious guilt-manipulation tactic, it should be noted that this is not always untrue.  The reality is, many charismatics and prophetic types really do despise preaching and sacrament and give an unhealthy emphasis to emotions and experiences.  There are places where services degenerate into free-for-alls where every "manifestation", no matter how wild, is considered proof that the Holy Spirit "showed up".  Preaching, if there is any, is relegated to maybe 30 minutes of out-of-context drivel and the sacraments are hardly practiced.  I myself have experienced this phenomenon and have left church fellowships where this has occurred.  It would be stupid of me to deny this tendency doesn't exist.  it manifestly does.  However, it must be stressed that this does not necessarily need to be the case.  It is possible to bring order to our assemblies where spiritual gifts are in evidence (that is the whole point of 1 Corinthians 12-14).


Secondly, this creates a false dichotomy.  I don't have to choose between the ordinary means of grace and spiritual gifts.  Spiritual gifts are an ordinary means of grace.  To neglect the gifts of the Holy Spirit to emphasize preaching and sacrament is wrong.  These we should have done without leaving the others undone.  There is no reason why we should bifurcate the Holy Spirit's ministry into either word and sacrament, or into miracles. 


In short, all of these activities glorify God and minister to His Church.  All of them are ordained for us.  In addition to New Testament imperatives concerning the preaching of the Word (1 Timothy 4:13; 5:17; 2 Timothy 2:2) and administering the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper (Matthew 28:19,20; Romans 6:1-4; 1 Corinthians 11:17-34), the New Testament commands Christians and churches to seek to minister in spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 1:7;12-14; Ephesians 4:11-16; 1 Peter 4:10).