By cessationism, I am referring to the belief or practice that an ascension ministry gift and manifestation of the Holy Spirit has ceased to operate in the present church age (Ephesians 4:11; 1 Corinthians 12:4–11). The Charismatic and Pentecostal world supposedly believes in all the gifts of the Spirit, as well as hearing the voice of God.
Various terms are used to describe similar experiences, including “revelation” and “illumination.” On the other hand, there are evangelical rationalists who, both functionally and theologically, are cessationists. Consequently, whether you are Pentecostal, Charismatic, or a non-Charismatic evangelical, you can be a functional cessationist if you neither believe in, practice nor experience divine spiritual phenomena.
By evangelical rationalist, I mean a person who believes the cardinal truths of Scripture but denies the contemporary operation of certain manifestations of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:4–11). In a sense, they have “demystified” Scripture by employing an Enlightenment framework in which biblical truth must pass through the grid of human reason and understanding. Of course, true Christians cannot be consistent in an anti-supernatural worldview.
To be saved, a person must believe in the historical, supernatural resurrection of Christ and experience the supernatural reality of the new birth (Romans 10:9–10). They must also believe the Gospel accounts of Jesus, who continually ministered through healing the sick, prophecy, and the expelling of demons — practices the charismatic church seeks to emulate but cessationists deny continue today. It does not matter whether you or your denomination identifies as Charismatic.
If a person or church does not believe in or embrace the practical function of all five cluster gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 — apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher — they are practicing a form of ministry-gift cessationism. If you do not believe God can subjectively speak to you outside