Question:  Dear Greg,

            Did the gifts of the Spirit, such as the gifts of tongues and healing, fade away right after the Apostolic Age?  I do not see people with the gifts that the Apostles demonstrated through God.

            I do believe that miracles are still occurring.  God does still intervene in some special circumstances.  However, I feel that no human has the gift of healing as Jesus and his disciples did.  Does someone out there really have the true gift of healing?

            Mark

Answer:  Dear Mark,

            Some Christians who have given this issue some careful and logical thought realize as you have:

1.      Tongues and healing are features of the early New Testament church.

2.      As for the rest of Christian history, we see very little evidence of these gifts, and certainly no prolonged period of time in which either was a major, consistent part of the work of the church.

Conclusions?  Many are possible.  Two primary conclusions:

1.      God gave those gifts for that time.  They were real, but after that time those gifts were not as necessary.  Thus we do not see a preponderance of evidence for or about them in Christian history.

2.      the early New Testament church was “on fire”—most Christians since have been lukewarm.  At times, especially during “revivals” and “awakenings” these gifts are in evidence.  Therefore, the gifts are given when Christians are close(r) to God.

            And there are variations on those two themes.

            My personal sense is that God has enabled you to have a balanced view of these gifts—you do not appear to deny them, but you do not seem to need them as an evidence of  “real” or “true” Christianity.  Of course, for those who do have a need, there are those who appear to be ready to fill that need.  And the result is manipulation and “religion” (as opposed to authentic Christianity).

            The Bible says that Jesus is what we need.  We need the living Christ, living his life in us.  We need to accept him, trust him and believe in and on him.  But the Bible stops there.  It does not say that healing and speaking in tongues will always accompany authentic Christianity.  We must be careful not to impose criteria or manifestations upon God or his work as tests we devise.  Rather, we must follow Romans 14, standing in faith before our Master, realizing that whatever is not of faith is of sin.  We must guard against insisting that all Christians become carbon copies of ourselves.  Thank God he has not given anyone such a mandate (though some appear to think he has!).

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht