BOOK – Surprised by the Power of the Spirit – Jack Deere

Today I begin a series of book and other resource reviews for those who want to study further following our recent charismatic debate.

I begin with this well-known, easy-read paperback. I first read this a number of years ago, and still recommend it today as a good introduction – especially for those coming from a cessationist background.

It is important to point out that due to the wide spectrum of different opinions and interpretations — especially on some of the more minor points — I do not necessarily endorse every point of view made in all the resources I am going to review. I will, however, be concentrating on those resources that come from a more moderate charismatic position. I would be interested in any of my cessationist readers recommending books that may change my mind in such a way that Dan Phillips has so clearly failed to do!

The following comes from the back cover of this book:

“What caused a former Dallas Seminary professor to believe that the miraculous gifts of the Holy Spirit are being given today? What convinced someone sceptical about miracles that God still speaks and heals? A dramatic change took place in Jack Deere’s life when he took a fresh look at the Scriptures. He discovered that his arguments against miraculous gifts were based more on prejudice and lack of personal experience than on the Bible. As soon as Deere became a seeker instead of a sceptic, the Holy Spirit revealed Himself in new and surprising ways. In Surprised by the Power of the Spirit, Deere provides a strong biblical defence for the Spirit’s speaking and healing ministries today. He also describes several reliable cases of people who were miraculously healed or who heard God speak in an unmistakable way. Finally, he gives sound advice for using spiritual gifts in the church. Written in a popular style, with the care of a scholar but the passion of personal experience, this book explores: the real reason Christians do not believe in miraculous gifts, responding to charismatic abuses, whether miracles were meant to be temporary, and why God still heals.”

This book has been much criticised by some cessationists, which is perhaps precisely why, like many others, I continue to recommend it! The book does interact with the biblical material and makes exegetical arguments, but it is definitely a popular book aimed at the mass market.

Deere begins by telling the story of how a single phone call took him on a journey from being a “dry” traditional cessationist to becoming a fully fledged charismatic. As all good cessationists know, no one is safe — even the most ardent opponent of the gifts can be converted on this issue!

Deere is careful to point out that he was convinced not by an experience – as in fact many are -but rather by a phone call with the author, John White, which he describes in a most engaging manner. Deere was discussing with him the reasons for his cessationist views, but realised that his first argument was an argument from silence. He then quickly examined the next three arguments he would usually use and realised that each of them was fatally flawed. He then says something that inspires me greatly when it comes to this blog. He says “. . . my belief that miraculous gifts had ceased had never seriously been challenged before. I had never needed to examine these arguments that closely because everyone in my circle accepted them as true.”

This blog exists, at least in part, to challenge your opinions on the charismatic issue, and indeed other issues. I love having my doctrinal positions challenged as I am convinced that if I go back to the Bible I will always be on firm ground. After that phone call, Deere went back and studied the Bible for himself. I would encourage you to do the same thing. Reading others’ descriptions of their journey in this area and of their understanding of the biblical data is a great help to this process as well, however. I think you can do a lot worse than starting with this book and its sequel, Surprised by the Voice of God.