[OBW]

Interesting topic.

Until just before I turned 18, I was part of the Assemblies of God (AOG), one of the original, but somewhat mainstream among charismatics. We attended one of the larger assemblies in town, so it was not hell-fire and brimstone preaching all the time. More like Pentecostal Baptists. (Not saying anything bad about Baptists.)

In my last year there, I had become somewhat disheartened that there was really so little supporting the miraculous gifts. Not that they were not there. But just not so prominent.

My memories were of things that were somewhat forced, sprinkled with events that seemed quite spontaneous and even possibly God-driven. But almost all of it was surrounding speaking in tongues. Never anything I knew to be any actual healing or other miracles.

And, now that I have read 1 Corinthians many times without the Pentecostal overlay, I can say that I do not clearly agree with the cessationists (tongues will simply cease) but cannot support the extreme push that is found in so many charismatic assemblies. None of the gifts were "advertised" as "yours for the asking," but were provided as the Spirit deemed necessary.