The Holy Spirit

There is an unhelpful shared assumption between continuationists and cessationists: the Holy Spirit must interact at all times with all people in all places in the same way. There is no person in the universe so simple. People are complex, and their interactions are influenced by many contextual factors. Relational context: a person interacts differently with a spouse, a child, a manager, a coworker, a stranger, or a familiar friend. Situational context: a person interacts differently in a home, a workplace, a party, or a funeral. Each interaction is unique, and is influenced by specific relational and situational contexts. Why should the Holy Spirit, who by definition is more of a person than any human being, be any different? To assume that His interaction in one place and time with one group of people is the model for how He must interact in all places at all times and with all people is arrogant and reductive, and dishonors His personhood. Perhaps we would do better to spend more time talking with Him instead of about Him—getting to know Him in our place, at our time, ourselves, rather than trying to define Him into a box.