Robertson McQuilkin's writings on the Holy Spirit

I have been reading The Five Smooth Stones: Essential Principles for Biblical Ministry by Robertson McQuilkin. He was twelve years in Japan with a church-starting ministry and then twenty-two years President of Columbia International University in Columbia, S.C. where he still holds the title of President Emeritus. I first was introduced to Dr. McQuilkin through his writings Life in the Spirit (Broadman and Holman) and later he came to Gadsden to teach sponsored by our association. He is most recently known for his long-term care of his wife who had Alzheimer’s and his latest book A Promise Kept reflects that pilgrimage in his life.

As I am getting older (and now approaching thirty years as a pastor), my heart cries for Biblical revelation to proceed man's programs. My respect for Dr. McQuilkin and the subtitle of the book caused me to buy it for reading.

But as I was reading it, I didn't expect these comments about the Holy Spirit. My heart was greatly encouraged and warmed.

"Why does the church so frequently neglect the Holy Spirit? I asked a group of Baptist pastors and leaders that question ….They had several reasons: It’s so spooky, said one, “we call him the Holy Ghost.” “I’ve never heart it called ‘him,’” said another. But the chief reason they all agreed on was, as one pastor put it, “There’s so much wildfire around him we don’t want to get close or we might get burned.” And indeed there are aberrations in the twentieth century’s “Second Pentecost,” as it has been called.” (page 74)

“Aberrations, yes, but the explosive growth of the church in the southern hemisphere, especially in Latin America, has been largely fueled by the revival of teaching on the Holy Spirit. … True, often there was indeed “wildfire” – unbiblical and extra biblical distortions. But the Spirit’s power was unleashed as never before since the first century.” (page 74)

“Many evangelicals, especially in the Reformed and Dispensational traditions, held that gifts were apostolic and ceased at the death of the last of the original Twelve. The problem with that position was lack of evidence in Scripture to indicate the Bible authors foresaw cessation. “Tongues…shall cease” (I Corinthians 13:8 KJV) was a last-ditch grasping for evidence, a passage clearly misappropriated to teach cessation. The context is “the now” with incomplete gifting and “the then” when all will be perfected in heaven. No amount of exegetical dexterity can claim this phrase for the cessation position, and that is the passage that is marshaled in evidence. As a consequence, the cessation position did not gain ascendancy.” (page 75)