Christian theologians debate a lot, and about a lot of different subjects. Favorites are Calvinism vs. Armeniamism (1 Corinthians 1:10-17 anyone?), Pre, Mid, Post, and A -millenialism, among others. One subject that was once debated but has been thrown by the wayside is Cessasionism vs. Charismatic Theology and the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. I feel that this is way too imporant a discussion to ignore. most Christians today have not even heard of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, and others rely totally on it and ignore the Bible. We must have both.
I will give you the briefest of summaries to explain it, then refer you to furthur reading on this subject: The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is when the Holy Spirit fills up the Christian with His divine power so we can be witnesses for Christ and obey the commands of God. Cessasionists say we don't need it, that we get all the power we need at conversion. But how do we expect to ge the power of God without asking God for it? God doesn't force salvation on people, and neither does He force the power of His spirit on those who doen't want it. But otherwise, even if we don't realize it, we are just doing things in the power of our flesh. My final word is this: how can we grow spiritually without the power of God's Spirit?
A good book on this subject: The Baptism with the Holy Spirit, by R.A. Torrey - short, easy to understand, and concise. Torrey was the successor to D.L. Moodey at the Moodey Bible Institue, and later president at the Bible Institute of Los Angeles
