If you find someone who will defend every last miracle in the Bible with diligence and then will in the same breath just as fiercely cast doubt on any reported miracle in real life today, you have met a Lutheran. Yes, they will demand the possibility of miracles be granted and then with similar tirelessness question the modern occurrence of such things. I say this with a tinge of satire, but only a little.
I have just finished listening to a debate about the reality of Jesus’ Resurrection on Table Talk Radio. The debate was between Jesus Seminar fellow Dr. Robert Price and Dr. David Scaer from Concordia Theological Seminary. Who won? I know most people I know will quickly put a “W†in Dr. Scaer’s column.
I spent a lot of time in high school in debate. While it was not the best move for popularity, it did give me understanding of how one can suspend bias to engage in or especially to judge a debate. It taught me how to simply consider the strength of the arguments presented and then determine a winner. So who won? No one. Quickly frankly the topic was much too broad for an hour debate. I do not think any liberal theologians would have been wowed by Dr. Scaer’s points. Likewise, I do not think any believer in the resurrection will endure a restless night tonight due to anything Dr, Price said.
But my overall thought was this. The more and more we meet a world of agnosticism, outright unbelief, and the accompanying dismissal of the divine nature of the scriptures, the more it becomes clear that will never be enough time to debate someone into faith. Alas, we should have known already that only the Spirit does such work and that the does it through the proclamation of the word, not through persuasive logic.
So what does this have to do with miracles? Well in Scriptural times, the proclamation of the word was often accompanied by signs and miracles. This was particularly the case among those who did not have the Scriptures and a cultural assumption of their sacred nature. The Jews sought signs but were directed time and time again back to the scriptures. But the Gentiles who sought wisdom (logical persuasion) were at times given signs in order to serve as a testimony to the words being proclaimed. Of course both were given first and foremost the preaching of Jesus and him crucified.
And that is all we can do and all we need to do. That is what is given to us. But I must admit that I do wonder as the Church in this part of the world encounters more and more people without regard for God or the Bible if God will not add to our proclamation signs and wonders. And if so, will we, the ones so outspoken about the miracles of the Bible being reality, be ready to welcome the ones that may come now by God’s grace.
It seems to me this topic collides with the hiddeness of God. In some ways I look at every baptism as a sign and a wonder. There is a picture of our newly built church with clouds above the steeple making a cross in the sky. Is it a miraculous sign? Some members like to look at it that way. So how do I respond? I’m glad they found joy and encouragement in the cloud formation AS LONG AS they aren’t making that a foundation of their faith AS LONG AS they use the joy to come back to what God has specifically revealed. God is active, and He certainly put those clouds there, and He certainly knew the affect they would have, but we are not omniscient. Instead of giving God’s act an explanation, take what it did; it made us think of something God specifically did reveal, His Son on the cross. Why did our church have a cross in the sky that day and not today? That’s going into the hiddeness of God. Those why questions get dangerous. If you experience a present day miracle than rejoice, come back to God’s Word, and leave it at that.