There are numerous problems we face, as the church, when it comes to sharing our faith with our world. One of the most difficult ones for many of us is the problem of miracles. Miracles are a problem? Wait, aren’t miracles a great testament to our faith? Don’t they show that God is real? Didn’t Jesus come and perform miracles so that people would believe in him? How can they be a problem?
They are problematic in a couple of different ways. First, for much of our Enlightenment shaped rational culture the very idea of supernatural forces operating in our world is ridiculous. It is one of the very first hurdles we have to conquer when sharing our faith with our culture. Some never can get past this hurdle. It is too great a jump for their rational minds. Another problem with miracles is that in our effort to recognize and celebrate God at work in our lives we frequently credit to God that which is not of a miraculous nature or is of such a selfish nature that it is an embarrassment.
When we call it a miracle to find a good parking spot, to get away with doing something stupid and having it not harm us, when Tim Tebow wins a playoff game, or when modern medicine does its work and cures us of a minor physical ailment, we do a disservice to our faith. It is not that God is not a God of the details, it an issue of understanding what God wants from our lives and for our lives. I am completely convinced that God does not care about the outcome of any sporting event. (Despite Ray Lewis’ eloquent post-game speech yesterday about the journey God has put the Ravens on.) We celebrate moments of convenience or personal gain as miracles. What if those personal gains actually work directly against the purpose God has for our lives? Our limited perspective on the work of God will lead us to bad theology of the work God is trying to do in our lives.
The last major problem with miracles is that to us they appear so arbitrary. Some are healed and others are not. The righteous may suffer while the unrepentant are made whole again. Some prayers for healing appear to be answered in ways that go beyond the bounds of science and medicine. Others are either answered through science and medicine or aren’t answered and medicine does its work anyways. God provides desperately needed money at exactly the right moment. Except there are plenty of us Christians living in abject poverty for whom those prayers are never answered.
We have a poorly developed theology of miracles that is encumbered by a poorly developed theology of the gospel. What exactly is the good news of Jesus? How does that inform our understanding of God’s work in our lives right now?
Those are the questions we must wrestle with as Christians in order that we can talk about, seek out, and recognize the miracles of God that take place all around us. Each of us, as the adopted children of God, is a story of the miraculous redemption of God. I believe strongly that God is at work all around us. I believe that miracles do take place. I believe that they happen according to the will of God and the faith of his children.
Yesterday I preached on this exact issue (you can listen to the sermon here) because we as a church community have just lost a dear friend to a battle with cancer. These are the questions of our hearts. I will write some more in-depth thoughts later in the week about how the good news of Jesus shapes our participation in and understanding of miracles. Until then I would love to hear your thoughts on the miraculous.
January 21, 2013 at 11:53 am
Everyone within the church does not have a problem with miracles. It’s beneficial for church people, perhaps, to step into different streams of the body. Those open to the movement of the Spirit may help those with more rational bents to change. Seeking the kingdom of God goes hand in hand with seeking the miraculous. When we follow Jesus we experience both the words and works…and get to participate. I love Vineyard’s expression, “Doing the stuff”. We get to join God in doing the works of Jesus by serving others in ways that are life giving…healing, prophetic encouragement, tongues, signs…all to be expected and a gift when God so wills them to be. Seems people are often timid of the supernatural cause it’s beyond our control. I love Vineyard’s not hyped presentation of the supernatural. Vineyardusa.org has great resources. Taste and see! The Kingdom of God is near!
January 21, 2013 at 1:45 pm
I have long liked a good portion of the vineyard theology on miracles and works of the Spirit. The Vineyard is an interesting case study, however, on some of the issues we still face with them. I have had Vineyard friends from different walks of life talk about some of the hidden sides of the practice of their theology and where problems arise. I would be interested in if you had any insight into the limitations of understanding or practice of the good news in regards to miracles, as you have seen or experienced.
We all have the same perceived issues, but most of the issues are in fact just perceived.
January 21, 2013 at 3:36 pm
Clarify. It’s funny that you have a long history of Vineyard relations cause when I entered the Vineyard you told me you knew little about it. The Vineyard, as any church body, has had bumps in it’s history. The Quest for the Radical Middle and Empowered Evangelicals gives an honest look at the Vineyard. What theological hidden sides are you speaking of?
January 21, 2013 at 4:13 pm
As far as my experience…it has been very liberating! There is low pressure, a lack of hype, and lots of room for anticipation for God to do cool stuff. We expect God to move, but realize he doesn’t have to move. I am amazed at the humility and honesty and realness of the leading pastors in the movement. Last weekend I spent time in Raleigh with our current National Director. He is nothing but a breath of fresh air…down to earth, nuts about God, passionate about broken people, knows the power of the local church to join in redemptive history, encouraging as could be. The permission to risk and the freedom to do so is wonderful. I have been glad to see a thread of consistency at all the large gatherings I have attended since I first step foot in the Vineyard in ’07. I am glad to call it home…they are my tribe…warts and all! I love the challenge of existing in space that upholds the main things and leaves room for disagreement on finer points. Jesus is the main thing. The Presence of God brings power. We foster church planting and autonomy. Compassion for the poor is essential. For me…I haven’t come across a better bunch to encourage this life of service in God’s Kingdom.
January 22, 2013 at 8:02 am
Well that little part of the Vineyard theology/history that I remember and gained an impression of from my friends is similar to what you were saying. If I remember correctly, in the beginning days there was a distinction made between the Calvary Chapel folks and the Wimber folks in regards to some specifics of theology/practice. Wimber seemed to want a less restrictive theology in regard to the manifestations of the Spirit than the Calvary people. (Once again this is a file in my brain I haven’t accessed in a long time so if I am completely wrong feel free to correct me)
I do remember some of my conversations with a particular friend were regarding the controversies within the Vineyard Movement around the Toronto Blessing and how to handle the manifestations of the spirit in gifts verses the authority of scripture. Mainly I have impressions of those conversation and thus why I am asking you. Just curious.
January 21, 2013 at 4:49 pm
I don’t have a long history, but have had friends in college, seminary and other connections in life who have been or are part of the Vineyard. My only real impressions were from them, however, so that is why I asked you. I figured you would have more input, using your prophetic lens, than I have as an outsider.
I will add more to this comment later, running to a meeting.
January 22, 2013 at 9:38 am
I have read of the Toronto blessing of 1994/5 and know people who visited the church. The church was released from being associated with the Vineyard movement and the two parted company well as far as I can tell. The story is told in the Quest for the Radical Middle, I think. Reading of other moment in church history when the Spirit is manifest in a powerful way and then people get carried away is often a possibility. Such seasons are noted throughout the life of the church. I appreciate the notion that it’s a good idea to keep the fire in the fireplace or you’ll burn down the whole house. Since coming into the Vineyard in ’07 I experience a group of earnest people seeking God’s Kingdom with genuine openness to the movement of God’s Spirit. We’re not perfect…for sure! Last weekend Phil Strout referred to the Vineyard as a dysfunctional family. He encouraged us to be committed to take part in redemptive history through the local church with passion. He encouraged us to realize power in God’s presence and to become lovers of people. I am “all in” cause I have yet to find a better alternative to live out the call of being a church planter. It’s not the best. It’s not without warts. It works!
January 21, 2013 at 1:46 pm
There’s a great documentary called Father of Lights (released a year ago) that looks at supernatural…Furious Love is another. They are encouraging!
January 21, 2013 at 1:47 pm
I am showing Father of Lights at my church on February 2nd.
January 21, 2013 at 3:32 pm
Good idea!
January 22, 2013 at 2:24 am
Excellent thoughts!
I agree that, in our eagerness to be grateful to God, we often abuse the word miracle. But I appreciate the idea being put so eloquently. Thank you.
January 22, 2013 at 10:21 am
Thanks Greg, as usual I appreciate your clarity on a deep topic.
In the 90’s I attended a few different Charismatic churches and experienced my own problems with the inconstancy of miracles. I had a friend in the church say if I believed, we should pray and heal my eyes for the need to wear glasses. The failure of miracles on command did not cause me to question God but caused me to question the strength of my faith. (smaller than a mustard seed?) A quote from The Chronicles of Narnia has always stuck with me on this topic “He’s not a tame lion”. There is really a blessing not to be tied into being results oriented. I just do as He asks and leave whatever happens in His hands. Sound like a copout but it is really something that I have to work at with intentionality. It changes God’s work from a labor to a joy.
I understand that some people are lost when talking about supernatural topics but my experience is that they are the minority. Most people I’ve asked, Christians or not, believe in the supernatural and many will give examples of their experiences.
January 22, 2013 at 12:18 pm
Thanks Maggie, those reflections are helpful. The Vineyard has seemed like a fantastic fit for you and for that I am so grateful. It is a delight to see you live as a Free Range Chicken or more aptly like the Wild Goose of the Kingdom!
Hubert,
I have always loved that line from Narnia – the supernatural realities of Christ do help us to remember the revolutionary nature of the kingdom. I also like the scene in the Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf reminds Bilbo just how powerful he is. I feel like Jesus does that in the beginning of Revelation when he reminds us of the truly AWESOME nature of his power. It is awe inspiring in the truest sense.
January 22, 2013 at 6:31 pm
Hey Greg, Here’s another organization of church folks from various streams of faith in Christ open to miracles. I have attended some of their gatherings. I was super encouraged once to see very proper Episcopalian types with elbow patches on their jackets overwhelmed by God’s Spirit. This international bunch is a joy. http://www.orderofstluke.org
January 22, 2013 at 8:10 pm
I haven’t heard of them, thanks I will check them out
January 22, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Hi Greg, your blog article inspired me to write one too. Thank you!
http://evanlenz.com/2013/01/seeing-miracles/
P.S. I’d love to catch up with you sometime.