tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865491821256460232.post3878836421566413996..comments2024-03-23T07:33:56.741+11:00Comments on Dr. Andrew Corbett: WHY NO MIRACLESThe weekly pastoral blog of Dr. Andrew Corbetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05649631138124231214noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865491821256460232.post-86407652628366332532012-03-17T09:38:32.242+11:002012-03-17T09:38:32.242+11:00I recognize that in ancient, scientifically unsoph...I recognize that in ancient, scientifically unsophisticated times when any number of charlatans, magicians, and even spirits performed miraculous appearing feats, it would be unlikely that even parting the Red Sea would retain its original impact forever on those who witnessed the event. Never mind how remote the story of it would seem to following generations especially in conjunction with the misery and threats of everyday ancient life.<br /><br />But I am convinced that a documented miraculous event of unmistakable God proportions would have a much different impact today in Western civilization, which is now pretty universally hostile to Christianity in general and Christians in particular. The first impact would be upon the current crop of loud-mouthed atheists who would be silenced forever and would spawn no other skeptics due to the lasting availability of documented proof of the event. Our ancient documents can too easily be doubted. But our memories are much better today and verified information is more reliable thanks to technology and global communications.<br /><br />I don't know if you've kept up with the thinking and speaking of those who despise all religion but none more than Christianity. They are now having more success in the West turning the undecided their way than is the church. Maybe Christians aren't being killed yet. But things can't get much more hostile. The battle for intelligent minds can't get much more difficult either thanks to new theories and apparent evidence of natural universal origins. We're seeing our last remaining rhino leave the living room and be explained away. There is nothing left for a believer to point to as leaving no excuse for not believing that the opposition can not now provide a convincing answer to as a plausible reason to not believe. It doesn't matter how unworthy or implausible believers find the excuse. The appeal is to logic and the minds ability to imagine possibilities. While unbelievers have plausible alternative explanations for arguments and evidence that believers advance, they won't consider themselves intellectually free to dismiss them even if faith would comfort them. The heart can be converted if pressured by pain but not the mind. How can a man know securely in his heart what his mind doubts thanks to the counterweight from atheistic scientists and God's long silence?<br /><br />I believe a miracle would awaken many to a reality they never considered possible and many others to repentance after having rejected this reality as laughable. The reason this is so is because today in the West we're aren't inundated with convincing cosmic alternatives. Charletans and magicians aren't taken seriously. Today they're just entertainment. An unmistakable communication from God (and I mean something at a level only He is capable of) would have no persuasive competition today because, in the educated West at least, the only real question is about God's existence at all, not His superiority to other gods. Few in West today could be sidetracked by an argument for competing deities. <br /><br />As a civilization we have been trained by centuries of practice with the rules of evidence and logic to accept that either we are alone and the cosmos exists by some natural means OR a single purposeful intelligence intended and at least started it all. A miracle today (and I do mean a world-wide witnessed, documented, Almighty God style miracle) would change the world, silence the intractably hostile, open eyes, and forever leave no excuses.Dan DePriesthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06666180583168243706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865491821256460232.post-38416713111879766122010-11-28T20:39:36.117+11:002010-11-28T20:39:36.117+11:00I, in my experience believe that most of what you ...I, in my experience believe that most of what you believe is miracles is wishful thinking, do you honestly believe the media wouldn,t be on the lookout for such amazing events and demand authentification of them, in the last days there will be many false christs who come doing miracles and signs and wonders, you give false hope to the gullible and weak, you know in your own heart that your faith in miracles today is wishful thinking, God is truth and the truth will set you free, you can,t fool God, most pastors and church leaders are making a good wage from there work in the church insisting on tithing etc, show me a leadrer that doesn,t get paid, show me a leader who can proove a miracle show me true christianity that,s what we all want to see, Peter who loves Jesus Christ and who is not easily deceievedUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11013928797839698397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2865491821256460232.post-49933660736889480072010-01-15T17:04:50.320+11:002010-01-15T17:04:50.320+11:00Great post Andrew, it is interesting that in pente...Great post Andrew, it is interesting that in pentecostal and charismatic circles who boast to having the miraculous corner of the church "covered' lives some of the greatest confusion on this whole issue! As a minister I travelled in the "word of faith" angle on the miraculous for a number of years, it was certainly a frustrating place to live! Some days I was mad at my supposed lack of faith and other times I was mad at Gods seeming reluctance to move on behalf of my faith :). I now minister in a much greater sense of peace and Gods love as I flow having faith in Gods love and sovereign grace! <br />Keep up the good work.<br /><br />David Balestri (Sydney)Giant Makerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06671667382902835529noreply@blogger.com