Paul points out that these types of miracles tend to accompany the very beginning of a new dispensation, but then are inappropriate (when you read all of I Corinthians 13 you'll see that he's saying that signs and miracles aren't as important at that point than Christlike love). I think we see that now, too. What would happen if an elderly lady stood up in your next fast & testimony meeting and started talking in tongues? I dare say the bishop would call 911.
Dan R Allen wrote: > After much pondering, Dan R Allen favored us with: > >I'm saying that it should not be absolutely _necessary_ for God to have > >parted the Red Sea, a'la Charlton Heston, to have a testimony that He > >guided the Israelites across it. The fact that He helped them cross the > Red > >Sea is literal, but the exact means described may or may not be symbolic, > >and shouldn't be the basis for a testimony of His power. Could He have > done > >it? Without a doubt. Was it absolutely necessary for Him to prove His > power > >to the Israelites in that specific way? Perhaps for them, but not for me. > > John: > How do you apply this reasoning to Jesus calling Lazarus forth from his > tomb, or raising the daughter of Jairus? Maybe these two were not really > dead, but by the power of God they recovered while if it hadn't been for > the blessing they would have died? Is that what you believe? I personally > believe that God performs miracles just like the parting of the Red Sea in > our own day. I predict we will be able to see those miracles in profusion > as this last dispensation draws to a close. If an all out germ war ever > occurs, there will be people dying everywhere of diseases for which there > is no cure and which are 100 percent fatal. In that day, the priesthood > will have to perform healing blessing far more miraculous than are the norm > > in our own day. Why? Because in the economy of God's dealings with man, > he is not accustomed to doing for man what man can do for himself with a > little divine help. After all, it was the Lord who inspired the current > medical technology. Why shouldn't he expect us to use it so far as we can? > > Dan: > Would they have been any less dead at that time then if modern medicine > might have shown some spark of life? Would what Jesus did be any less of a > miracle? I don't think so. In any case, we are arguing two different things > here. > I believe that God performs miracles today to John, but where are the > explicit examples of miracles like the Red Sea and Jericho today? The > closest examples I know of are the exodus from Nauvoo and the crickets. In > both cases the way He chose to act is much more subtle than that described > in the Old Testament. Why? Are we somehow less deserving of such a miracle > today than they were then? Again, I don't think so. You actually hint at a > pretty good answer to your challenge with this statement: "Because in the > economy of God's dealings with man, he is not accustomed to doing for man > what man can do for himself with a little divine help." Why did God cause a > late freeze when a simple parting of the waters would have worked just as > well? > But getting back to what made me get into this discussion in the first > place; Why should somebody's testimony, presumably given to them by the > Holy Ghost, rest on the interpretation of an ancient event as symbolic or > literal? Your argument that it must, or all is false, doesn't really hold > water because it must be based on the totally accurate translation of an > ancient manuscript at the hands of clearly fallible men. > > John: > What about the inventions of nuclear fission bombs? Can anyone deny that > it was a technological leap forward of such an order as to seem like pure > science fiction to all those who lived and died in the pre-atomic era? How > about the Internet? These "miracles" are just as astounding as anything > described in the Old Testament. > > Dan: > They were certainly technological leaps, but I wouldn't classify them as > miracles. > > John: > If deBakey had lived in Christ's time and performed a heart transplant on > one side of the stage while Jesus commanded Lazarus to come forth on the > other side, which of the two would be thought to have performed the more > miraculous feat? > > Dan: > I would have thought Jesus did - He didn't need to make such a bloody mess > doing it. > > John: > I feel bad for people who are so "adult" that they no longer have the > wonder and belief that they had when they were children. I am a man who > lives in a world of miracles past, present and future. I believe all these > > things because I choose to. It fills my heart with joy to believe them. > > Dan: > I too live in a world of miracles. Feeling the touch of the Holy Ghost as I > lay my hands on my child's head and bless them with the strength to > overcome a virus, and sleep calmly through the night - now _that_ is a > miracle. > > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// > /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// > ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// > -- Marc A. Schindler Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada -- Gateway to the Boreal Parkland �Man will occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of the time he will pick himself up and continue on� � Winston Churchill Note: This communication represents the informal personal views of the author solely; its contents do not necessarily reflect those of the author�s employer, nor those of any organization with which the author may be associated. ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// /// ZION LIST CHARTER: Please read it at /// /// http://www.zionsbest.com/charter.html /// ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// ==^^=============================================================== This email was sent to: [email protected] EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aaP9AU.bWix1n.YXJjaGl2 Or send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^^===============================================================
